Defense and footwork
Exit after punching
Exit
FlowExit
Exiting after punching means you never stay where you are once you finish punching. You always move out. There are three ways out: a step back, a slip, or taking an angle. The end of your punches is when the opponent most wants to fire back, so you move right then and make their counter miss.
| Type | Defense and footwork |
|---|---|
| Footwork and defense | Exit |
| Goals | Footwork Techniques |
| Guard | Written for orthodox (left foot forward) |
Exit after punching: step by step
- Finish your attack and bring your hands back to your guard.
- Get out with one of three moves: step back, slip to take your head out of the way, or take an angle to get off their front.
- Reset your guard where you end up and get ready for your next attack.
Exit after punching: key points
- Always exit when you finish punching. If you stay where you threw from, you become a target for their counter.
- Don't stick to one way out. Mix up all three and they can't narrow down where to time their punch.
- Link bringing your hands back and moving out without a break.
Exit after punching: common mistakes
- You stop after punching to see whether it landed. Then you take a counter as you finish.
- You exit in the same direction every time. Then they read where you're going and leave a punch waiting there.
- You move before your hands are back. Then you get hit on the way out.
Exit after punching: how to practice
- In shadowboxing, follow a one-two with a step back, a slip or an angle, rotating between them, so moving at the end of your punches becomes a habit.
- On the heavy bag, get off the front of the bag each time you finish a combination, and start punching again from where you end up.
Related techniques
By goalFootwork 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.