Slip Punches in Boxing
If you've ever seen Muhammad Ali in a boxing match, it is likely that one of your most pressing questions is, "Why can't the other boxer hit him?" Early in his career, Ali bragged that he never trained hard for fights. Truly, his greatest talent was an almost superhuman ability to slip punches.
The concept is simple: get out of the way of the punch. The ability can be learned, but it requires lightning fast reflexes and years of practice.
Contents
Steps
- Observe your opponent. Often, having fast reflexes is not enough. During a fight, you can become punch drunk or tired and lose your faculties. Thus, you must study your opponent in the beginning of the fight and learn his tells. When is he going to throw a punch? What punch is it going to be. Don't make too many assumptions because there is a chance that he is trying to get you into habits that will set you up for a knockout punch.
- When he throws a punch, move slightly out of the way. Make sure that you only move enough to dodge the punch. Don't move too much or too little.
- Do not move your head back to where it came from! This amateur mistake is very predictable and can lead to a quick knockout. instead adjust your feet slightly to match where your head is or bob and weave into a new position--anywhere but where your head started will do.
- Slip to the outside. This makes you impossible to hit after slipping. This rule should be followed loosely when it comes to jabs. Your opponent may do one of the following to throw you off:
- Throw a jab a little to the left, hoping he can catch you being predictable
- Throw or feint one jab and throw another quick one hoping that you don't have any room left on the outside or that you won't recover quickly enough.
Tips
- A good idea is to get your body warmed up by stretching and jumping a little so that your body will be ready and awake to be able to slip punches when noticing punches come your way.
- With straight rights, slip to the left. Follow it up with an uppercut or a straight right of your own.
- After slipping one punch, it is likely that another is coming. Keep your cool, pay attention and be ready for another punch.
- An inherent advantage of slipping is that one of your opponents' hands is next to your head. That is one less hand he can use to defend himself and a hand that he must pull back before he can go anywhere.
- Always warm up your neck before dodging or slipping to prevent stiffness
- Slipping a left hook is as easy as leaning back a few inches. A straight right is the best way to make your opponent pay for a missed left hook. It may end the bout.
- When slipping jabs, mix it up and for the most part just try to stay out of range. Often, opponents have a habit of encroaching after a jab. If you can catch them off-guard as they step into your space, punish them with any punch you see fit.
- Practice slipping when you are working the heavy bag. Slip the most common counter punches to the punches you are practicing. Remember to mix it up a bit though. Do not get into predictable habits that can be exploited.
Warnings
- NEVER slip so that you are off balance in anyway, you want to be able to stay in control and keep your body generally leaning forward.
- Slipping effectively requires a great deal of practice. Spar with a trusted friend and go slowly. Don't have him throwing hard punches until you are sure you are ready for it.
Related Articles
- Train for Boxing
- Jab in Boxing
- Throw a Straight Right in Boxing
- Throw a Left Hook in Boxing
- Bob and Weave in Boxing
- Fake a Powerful Punch
- Throw Better Punches
- Throw Good Boxing Punches
