Defense and footworkNEW
Push (stop the step-in with your left hand)
FlowPush
The push is a defense against an opponent stepping in for a big shot: you extend your left hand smoothly, touch their shoulder or face lightly, and break their momentum and their setup for the big shot. Don't pull the hand back right after you touch. Wait for their weight to go back. Where a catch stops the punch itself with your palm, the push stops the body coming in, and it works both as defense and as a setup for your next attack.
| Type | Defense and footwork |
|---|---|
| Footwork and defense | Push |
| Goals | Close-Range Techniques |
| Guard | Written for orthodox (left foot forward) |
Push (stop the step-in with your left hand): step by step
- Watch for the start of the opponent stepping in for a big shot.
- Extend your left hand smoothly and touch your glove lightly to their shoulder or face.
- Don't pull the hand back right away. Wait for their weight to go back.
- While their setup for the big shot is broken, set yourself.
- Fire back with a right cross or a left hook.
Push (stop the step-in with your left hand): key points
- Once you touch, don't pull your hand back right away. If you pull it, they step back in during that gap.
- Push lightly. The aim isn't to shove them away but to send their weight back and break their setup for the big shot.
- Don't stop at the push. Set yourself while they're off balance and go straight into your counter.
- This is a different situation from shoving them off with your arms when you're chest to chest. The push is a move where you meet them with your extended lead hand while they're still stepping in, and stop them.
- Under the rules, pushing the opponent is a foul. In amateur boxing, extending your arm to block their vision or pressing your glove into their face or neck also counts as a foul. Don't push through. Keep it to a light touch at the start of their step-in that stops their momentum, and don't keep pushing.
Push (stop the step-in with your left hand): common mistakes
- Pushing by leaning only your upper body forward. You lose your own balance and get pushed back or countered.
- Pulling your hand back right after you touch. They get their momentum back and come straight in.
- Stopping to watch after the push. They recover from the position you broke.
Push (stop the step-in with your left hand): how to practice
- In shadowboxing, picture the opponent stepping in, extend your left hand and touch lightly, set yourself and throw a right cross. Repeat the flow.
- On the heavy bag, touch the bag lightly with your left hand as it swings back to stop it, then fire back right away. Check that you're not pushing into it too much.
Related techniques
By goalClose-Range 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.