Thread: Defence? - Contains an excellent post on shadowboxing.

I know the best way to practice your defence is in the gym, defence drills, light sparring shadow boxing ect, but I wondered if any of you guys had any good drills that would help with defence that could be worked on alone and when not in the gym.
thx guys.

Here's one that Sharla got back into my brain!

Tie a rope from one end of the room to another, bob and weave under it an throw punches when you come up. It really helps in terms of defense as it makes the movements natural.

Nice 1 Donny this is like Rocky uses right ? lol, im gna try this thx cc.

I think theres somethin like that in there man yeah!

Slip bags are never a bad idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdN-B2KweIc

I don't mean to insult or denigrate anybody, but I don't put much store in the rope strung across the ring. When Eddie Futch did that to train frazier to fight Ali, it suited THAT fighter for THAT fight. It has no relevance at all for many fighters. In my experience, it comes in most handy with a hym gull of secretaries looking to get in shape. They've seen the Rocky movies and it makes them feel like they are participating. Again, depending on your style, it may work for you.
But if you are tall, or even average, for your weight, then you need to do something else. To me, it is very simple, at least for a start. Don't ever hit the heavy bag or any bag, unless you first envision, and then elude, a punch thrown at you. Never just hit the bag and stop: you also have to avoid his return. If you practice "slip the lab, left hook right hand left hook, pivot out", you'll build habits that will help you avoid punches.

I was watching Ricky Hatton train and his trainer does something very good in terms of practicing Ricky's slipping. He just throws punches at him. Thats it. Jabs and right hands. Isn't that the best way to practice slipping punches? To actually have them thrown at you?

You can do with this with your trainer or with a partner. I was watching Hatton's fight with Tszyu and Tszyu had virtually no effect trying to land his jabs and straight rights. He had a very good feel of, not only the punches, but whenever Tszyu was getting ready to jab or when he was going to throw a right hand. Practicing with a rope will not allow you to get a feel for an opponent's body: the way it moves, the slight things it does when it prepares to punch, your distance in relation to an opponent's head/liver etc

Awesome posts

ThomasTabin raised the best point here. "Isn't that the best way to practice slipping punches? To actually have them thrown at you?"

Light Technical sparring would be an incredibly useful and i would say essential part of any fighters training when attempting to improve defensively

We use the arrow here
Its not solo,but
There are three main spots you can slip,both shoulders and your head
I wave an arrow in front of you and tap,you slip from where I just tapped
That way you cant have any control,or get in to a rythm

I can block most shots and have very good reflex, but due to a bad left knee i struggle to stoop to my left too low - i think im pretty screwed if my spar's read this

Originally Posted by greynotsoold

I don't mean to insult or denigrate anybody, but I don't put much store in the rope strung across the ring. When Eddie Futch did that to train frazier to fight Ali, it suited THAT fighter for THAT fight. It has no relevance at all for many fighters. In my experience, it comes in most handy with a hym gull of secretaries looking to get in shape. They've seen the Rocky movies and it makes them feel like they are participating. Again, depending on your style, it may work for you.
But if you are tall, or even average, for your weight, then you need to do something else. To me, it is very simple, at least for a start. Don't ever hit the heavy bag or any bag, unless you first envision, and then elude, a punch thrown at you. Never just hit the bag and stop: you also have to avoid his return. If you practice "slip the lab, left hook right hand left hook, pivot out", you'll build habits that will help you avoid punches.

That's excellent advice about the heavy bag and something I've been trying to lately. I'm just back after a long layoff and I'm with a new coach who more focused on defense and and countering.

As far as dipping under the rope and punching, for me it really helps my balance and footwork, in addition to the leg workout. I don't think it can hurt anyfighter, even a tall fighter, to spend a few rounds ducking the rope and punching from time to time. Of course, I'm a novice, but I feel like I'm getting a lot of benefit from it.

When slipping a straight punch, you don't need any exagerated movement, simply move just enough to get out of the way of the blow.

Originally Posted by Trainer Monkey

We use the arrow here
Its not solo,but
There are three main spots you can slip,both shoulders and your head
I wave an arrow in front of you and tap,you slip from where I just tapped
That way you cant have any control,or get in to a rythm

What about timing a punch?

When using a line, dont go down the line willy nilly. Use the line also by facing it rolling forward and back with step offs good fun and better for foot placement

Originally Posted by Chris N.

When slipping a straight punch, you don't need any exagerated movement, simply move just enough to get out of the way of the blow.

Originally Posted by Trainer Monkey

We use the arrow here
Its not solo,but
There are three main spots you can slip,both shoulders and your head
I wave an arrow in front of you and tap,you slip from where I just tapped
That way you cant have any control,or get in to a rythm

What about timing a punch?

Thats half the fun Chris,youve got to time me