Punch and move

Punch and move: how to do it

1. When you finish punching, don't stand still. Change your position.
2. When your punch misses or gets blocked, move to the side or back so the opponent's return misses.
3. When your punch lands, don't back off. Step in once more and throw the next one.

Punch and move: key points

• Don't keep standing where you punched. The end of your punches is when the opponent's return comes.
• If all you do is move, you drift away too and lose your chances to attack.
• If you land, don't back off. Close in. Change the direction of your next step depending on whether you landed.

Punch and move: common mistakes

• Standing where you are after punching to watch how the opponent reacts. You take the return punch flush.
• Moving away every time, even when you land. The opponent gets time to recover and your attack doesn't continue.

Punch and move: how to practice

• In shadowboxing, move to the side or back every time you finish punching. Now and then, imagine you landed, and instead of moving away, step in once and keep going.
• On the heavy bag, change position once after you punch, then punch again. When the swinging bag comes toward you, don't back off. Close in and keep going.

Related techniques

• Exit after punching
  Exit
• One-two and pivot
  12Pivot
• One-two, slip out to the side
  12Slip
• One-two, then walk in
  12Close in
• Keep moving with small steps
  Small steps
• Step back
  Step back