Blending Head Movement With Punching

[Youngblood]

I want to add that when I move my head while punching, I have a tendency to punch at more of an angle. If I slip while throwing a right hand, my right hand tends to go much more left than straight. It also tends to loop a little more. If I slip outside while throwing a jab, my jab tends to go much more right than straight.

Can you really avoid this though? I mean, If I'm slipping to the outside while throwing, but still try to punch completely straight, don't I lose almost all shoulder protection I'd get at the end of my punch?

I think a lot of this has to do with the body trying to balance itself, plus the repetition of learned behavior ie throwing from that angle usually etc. And that simply with practice at for eg. keeping the right a bit more right when slipping throwing it, it'll come around eventually and straighten out and find its target.

As for the head movement deal, that's a broad subject and someone like Scrap will understand much better the details of oral stability and it's importance in the whole process.

I will say that I believe head movement means 2 things to me. One it means I need to have it be in the right place so as to capitalize on speed and power when on offense, maximizing balance for it.

And then it is all defense. And that is all about not having your head where a punch is about to land. And unless you're some sorta freak of natural anticipation, it comes with time served. Learning opponents tendencies...where to be, and more importantly...not to be.

Both offense and defense overlap, eh obviously.

[Scrap]

As YB says its perception anticipation, its all the same idea. Doing some interesting stuff with it, its down to Balance.

[cambay411]

when you are moving your head back and forth slippin and bobbing the purpose is to not keep your head in one spot, your head is alot easier to hit when its not moving than moving. Also it keeps you focused and ready for example if your not moving your head your reaction time to someones punch will be slower, when your head is moving you have that headstart. There is alot of rythm and timing to it so it takes work. To help with you head movement while punching put a mirror on the wall level with your head hieght while your in your stance and shadow box. While you are shadow boxing make sure your head stays out of the mirror for example when you throw your right lean with it a little and even when your not punching keep slipping and bobbing. This has helped me with my overall head movement.