Thefundamentalpunchesofwesternboxingaretaughtfortheirpracticalself-defensevalueandusefulnessinsparring.Studentslearnearlyonhowthejab-crossofwesternboxingrelatestothelungeandreversepunchwelearninourkaratetraining.Fromtherestudentslearnthehook,uppercut,andbasicdefensivemaneuvers,includingduckingandparrying.Bythetimestudentshavefinishedtheboxingprogression,theywillhaveagoodboxingfoundationinplaceandfeelcomfortableusingboxingtechniquesinsparringandself-defense.LevelI:Jab/Cross OneGreenStripe 1.Stance 2.Footwork 3.Combinations

LevelII:Hook/Uppercut/Roundhouse TwoGreenStripes 1.Footwork 2.Combinations

LevelIII:BasicDefense GreenBelt

1.Defenseagainstthefourbasicpunches 2.Theclinch

LevelIV:Evasion BrownBelt 1.Duckingandfading 2.Bobbingandweaving 3.Slipping

LevelV:StrategyandTactics BlackBelt 1.Inside/outsidegame 2.Threetypesoftiming 3.Drawing/baiting 4.Feinting/programming

LevelVI:Sparring BlackBeltandup

ABriefHistoryBarefistboxingwasapopularspectatoractivityinEuropethroughouttheDarkAges,anditwasnotuncommonformatchestoincludeallmannerofgrapplingandstriking.ItwastheBritishwhofirstpresentedboxingasaruledsport.Thefirstofthe“PrizeRing”championswasJamesFigg(orFig),whoattheageof24openedatrainingstudio,Figg’sAmphitheater,inLondonin1719,wherehestagedboutsandtaughtthecombativearts.Figgwasanexpertatquarter-staff(bo),cudgel,andshortswordfighting,butitwasasabare-fistboxerthatFiggmadehisname.Figgtookonallchallengesandremainedundefeateduntil1733(hediedin1734),anditisfromhisskillandenthusiasmthatthesportofWesternBoxingwasborn.JackBroughtonsucceededFiggasthesecondgreatfoundingfatherofthering.Broughtonalsofoughtprizebouts,andtaught“thetheoryandpracticeofthattrulyBritishArt”inhisLondonAcademy.Afterwitnessinghismentor,Figg,beingchokedbyhisopponentforoverhalfaminutebeforeescaping,Broughtonbeganrefininganewcodeofrulestoeliminatesuchbrutality.Theseincludednohittingbelowthebeltorstrikingafallenopponent.

RecommendedReading:

ChampionshipBoxing:ExplosivePunchingandAggressiveDefensebyJackDempsey,1950

SeetheSatoriDojolibraryforaphysicalcopy,oroure-libraryforaPDFdownload.

LevelI:Jab/Cross TheStanceThemostimportantconsiderationwhenitcomestoaboxingstanceisbalanceandflexibility.Youmustbeabletomovequicklyandsmoothly,andbeabletoshiftyourweighteasilyfromonelegtotheothertopuncheffectively.Thestandardboxingstanceisflexibleandallowsyoutobothattackordefend,moveinorout,orsidetosidewithease.Toensuregoodbalance,keepyourfeetaboutoneshoulderwidthwideandoneshoulderwidthlong.Yourweightshouldbeevenlydistributedbetweenbothfeet,withyourfrontfootturnedinwardslightly.Keepyourkneesbentandweightontheballsofyourfeettostay“lightonyourtoes.”Keepyourhandsupandelbowsintoprotectyourbody.Yourhandsshouldbeheldataboutshoulderheight,yourlooselyclenchedfiststurnedpalminwardwiththeknucklesrestingsoftlyonyourcheekstoprotectyourface.Finally,tuckyourchincomfortablyintoyourleadshoulderand“fightthroughyoureyebrows”topreventyouropponentfromlandingasquareblowtoyourfaceorchin,oneofthemostvulnerablespotsforaknockouthit.Theleftleadisfavoredbyright-handedboxersandiscalledtheorthodoxstance.Southpaws,orleft-handedboxers,prefertoleadwiththeirrighthand.FootworkTheultimateaimofboxingistohityouropponentwithoutbeinghitinreturn.Acommonsayinginboxingis“Footworkwinsfights.”Goodfootworkdependsonshortmovementssuchasthestep-dragmethodinordertomaintainafirmbase.Whenmovingtotheleft,moveyourleftfootfirstfollowedbyyourright.Whenmovingtotheright,moveyourrightfootfirstfollowedbyyourleft.Toretreat,moveyourrearfootfirstfollowedbyyourfront.Whenadvancing,moveyourfrontfootfirstfollowedbyyourrear.Maintainanon-guardpositionandprotectyourselfatalltimes.Useyourfootworktocontrolthedistancebetweenyouandyouropponentbymovingin,out,orside-to-side.Whenaright-handedfighterfacesanotherorthodoxboxer,circlingtoyourrightcanmoveyouawayfromyouropponent’sdominanthandwhileallowingyoutostilltargettheopponentwithbothofyourhands.

