FundamentalsNEW
Sink with your knees to avoid punches
Bend the knees
When you avoid a punch, don't bend at the hips or lean your upper body far back. Sink using your knees. Sinking with your knees keeps your balance, so you can fire back right after you avoid the punch. Avoid with your hips and your head drops, but your body tips forward or back and your next move is late. This is the base shared by every defense.
| Type | Fundamentals |
|---|---|
| Guard | Written for orthodox (left foot forward) |
Sink with your knees to avoid punches: how to do it
- Stay in your stance with your knees slightly soft.
- When a punch comes, keep your back upright and bend your knees to sink.
- Keep your weight around the arches of your feet, where you can step back at any time.
- Straighten your knees to come back to stance height, and fire back from there.
Sink with your knees to avoid punches: key points
- Sink with your knees. Fold from the hips and your head drops, but your body tips forward.
- Don't lean your upper body far back to avoid punches. You can't fire back from a position tilted backward.
- Don't lock your weight forward. Keep it where you can step back at any time.
Sink with your knees to avoid punches: common mistakes
- Bending at the hips to drop your head. You lose your balance and your counter after avoiding the punch is late.
- Avoiding with your weight locked forward. You're slow to move into stepping back.
Sink with your knees to avoid punches: how to practice
- In front of a mirror, bend your knees to sink and check from the side that your back stays upright. Repeat.
- String a rope at about shoulder height and go back and forth under it, sinking at the knees. Throw one punch right after you go under.
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.