If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will know that David Gallick and I went on a man-date to the premiere of Southpaw on Thursday, and David did a spectacular job breaking down how it ranks as a film (if you haven’t already, you should really read it).
Why is it called Southpaw?
One of the biggest questions I had going into this film was “why is Jake Gyllenhaal not standing southpaw in the poster?” (If you don’t know what southpaw position is read this in-depth article by Sean Feral describing the strengths and weaknesses of the stance). After watching this movie I can definitively say that there was almost no reason to name this movie Southpaw.. OK.. I take that back. There was ONE technique in the film – a step-through right cross to a left uppercut. A bold, if unwise technique that ends with the puncher in a southpaw posture.
The Choreography
All-in-all I would say that Southpaw had some of the better boxing choreography that I’ve seen in a while. If you are a fan of the sport I don’t think you will be disappointed. The film starts out with Gyllenhaal’s character, Billy Hope, in the ring taking some major punishment with his hands down. For this moment you will fear that the choreography from Rocky has returned from the grave to inhabit this unsuspecting boxing movie with its shame. This turns out not to be the case, and a major plot point in this film is building Hope’s defensive skills so that he can go into the ring and win back the title. Throughout this movie you will see many clean combinations and some good footwork.
However there are some aspects that may raise some eyebrows.There is a moment in the middle of the final fight when Hope’s trainer tells him to use Philly Shell and it is as if he has gone Super Saiyan.
Although there are many moments to talk about in this movie, the step-through cross to left uppercut is clearly the most controversial, and being the film’s namesake, this technique is definitely worth exploring. Let’s dive in to see if this odd technique is legitimate or if we should file it away under the same category as the Crane Kick or Dim Mak.
The Step-Through Cross
This is such an uncommon technique that I could not find a boxing term for it. If you do Karate you will know it as Oi-zuki, but its use in boxing and MMA is very limited. In this technique you step your back leg to the front while throwing a punch with your back hand. This results in a very committed punch that, if undefended, could easily be a knock-out.
By stepping forward you are able to put all of your bodyweight into the punch. However, this forward momentum slows execution notably. Some say that it also makes the punch less snappy, but I would argue that this has more to do with the improper execution of the technique. If you look at the gif above, you will see that the punch comes out with a lot of speed. By stopping his body’s momentum with a slamming step, the puncher allows all of the momentum to be carried forward through his relaxed arm. This is similar to when you slam the brakes in your car and everything in it flies to the front.
One of the primary issues with this tactic is the amount of time it takes to execute. Typically, boxing punches are snapped out and then immediately retracted to protect the face. This strategy ensures that boxers are never left undefended for very long. By stepping forward the attack is telegraphed and the defender has more opportunity to defend.
As a direct result of this opportunity, a second concern arises: since the attacker’s right side is coming forward, the defender has an opportunity to circle to the outside where he will be in perfect range to deliver a left hook to the liver.
Although it does leave the attacker open for a counter it offers another big advantage: it’s range. Much like a superman punch, this strike allows you to close a lot of distance in an unexpected amount of time.
If used properly, this reach advantage can allow you to catch someone off guard with a power punch when they are least expecting it.
The Verdict
Although the step-through cross is a risky technique it can be done, and there is no reason why a true master shouldn’t do it. This technique is no Crane Kick, but to use it effectively, you would need a supreme level of timing that only the best can muster. We have seen similarly aggressive strategies work in the ring, and these are ultimately the techniques that leave people talking for years to come. The pure audacity of putting everything on the line for one punch is the stuff of legends, and I personally would love to see more of it in the ring.
Expertise is knowing how to follow the rules; mastery is knowing when to break them.