TheMechanicsofPunchingTherearethreeimportantfactorswhenconsideringthemechanicsofpunching:speed,accuracy,andpower.Forspeedyourpunchesmusttraveltheshortestpathtoandfromthetarget,andyoumustremainrelaxeduntilthemomentofimpact.Accuracydependsonpracticeandsmooth,fluidmovement.Forpoweritisessentialthatyougetyourweightbehindyourtechniques.Allthiscanbeobtainedbyrotatingonanimaginarycentralaxisinsuchamannerthatyourhipandshoulderprecedeyourarmmotionasyoushiftyourbodyweightfromonefoottotheother.Yourarmsareonlythevehiclesthroughwhichyoutransferthefullforceofyourentirebody.Punchthroughyourtarget,andreturnyourhandsimmediatelytoaguardedpositionalongthesameplanethatthepunchwasdelivered.JabThejab,orstraightlead,isaquickpunchthrownwithyourleadhand.Itisthemostcommonlyusedpunchinboxing.Knownforitsspeed,notitspower,aboxeruseshisjabtokeephisopponentoffbalancewhileattemptingtoexposehimtoaseriesoffollow-uptechniques.Tobeeffective,youmustthrowyourjabquicklyandusetiminganddeception.Fromaboxingguard(bothhandsup,elbowsin,chintucked,kneesbent),pivotyourbodyonitscentralaxis,rotatingyourleadshoulderforward,andsnapyourrelaxedarminastraightlinetothetarget.Rotateyourforearminwardasyoupunch,assumingahorizontalfistpositionatthemomentofimpact.Withoutdroppingyourhand,quicklywithdrawyourpunchingarmbacktoitsguardedposition.Useyourjaboffensivelybymovingforwardasyoupunch,ordefensivelyasyouretreat.Effectivecombinationscanbebuiltwiththejab,startingwiththedoublejab.Striketwice,usingthefirststriketosetupyoursecond.Youcanalsochangelevels,strikinghigh-loworlow-high.Thenextlogicalstepwouldbetotripleupthejab.Youcanaimallthreepunchesattheopponent’shead,ormixitupsuchashigh-low-high,low-low-high,high-high-low,etc.

