Orthodox stance

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An Orthodox stance in combat sports such as boxing and karate refers to someone who boxes right-handed as opposed to a left handed fighter who is referred to as a Southpaw. The term is also used to refer to a stance in which the boxer places his left foot in front of his right, so it is possible for a left-handed boxer to box with an orthodox stance.^[1]

1 Strategy
2 Alternative stances
3 "Orthodox stance" film
4 References

[edit] Strategy

Typically in boxing a fighter would lead with a left jab, and follow with a right hook or right cross. Right-handed boxers are usually expected to fight from an orthodox stance, although a skilled right-hander can switch to the lefthanded (southpaw) stance to take advantage of the fact that most fighters lack experience against lefties. This switch may give the fighter a strategic advantage because of the tactical and cognitive difficulties of coping with a fighter who moves in a mirror-reverse of the norm. The fundamental risk of this strategy is that most fighters are less skilled attackers when fighting outside of their "natural" stance.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Alternative stances

The corresponding designation for a left-handed boxer is southpaw, and is generally a mirror-image of the orthodox stance.

[edit] "Orthodox stance" film

Orthodox Stance is also the title of a film documentary about Jewish boxer Dmitry Salita. It has been rumored that a movie about him is in the making, starring Eminem as Dmitry Salita, to be made by movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer.^[2]

He was offered a small role in an HBO boxing movie, "Infamous," as a fighter who loses a match against the film's protagonist, played by John Leguizamo. Salita turned down the part. "It was tempting, but if I did that, a lot of people who never saw me fight would see me lose."^[3]