The Side-Step
Part of the reason I like going over old boxing manuals is to find forgotten veins of wisdom that may still be applicable today. When putting the old lessons of pugilism next to our own school of thought we can discover new possibilities to take advantage of, new strategies, concepts, and moves that we can use to spice up our repertoire. One such move that we'll examine in this thread is the "Side-Step."
The Side-Step is a little different than what many people today may think as simply a step to the side as the term could imply. Here are a couple of pictures taken from R. G. Allanson-Winn's
Boxing:
Now although the pictures are a little crude, with a couple of small adjustments they can be made more effective. Here's how you can do it.
First get into your boxing stance, and without moving your left foot at all, step to your right. While doing so you want to throw your weight to the right, letting gravity accomplish this move, and thereby slipping their jab in the process. To follow up, push and turn off of your right foot, throwing a right hook over their extended left arm. This tip is absent from the pictures, but be sure to use the turning and push off of your right foot to accelerate your punch. With the proper timing, this move can be good counter to finish off an opponent.
In the second picture, it's the same move except that you're countering with a right to the body. As with the previous example, you want to use your right foot to give your punch torque. After your throw the right to the body you're in position to follow up with a left hook.
As for another small change, it'd be better to do this move closer to your opponent than the pictures show. Just barely slip their jab, and then quickly follow up with your right. It might also help if you keep your left foot outside of their left foot while you're boxing your opponent. This is not a difficult move to master but as with all things in boxing it will take practice!
The Side-Step: A Move from Boxing's Past
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