CrossThecrossisapowerpunchthrownwithyourrearhand.Itisusuallythrownaftercreatinganopeningwithyourjab,butmustbeusedsparinglyasamisswastesenergyandcanleaveyouopentocounterpunches.Fromaboxingstance,keeptheleadsideofyourbodyfixedandpivotonitlikeahinge.Turnyourhipsforcefullyandthrustyourreararmoutintoapalmdownhorizontalpunchposition.Yourweightshouldshiftoveryourleadfootatthemomentofimpact,transferringyourbodyweightintothepunch.Withoutdroppingyourarm,quicklywithdrawyourpunchinghandbacktoitsguardingpositionandreturntoastableandbalancedstance.CombinationsEffectivecombinationsofthejabandcrossincludethejab-cross(1-2),thejab-cross-jab(1-2-1)andthejab-jab-cross(1-1-2).Developyourowncombinationsoftwotofourpunches,ormore.Justkeepinmindthatthemorepunchesacombinationhas,thelesschancethatitcanbethrownunimpeded.Youcanalsochangetherhythmofyourcombos,strikingfast-fast-fast,slow-fast-fast,slow-slow-fast,etc.Varythelevelsofyourattacks,strikinghigh-low-high,low-low-high,high-high-low,etc.Finally,thinkabouttheanglesofyourattacks.Confoundyouropponent’sdefensebysteppingslightlyofflineaninstantbeforelaunchingyourattack.Experimentontheheavybag,startingwiththreeone-minuterounds.

LevelII:Hook/Uppercut

HookThehookisabentarmpunchthatstrikesitstargetfromtheside.Althoughthehookcanbeexecutedwitheitherhand(theleadhookisanumber3punch,whiletherearhookisanumber4),theleadhookisthemostcommonlyusedandthetechniquethatwillbedescribedhere.Begininaboxingstanceandraisetheelbowofyourleadarmtotheside,levelingyourfistwiththetargetasyouforcefullypivotyourhipsintothetechnique.Turnyourleadhipandshoulderthroughyourcenterlineasyouwhipyourrelaxedleadarminanarcthroughthetarget.Trytomaintaina90-degreeangleattheelbowjoint.Powerinthehookcomesfromtransferringyourbodyweightatthemomentofimpact.Thestrikingsurfaceisthefirsttwoknucklesofyourfist,whichshouldbeverticalatthemomentofimpact,thumbupandpalmfacingin.Quicklyretractyourpunchingarmtoaguardedpositionoryouriskleavingyourselfexposedtoacounterattack.Itisimportantnottotelegraphyourhookpunchbyopeningyourstancetoomuchortooearly.Rememberthatthehookpunchisaclose-to-mediumrangetechniqueanddoesnottravelfartoitstarget(rarelymorethan18inches).Whenthrownproperly,yourhookpunchwilloftentakeyouropponentbysurprisebecauseittravelsoutsidehislineofvision.Althoughweakwhenthrownasanarmpunch,whenthrownwiththeforceofyourbodybehindit,thehookpunchcanbeadevastatingfinishingtechnique.Combinationswiththehookincludethejab-hook(1-3),thejab-cross-hook(1-2-3),andtheleadhooktothebodyfollowedbyaleadhooktothehead(3-3).

UppercutTheleadhanduppercutisanumber5punch,andtherearuppercutisa6.Therearhanduppercutisapowerpunchtothechinorbody.Itisveryusefulasacounterpunch,andaneffectivein-fightingtechnique.Fromaboxingstance,dipslightlyatthekneesanddropyourbodytotherearasyoubracetheelbowofyourpunchingarmonyourrearhip.Keepingyourarmbentatabouta90-degreeangle,pivotyourhipsandrearshouldertothecenterlineofyourbodyandforcefullystraightenyourbodyasyoudriveyourfistupwardandintothetargetusingthepowerofyourlegs.Quicklywithdrawthepunchingarmtoaguardedposition.Addtheuppercutpunchintoyourcombinationssuchasjab-cross-hook-uppercut(1-2-3-6),orjab-jab-uppercut(1-1-6).

RoundhousePunch (notrequireduntil1blackstripe)Theroundhousepunchisincludedherebecause,liketheuppercut,itbelongstothehookfamilyofpunches,onlytheroundhousehasamuchlongerrange.Alsoreferredtoasanoverhandrightorloopingpunch.Fromaboxingstance,corkscrewyourpunchingarmforward,arcingaroundoroveryouropponent’sguard.Twistyourwristandforearmtostrikethetargetwiththefirsttwoknucklesofyourfist.Quicklywithdrawyourpunchingarmtoaguardedpositiontopreventexposingyourselftocounterattack.Theroundhousepunchcanbeadeceptivetechniqueusedtogetaroundyouropponent’sguard.

