Fundamentals
Mix it up high and low
High and low
Mixing it up high and low means splitting your punches between the head and the body so the opponent can't lock their guard in one place. Go to the head and they raise their arms. Go to the body and they lower them. Put the next punch into the gap that movement creates. Use it when you can't break a tight guard by going to the head alone.
| Type | Fundamentals |
|---|---|
| Goals | Body Punching Techniques |
| Guard | Written for orthodox (left foot forward) |
Mix it up high and low: how to do it
- Throw a punch to the head to make the opponent raise their arms.
- Hit the body that opens up when the guard rises. You can also go the other way: start with the body and aim at the head above the lowered guard.
- When the opponent starts protecting low, switch to the next pattern, such as going back to the head.
- When it looks like the opponent is reading "high next," go to the body again.
Mix it up high and low: key points
- You show high to open low, and show low to open high. Each time you punch, watch which way the opponent's arms moved.
- When the opponent starts locking down low, that's your signal to change the pattern. Don't keep the same order.
- Also have the option of making them think you're going back high, then hitting low again.
- Don't just change the high-low order. Try changing the gaps between punches and your rhythm too.
Mix it up high and low: common mistakes
- Throwing in the same order every time: high, low, high. The opponent reads it and times you as you go to the body.
- Folding only your upper body and dropping your head when you punch to the body. Your head ends up in front of the opponent and you get hit from above more easily.
- Splitting high and low without watching the opponent's guard. You end up hitting only the places that aren't open.
Mix it up high and low: how to practice
- In shadowboxing, decide where each punch is going before you throw it: body after head, head after body. Change the order every time.
- On the heavy bag, switch between head height and body height. For the body, bend your knees to match the height instead of folding only your upper body.
- In shadowboxing, throw the same high-low pattern at different tempos. Alternate between throwing it in one continuous burst and leaving gaps between punches.
Related techniques
By goalBody Punching 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.