Zone 2
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For the right-handed fighter, Zone Two usually represents a downwards, backhanded swing, slash or stab. Although it is still an extremely effective area to hit your opponent - containing as it does the right sides of the head, neck, shoulders and torso - it gains second-best status to Zone One due to the slightly less-natural, and often less-powerful movement involved.
All other characteristics of Zone Two are the same as for Zone One.
However after striking to Zone One, a strike to Zone Two is an extremely natural movement. Continuous attacks in rapid, fluid succession to Z1-Z2-Z1-Z2 form the basis of both the open & closed Figure-8, a concept which is introduced & trained with the basic student levels.
For left-handed fighters, Zone Two is really their Zone One. However by convention (and to avoid confusion in training) the striking zones are not reversed when training with a southpaw. This may seem silly & confusing at first, however when our student progresses to using a weapon in each hand, the reason for this sensible convention becomes clear.
Right-handed fighters are often at a disadvantage when facing a good left-hander. The orthodox person usually faces another orthodox person with the same strengths, however the southpaw is used to training against right-handers and gives powerful hits to their opposite, weaker side. Ideally a student should strive to become balanced with both sides of their body, however many people do often favour their strongest side. Try to train with a left-hander from time-to-time if you can!
Read more about the characteristics of other Striking Zones below;
- More about zone one
- More about zone three
- More about zone four
- More about zone five
- More about how the five zones overlap each other
Zone Two forms part of the Basic Box Theory which you can learn more about in other parts of this site.