Right:Anineteenthcenturyillustrationofabare-knuckleboxerlandingawell-placedroundhousepunch.

LevelIII:BasicDefense BlockingandParryingInthesportofboxing,gettinghitwithapunchisallbutguaranteed.Therefore,itisvitallyimportantforyoutolearnhowtoproperlydefendyourself.Thatway,whenyoudogethit,yourdefensewillminimizethedamage.Youshouldalwaystrytomaintaintheinitiativeandkeepmovinginanyboxingbout.Whenyouhavetheinitiative,itisyouwhoisincontrolanddictatinghowthefightisgoing.Losetheinitiative,andit'syouropponentwhostartscontrollingthefight.Whenyoulosetheinitiative,gointoadefensivemode.Defensiveposturesshouldjustbeatemporarystateforasshortatimeaspossible.Thelongeryoustayinadefensivemode,thegreaterthechanceyouhaveoflosingthefight.Trytoanticipateyouropponent’snextmove,findanopeningtolaunchacounterattack,andtrytoregainthatinitiativeagainasquicklyaspossible.DefendingAgainsttheJabTwomaindefensesagainstthejabarecatchingandparrying.CatchWithyourhandinthebasicdefensiveposition,yourpalmsshouldbefacingyou.Asyouseethepunchcomingin,twistyourwristsothatyourpalmfacesawayfromyou.Pushyourhandforwardthreetofiveinchestomeetthepunch,butdon’treachtoofaroryouleaveyourheadunguarded.Immediatelybringyourhandbackintoyourdefensiveposition.Youcanalsousethehandyoudidn’tblockwithtothrowacounterpunch.Thisiscalledcatchandreturn.ParryAneffectiveparryisatremendousweapontohaveinyourdefensivearsenalandisoftenusedtosetupdevastatingcountershots.Aparryisaslapusedtoredirectthemotionandtrajectoryofapunch,causingittomissyou.Leanyourtorsobackslightlyasyouparry,lettingyouropponent’smomentumcarryhispunchpastyou.Ifyouropponentthrowsaleft-handedpunch,slapitawaywithyourrighthand.Likewise,ifhethrowsaright-handedpunch,slapitawaywithyourlefthand.Afterasuccessfulparry,immediatelythrowapunchofyourownwhileyouropponentisoffbalanceandvulnerable.

DefendingAgainsttheCross

Commondefensesagainstthecrossaretheshoulderrollandthestopjab(jamming).Usethestopjabifyoucanseethecrosscomingearly,andtheshoulderrolltocoverupifyouseethecrosscominglate.ShoulderRollTheleftshoulderrollisaneffectivewaytoblockarightcrossaimedatyourhead.Leanyourtorsobackslightlyasyoushrugyourshouldertoyourear,keepingyouropponentinsightbypeekingaroundyourshoulder.StopJabThestopjabisbestusedagainstanopponentwhotelegraphshiscross.Astheopponentopenshisshouldertoloadthepunch,counterpunchwithajabtotheopponent’sshoulderorbicep,jamminghistechnique.Thistechniquecanbeusedwithanopenhandtosmothertherightcrossasyoucounterpunchormoveintotheclinch.

DefendingAgainsttheHookTwogooddefensesagainstthehookaretheduckandthewall.WallToblockahook,useyourfoldedarmtoformawallthatyoucanmomentarilyhidebehind.Toblockhigh,putthepalmofyourhandagainstthesideofyourheadjustbehindyourearandduckyourheadintotheblock.DuckDuckingisagooddefenseagainstahighhookpunch.Fromyourbasicstance,bendbothyourlegsattheknees,ensuringthatyoukeepyourbackstraight.Duckingneedstobeperformedasquicklyasyouropponentthrowshispunch,so,formaximumspeed,relaxyourkneesandletgravitypullyourbodystraightdown.Droponlyenoughfortheincomingpunchtograzethetopofyourhead,returningtoyourstartingpositionasquicklyasyoudropped.

