DEFENCE

Boxing is art of hitting without being hit!

Boxing is boxing and to become a competitive boxer you are going to get hit ! There is no competitive boxer in history that has not been, although there are boxers who get hit less than others. The boxers that do get hit the least are those with good footwork and a strong defence.

In boxing there are many ways to avoid being hit, there is a very important thing to remember in Olympic style boxing, from every defensive move you make it should put you in a position to counter punch. 

There are three main component of a boxers defence.

1. Basic hand defence

2. Footwork and body movement

3. Counter offence

1. BASIC HAND DEFENCE

From the basic guard position, with your hands up at cheek height and your elbows tucked into your sides and chin down all of the following 

Rear Block Deflections: This is the most effective and common defence for the jab. As the punch comes towards you move your right hand out to meet it about 50-80mm (2-3inches) from your face. As the punch hits your hand, twist it slightly so the punch is deflected away from your face.

1. Do not chase the punch, leaving yourself open.

2. Only defend the punches that may hit you.

3. Do not move your hand across or down as you your opponent may a punch fake to draw your defence away. 

Front Block Deflections: This is one of the safest and strongest defences for the right cross to the head. As the punch comes at you, lift your left hand keeping it close to your temple about 100mm (4 inches) coming close to the front of your ear, allowing the right cross to strike you're your fore arm. Its best if your hand is moving when the punch connects as the power of the punch will be deflected.

Side Block Deflections: This is a strong defence for the left or right hook to the head. As the punch comes at you, lift your right hand about 150mm (6 inches) coming across your ear, allowing the hook to strike you're your hand or arm. Its best if your hand is moving when the punch connects as the power of the punch will be deflected and not push your own hand into your head

Fore arm and elbow defence 1: Lead punches to the body (Jab or right cross), are a good way to score points in Olympic style boxing as they are easy for the judges to see from most positions around the ring. They look easy to defend but as most boxer are mainly interested in protecting their heads; the body between the shoulders and the waistline is often neglected. This body area is also by far the largest target area and should be targeted to score points. There are two main ways to protect this area, one by quickly pushing back with the front leg to move away and avoiding the punch. You can also pivot the hips slightly as you move, this will keep you in range allowing you to counter move easily. The second is by moving the forearm and elbows in from the sides to take the punch on the arm.

Things to avoid; Do not use a sweeping motion with the arm to try to parry the punch away as this is an out dated defence, that will leave you open to various punches.

Fore arm and elbow defence 2: Upper cuts, body rips and hooks whilst you are in close range, although harder for the judges to see clearly and don't score as well as lead punches to the body, they are dangerous and must be defended against. The only real defence is to use the forearm and elbows, keeping them close to the body and moving to protect the body against all blows.
 

FOOT WORK AND BODY MOVEMENT

Footwork; Good footwork is the basis of all defence and offence, moving the body in and out of range is the first line of defence especially at the early stages of your boxing career. Pushing back with your front foot and moving out of range is the first thing that you should be aware of, even with the strongest defence some punches will get through so taking a small step back will take the pressure off and help you remain composed.

Side stepping; It is important that you get into a habit of, if you are moving back you go in different directions not just straight back. This will stop you from being in front of an opponent who is throwing a flurry of punches As your opponent moves forward towards you, side step to the left or to the right after your initial step back, this will take you out of your opponents range and put you into a position to counter safely.

Ducking: Ducking is flexing a little at the knees and bending at the waist, to lower your head under the punch. Keep your hands up, your head up and your eyes on your opponent. You move in a teardrop pattern coming back to were you started quickly. In an ideal world we duck from the waist, keeping your back straight and always being in a position to counter.

Things to avoid- Do not duck to low as it is a fowl and you cannot counter from down there.

Outside slip: Slipping a punch to the outside of a means if the punch comes from the opponent's left hand you move your head to your right. A slip is a very quick side movement of your head to avoid an incoming punch and then return back to your stance. You can slip to either side, though it is safer to go to the outside of the punch as this put you out of danger of a follow up punch. Always slip from waist, keeping your back straight and always being in a position to counter.

Things to avoid- Don't slip to far, you only need to move enough to avoid the punch this will make countering easier.

Inside Slip: Slipping to the inside has to be performed very fast and with confidence, slipping to the inside puts you in the target area and in range of a second punch so it must be performed quickly and usually with a counter punch in mind. As a left punch comes at you move your head to the left, slip from the waist, keeping your back straight and always being in a position to counter.

Rear Pivot: This is an advanced defence; it is a rear movement of the head where the waist and the rear leg control the movement. To perform this defence you keep you back and neck straight, drop your rear foot and your rear knee while leaning back slightly at the waist. This action will move your head back enough to avoid the attackers punch.

COUNTER OFFENCE

As I often say "one of the best forms of defence is attack" The last thing a boxer wants when he is trying to score points is to be punched in the face. The first thing a boxer who comes under attack will do is to bring his hands close to his face to defend himself, thus eliminating his attack, this can be used a simple defence.

This defensive strategy could be looked upon as counter punching except for the main point of it is to stop your opponents the offence, it could be used at any time but the main times would be when you are on the ropes or in a corner.

Whilst under pressure from an attacker that has put you on your back foot (pushing you back) and pushed you to the ropes, go to a strong defensive position with both hands close to protect the scoring parts of the body. This will often cause your opponent to plant his feet and start hooking, as this happens open up with a volley of hard straight punches to his head. He will have to defend him self from your attack and as he does, move from the ropes around him and attack from his left or right.

The most important of all defence "Keep your hands up"

THINGS TO AVOID.

Blinking or flinching, this can often be a problem for young boxers and novices boxers. There is a simple way to stop this behaviour. Have the boxer with the blinking problem stand in front of a boxer with his by his side. Tell the other boxer to throw punches to the face and around the eyes with no or only touch contact to the boxer with the blinking problem. The boxer with the blinking problem must not move or blink at all, try this for 4 x 30 second rounds. This exercise will usually clear the problem.

The above info is taken from the book "Olympic style boxing " written by Richard Davis and is copyright © 2006. The info is for personal use only.