Defense and footwork
Catch (stopping the punch with your palm)
Catch
FlowCatch
The catch is a defense where you stop an incoming punch head-on with your palm. Unlike a parry, which knocks the punch off course to the side, it stops the punch itself and breaks the opponent's forward movement and rhythm. Use it when you want to stop the momentum of an opponent coming forward, or when you want to cut the flow of their attack for a moment.
| Type | Defense and footwork |
|---|---|
| Footwork and defense | Catch |
| Guard | Written for orthodox (left foot forward) |
Catch (stopping the punch with your palm): step by step
- Hold both hands in front of your chin and watch for the start of the opponent's punch.
- Before the fist arrives, decide which part of your palm you'll take it on.
- Decide which way you'll press, and put your palm squarely in front of the line the fist is coming on.
- The moment the fist arrives, press with your palm and stop its forward force.
- Once you've stopped it, bring your hand back to your guard position and get ready for your next move.
Catch (stopping the punch with your palm): key points
- Stop it, don't deflect it. The opponent's forward movement is stopped along with the punching arm, and their rhythm for the next punch breaks.
- Decide where you'll take it and which way you'll press before the fist arrives. If you look for the angle of your hand after it arrives, you get pushed back.
- Wait with your palm close to your face. If you reach out to meet the punch, you can't form the shape to stop it.
Catch (stopping the punch with your palm): common mistakes
- Reaching your hand out to meet the fist. You fall for feints more easily, and the farther your hand goes, the more the front of your face opens up.
- Putting your hand out without deciding where you'll take it. The fist meets the edge of your palm, slides off and gets through to your face.
- Leaving your hand where it is after stopping the punch. You're late getting ready for the next punch.
Catch (stopping the punch with your palm): how to practice
- In shadowboxing, picture the line of the opponent's jab, put your palm there, press to stop it, and immediately return to your stance. Repeat.
- In front of a mirror, check that the way your palm faces and the direction you press are the same every time.
- On the heavy bag, stop the bag with your palm as it swings back to you, and make it one continuous motion from there to a left jab.
Combinations that use this move
Related techniques
Left and right are written for orthodox (left foot forward). If you're southpaw, swap left and right as you read. How to read the notation
This is Japanese-style boxing: techniques as taught at a boxing gym in Japan. American or Mexican coaches may teach some of them differently.