DefendingAgainsttheUppercutTherearetwomainwaysofdefendingagainsttheuppercut.Thefirstistocoverandrollwiththepunch.Thesecond,theinsideparry,isahardstylelowerblockthatneutralizesyouropponent’suppercut.RollRollingwiththepunchesistheactoftwistingyourbodyawayfromthemomentumofyouropponent’spunch.Thisminimizesthedamagebyreducingtheamountofimpactyouhavetoabsorb.Becarefulnottobreakyourlineofsightwithyouropponentasthiscanleaveyouvulnerabletoattacksfromyourblindside.InsideparryTheinsideparry,alsoreferredtoas“brushingaway”,isasamesidelowerblock.Thepowerofthisdefenseliesinthefactthatyouaredrivingthebonyridgeontheouteredgeofyourforearmagainstthefarmorevulnerableundersideoftheopponent’sforearm.TheClinchClinchingisaneffectivedefensivetacticthatcanfrustrateyouropponentbyrenderinghisoffensenullandvoid.Clinchingistheactoftyinganopponentupatclosequarters,hugginghimtosmotherhispunches.Pressthesideofyourheadcloseagainstyouropponent’s.Youcanhookonehandbehindhishead,andtheotherinthecrookofhisleadarm,likeabasicjudogrip.Theclinchgivesyougoodopportunitiestocontrolthedirectionofthefight.Practiceclinchingwheneveryoursparringpartnercomesintooclose,tyinguphisarmsandnotlettinggo.Fromhereyoucouldcounterpunchthenreturntotheclinch,and/orapplyanunexpectedjudothrow,takingyouropponenttotheground.Thisisagoodwaytonullifyaboxer’sstrengths.

LevelIV-Evasion Gettinghittakesatollonyou,evenwhenyoublock.Evasion,theartofavoidingpunchescompletely,isessentialtoagooddefense.Constantlyshiftingyourheadpositionmakesyouamovingtarget,erraticandmuchhardertohit.Thiscanmakeyouropponenthesitanttocommittohispunches.Whenexecutedcorrectly,evasioncandisruptanopponent’srhythmenoughtothrowhimcompletelyoffhisgame.Techniquesofevasionincludeducking,fading,bobbing,weaving,andslipping.Whiletheseskillsareveryusefulwhenyouropponentisattackingyou,theyareequallyimportanttoapplywhenyouareontheoffensive,bothasyouarelaunchingyourattackaswellasafter,retreatingquicklyoutofrangetoavoidapossiblecounter.DuckingWediscussedduckingasagooddefenseagainstahighhookpunch,butyoucanduckjustaboutanypunchaimedatyourhead.Fromyourbasicstance,bendbothyourlegsattheknees,ensuringthatyoukeepyourbackstraight.Duckingneedstobeperformedasquicklyasyouropponentthrowshispunch,so,formaximumspeed,relaxyourkneesandletgravitypullyourbodystraightdown.Droponlyenoughfortheincomingpunchtograzethetopofyourhead,returningtoyourstartingpositionasquicklyasyoudropped.Agoodwaytopracticeduckingistodrillwithapartnerarmedwithapoolnoodle.Whenyourpartnerswingsatyou,duck.Addcounterattacks,punchingtothebodyasyouareducking,orimmediatelyafterrising.Workuptopracticingbyhavinganopponentthrowhooksatyourhead.Youcanthenaddtheduckintoyourheavybagorfocusmittswork.Makeitapointtoactivelymoveyourheadduringshadowboxing.Itwillsoonbecomesecondnaturetoyou,andyou’llbemuchmoredifficulttohitclean.

