1. Personalize Your Style
Most boxers believe it is better to hit than be hit. To that end, they use "guards" or "styles" to block or intercept their opponent's punches. Which particular guard or style a fighter employs depends on what needs shielding their body or their head.
2. Bob and Weave the Punches Away
A bob-and-weave style of defense calls for getting underneath your competitor's gloves. Bob your head up and down while dropping under the oncoming punch. As the punch gets closer, bend your legs as you move to the left or right. After successfully deflecting your opponent's wrath, "weave" yourself into an upright stance on either side of his extended arm. Champion boxers, such as Rocky Marciano, Joe Frazier and Jack Dempsey, perfected the bob-and-weave technique.
3. Slip Out of Range
A more aggressive way of blocking a punch involves slipping and ducking. Slip a punch by swinging your body around far enough so that your adversary's punch glides by you, never making contact. When his glove gets close to you pivot your shoulders and hips to "slip" the punch. Mike "Iron Man" Tyson and the great Muhammad Ali favored this method of blocking punches. Ducking a boxer's punch is the counterpart to slipping. This move requires a fighter to "duck" down while keeping their back straight. If you "duck" properly and quickly enough, you and your opponent's glove never connect. Practice these moves on a heavy bag or while shadowboxing.
4. Block That Punch
Warding off or blocking a punch uses a fighter's body, particularly the shoulders, hands and arms, to shield themselves from their opponent's approaching gloves. Use your "palm" or "cuff" to purposely take a punch on that part of your glove. Another method of blocking a punch calls for holding both gloves close to your face and body. High hands protect you from the neck up, while tucking your arms into your upper body wards off uppercuts. Also, block those uppercuts by turning your hips, thereby allowing your competitor's fists to "roll" off.
5. Clinch Things Up
"Clinching" in boxing keeps your opponent from throwing hooks or body shots. This blocking technique generally occurs when there is little distance between the two fighters, making straight punches impossible to throw. In these instances, one boxer "ties up" the other's arms, prohibiting him from delivering punches. Perform a "clinch" by clutching your competitor's arms firmly to your torso. This pins his arms and deactivates his ability to punch.
Posted in: Boxing