Is blocking really that bad??

[Andre]

Do what suits you mate,we are all different.

I like trying different stuff that suits some situations and not others.

If they are out reaching you from the outside distance with their jab ,Try Catching their jab with your right hand next to your chin by turning to face the inside of it ever so slightly,once you can do that it should get your own left jab right into their face if you fire it off at the same moment, move right instantly though as soon as you've checked it with your right hand so that you open them up more, takes their balance away slightly to stop their rear arm comming and gets you away from their rear arm as well. You can follow their jab hand back in with your right hand as you close up on them.You can do all that off the back foot moving you into and then through a position, the lead foot twists slightly and adjusts automatically. You can even correct that lead foot slightly then pivot around it for your right hand shot.

With people in opposite stances try deflecting thier jab with your lead arm as it comes past your glove touch their elbow slightly on the outside and move in around it right then, or over it as they return.

You'd be surprised how a little shove halfway through a straight shot dissapates alot of the power out of the ending.
Interuption can be great for fighters who can time well but havent great speed themselves cause it allows you that extra split second as they adjust.

Worth playing around with in sparring.

[AdamGB]

Blocking isn't really that helpful, you can't counter effectively or quickly, you lose the tiring effect that making them miss a punch and over extending their arm has, it restricts your visibility and if they can punch hard then it's going to be very tiring for you if you rely on it too much. Your arms will be black and blue.

If I get a guy in his shell I'm going to f*ck his forearms/shoulders up, take his weapons away, break him down and open him up.

The other guy won't score a point when you block but if he hits hard enough he can still hurt you through your guard... obviously not as bad as if he hit your jaw/rib cage but it will take it out of you/wear you down.

It's useful sometimes... against an unfit puncher etc and when all else fails but I wouldn't learn to rely on it in the long run.

[God.in.my.corner]

Thanks for the feedback. I especially like the thought on moving of your back foot and following their jab back with a R counter. I would too often try to time a right by going over the top. When I would try this, i would usually eat the jab which would throw me off. And I usually find an overhand right has a longer distance to travel, especially versus a long jab.

I'm going to try following the jab back with the right. Thanks again.