FadingAlsoknownasswaying,thefadehappenswhenaboxeranticipatesapunchandmoveshisheadbackwardsinordertoavoidit.Evenifthepunchisimpossibletoavoid,theswayisagoodwayoflesseningtheimpactoftheblow.Aproperfadebacknotonlyallowsyoutododgeyouropponent’spunchesbutalsogivesyoutheleveragetoseamlesslytranslateintoyourownwindup.Bybendingyourkneetofadebackwards,youcanreducesthestressonyourback,andachievebetterresultsthanifyouwereto'limbo'outoftheway. Liketheduck,trainyourfadewiththepoolnoodledrilldescribedabove.Workuptopracticingbyhavinganopponentthrowhooksatyourhead.Youcanthenaddthefadeintoyourboxingcombinationswhenshadowboxing,hittingtheheavybag,orworkingthefocusmitts.BobbingandweavingBobbingandweavingissimilartoducking,butwithaddedheadmovement.Liketheduck,bobbingandweavingdoesnotrequirethatyoumoveyourfeet.Startthebobbybendingyourkneesandloweringyourentirebody,keepingyourheadandchestup.Thenweave,movingyourheadlaterallysothatwhenyoustraightenyourlegs,yourheadisoutsideofthepunch.Likeducking,youneedtomovequicklyduringabobandweave.Makesbobbingandweavingakeyelementofyourdefensivestrategy.Practiceperformingvariousbobbingandweavingdrillsusingabelt,heavybag,apartnerwithapoolnoodleorfocusmitts,andwhenshadowboxing. SlippingDifferentfrombobbingandweaving,slippingpunchesisareactionarydefensivetacticandrequiresgreatreflexes.First,youmustanticipatetheopponent’sattack,thenmovetotheleftorrighteversoslightly,causingthepunchtomiss.Slippinginvolvesperformingtwoactionssimultaneously,bendingatyourwaisttoloweryourupperbodyandtwistingyourtorso.Doingabdominalexerciseswillhelpbuildyourstrengthtoperformaslipseamlessly.Practiceslippingpunchesbothonthefocusmittsandinsparring.Duringshadowboxing,envisionanimaginaryopponentandperformyourslipmovementsinfrontofamirror.Afteryouhavemasteredslippingpunches,aswellasbobbingandweaving,youwillbecomeextremelydifficulttohitandopponentswillgetfrustratedbecausetheyareunabletolandanythingofsignificance.

LevelV:StrategyandTactics

Yourstrategyisyouroverallplan,whileyourtacticsarethetechniquesyouusetoimplementthatplan.Agoodfightstrategyplaystoyourstrengths,whilemaskingyourweaknesses.Themostbasicstrategiesarebuiltaroundphysicalcharacteristicssuchassize,orspeed.DistancingOneofthesimpleststrategiestocontrolthefightistocontrolthedistancebetweenyouandyouropponent.Thetwovariantsonthisstrategyarecommonlyreferredtoastheinsidegameandtheoutsidegame.Whenfacingatalleropponent,youwillneedtogetpasthislongerreachinordertolandyourpunches.Therefore,youshouldprobablychoosetofightaninsidegame.Thiswillentailstayingoutofrangeuntilyouseeanopportunitytosafelycrossthegapbetweenyou.Onceinside,useacombinationofcloserangetechniquessuchashooksanduppercuts.Onthecontrary,atallerboxershouldusehislongerreachtohisadvantage,keepinghissmalleropponentatbaybyadoptinganoutsidestrategy.TimingTimingasanotherwaythatyoucouldcontrolafight.Therearethreetypesoftiming:anticipatingandhittingearly,beforetheopponentcanlaunchhisattack(inkaratethisisknownassensennosen),blockingandsimultaneouslycountering(sennosen),andstrikingaftertheopponent’sattackhasended(gonosen).Quickfightersshouldtrytogettheirtechniquesoffearly,usingtheirgreaterspeedandtimingtooutpunchtheirsloweropponent.Standingtoe-to-toewithyouropponentandattemptingtooutboxhimalsorequiresagoodeyeandfastreflexes.Sloweropponentsmightbemorecomfortableweatheringanopponent’sbarrageofattacksbeforeexplodingoutwithacountercombination.DrawingandBaitingDrawingisstrategyinwhichyoupurposelyleaveanopeninginanattempttogetyouropponenttoattackyou.Whilethismayseemcounter-intuitive,itcanbeusefultocreateanopeningforyoutocounterattack,and,sinceyouareexpectingtheattack,youwillbebetterpreparedtoevadeordefend.Byprovokingaparticularattack,youcanalsocontrolthefightbycontrollingyouropponent’schoices.Thisincreasesyourabilitytoanticipatecorrectlywhiledecreasingyourchoicereactiontime,becausefewerchoicesallowyoutoreactfaster.Baitingandcounteringistheeasiestwaytobeatanaggressivefighter.Ratherthantryingtoout-punchhim,becleverandgethimtothrowthepunchesyouwant.TheproperwaytobaitistomakeyourselfLOOKlikeyou’reopen,butyou’renotsupposedtoactuallyleaveyourselfvulnerable.YouwanttomakeyouropponentTHINKthatyou’reopen.Loweringyourhandsafewincheswhileleaningyourheadinslightlyisbaiting.Droppingyourhandstoyourwaistandstickingyourchinstraightoutisn’tbaiting,itsjuststupid.

Todrawajab,standatlongdistance,makingsureyou’refarenoughawaythatonlyhisjabcanreachyou.Then,loweryourhandsalittle.Bepreparedtoquicklyclosethedistanceandcounter.Moveyourheadandthrowacounterjab,abigrightcrossoralunginglefthook.TheThree-StepRulecanhelpyoucreateeffectivedrawingskillsbydevelopingavarietyofeffectivetacticsbasedonsoundstrategy. 1)Leaveanopeningyouropponentcannotresist. 2)Waituntilheiscommittedtotheattack,then 3)Counterwhereyouknowhewillbeopen.FeintingBoxingfeintsaremaneuversthataredesignedtodistractormisleadyouropponentbymakingthemthinkthatacertainactionwilltakeplacewheninfact,anotheractionornoactionactuallyoccurs.Implementingfeintsintoyourskillsetwillimproveyouasafighter.Examplesoffeintsincludepretendingtopunchbutthennotdoingit,orpretendingtohitthebodybutthengoingfortheheadinstead.Themostcommonfeintisthehalf-punch.Thenameisprettyself-explanatory,buttherightset-upandtechniqueisessentialtonotgiveyourgameaway.Basically,youraimistothrowapunchhalfway(orslightlyless)tomakeyouropponentreactinacertainway,openinghimupforarealpunch.It’simportantthatyoudon’tovercommittoyourfeintsoroverusethem,becauseasmartfighterwilleventuallycatchontoyourtrickandtrytocapitalizeonit.ProgrammingThehumanmindcanbeverypredictable.Weknowthatourbrainshaveanaturaltendencytolookforpatterns,andwecanusethisknowledgetotrickouropponentsintodoingwhatwewantthemtodo.Thisiscalledprogramming.Programmingisanexceptionalmethodofsettingupyourtechniquessoastomaximizeyourprobabilityofeludingyouropponent’sdefensesinordertolandadecisive,disablingstrike.Tobegin,deliverapunchtoanyopentarget.Ifitisblocked,retreattoyourreadyposition,onlytoattackthesametargetagain,inthesamemanner,amomentlater.Eachtime,observehowyouropponentcountersyourtechniqueandquicklydeterminewhereheisopeninthatinstant.Thethirdtimeyouattack,youropponentwillsubconsciouslyexpectthesameattackyouhavethrownpreviously.Usethatexpectationtoyouradvantagebyfeintingwiththeinitialtechniquebeforestrikingwhereyouropponenthaslefthimselfopen.Again,timingisimportant.Donotstrikeona1-2practicecountasitallowstheopponentanopportunitytoadjustandcounteryourtechnique.Instead,strikeonthehalf-beat…not1-2,but1-1.2!

LevelVI-SparringSparringisatimeforyouandyouropponenttohelpdevelopeachother'sskillsbypracticingrealboxingmovesinarealboxingenvironment.Itisnotthetimeforbothfighterstotryandbeateachotherup.It’salsoimportanttosparwithasmanydifferentpeopleasyoucantogetusedtodefendingagainstvariousfightingstyles.Pushyourselfphysicallyduringsparring,butnotthepointtowhereyoucan’tlearnanything.Developyourskills,correctyourweaknesses,andgetuseto“fighting”.Butdon’tsparwiththeattitudeoftryingto“win”.Whenyou’reabeginnerwithoutdevelopedboxingskills,it’stootemptingtowanttouseanythingotherthanskillstowin.Youmightdecidetorelyonyoursuperiorendurance,orsize,orthathardrighthandshot.Ifyouwinthisway,you’lllearnnothing.Youwon’tbeanybetterafterthesparringthanyouwerebeforeyougotinthere.Instead,tryexperimentingwithdifferentcombinationsofpunchingandmovement.Youalsoshouldn’tbetryingtoknockoutyouropponent.Whensparringwithaless-skilledopponent,don’ttrytobeathim,butfocusondefenseratherthanattack.Sparringiscriticaltolearningtoimplementallofthedefensivetechniquesyou’velearned.Youwantapartnerwhowillgetbettersohecantestyoumore.Therefore,giveyouopponentachancetomovewithyouandyoubenefitfromagreaterworkout.Letthatsparringbecomeadance,withbothofyougettingmoreandmorecomfortablewitheachother.Whatdoyoudoifyou’reonthelosingendofasparringmatch?Trynottogetfrustratedorfeeldefeated.Instead,adaptyourstrategyandtryagain.Ifyoufeellikeyouropponentisgoingtoohard,standupforyourselfandtellhimthathe’snotgivingyouachancetowork.Ifyoufeeluncomfortable,stopthematch.Youdonothavetoproveanythingtoanybody.Respectyourlimitsandrecognizethatyourhealthandgrowthinthesportareofparamountimportance.Ifyoudon'thaveanyonetopracticewith,tryshadowboxing.Useamirrortocheckyourform.Useadouble-endedslipballtohelpyoupracticeyourdefense.Thisisalightweightballthathangsfromtheceiling,butalsohasabungeecordthatsecuresittothefloor.Youcanusethedouble-endedslipballtoworkonyourreactionsandheadmovementwithoutgettinghithard.

BoxingintoJudo Tryingtooutstrikesomeonewithsuperiorstand-upskillsisalosingstrategy.Ifyoufeelthatyouarebeingout-classedatboxing,switchyourstrategytosomethingthatmaygiveyouanadvantage,suchastransitioningintograpplingandtakingyouropponenttotheground.Boxingalreadyutilizesanuprightposturesimilartojudo,especiallyinregardstoclinchworkwhereunderhooksandoverhooksarecommonwaysoftyingupanopponent.Thisalsogivesyouthepositioningyouneedtoexecutemostjudothrows.Onesimpleentryistokeepyourhandsupandadvancequickly,jabbingyourwayintotheclinch.Onceinside,grasptheopponentandusefootsweepsorthrowstodumphimtotheground.YoucanalsousethePhillyshell,avariationonthemodernguard,toentersidewayswhilejabbingintotheclinch.Thisallowsyoutoclosewithyourlegsbehindtheopponentandyourarminfrontforanover-the-necktakedown,or,conversely,withyourlegsinfrontandyourleadarmbehind,settingyouupforahipthrowsuchaso-goshi.Thestrengthofbeinganeclecticmartialartistliesisinourversatility.Wemaynotbeabletoout-boxsomeone,butcanhegrapple?Onceaboxerisonhisback,hecannolongershifthisweightandsoshouldhaveadifficulttimepunchingyouwithgreatforce.Abasicknowledgeofgrapplingshouldallowyoutocontrolandsubmityouropponent.