Japanese-Style Boxing Counterpunching Techniques

Techniques that hit back the moment the opponent punches. Some counter after defending, some punch while defending, and some punch after making the punch miss. 21 techniques

• Parry, then left jab
  Parry1
  Parry, then left jab is a routine where you parry the opponent's left jab and fire back one left jab of your own right away. It's a basic pattern for teaching your body to hit back after defending instead of stopping there. It's the first answer to the opponent's left jab, and one you'll want to drill again and again. Because it's simple, how small your parry is and how fast you fire back show up as they are.
• Parry, then one-two
  Parry12
  A parry is a defense where you lightly tap the opponent's jab inward with your palm so it goes past your face. This page covers parrying their left jab inward with your right hand and, without stopping that motion, hitting back with a one-two. Use it when the opponent is measuring distance with the jab, or pushing forward behind it.
• Left jab, parry, one-two
  1Parry12
  Jab, parry, one-two is a combination where you throw a left jab first, parry the left jab the opponent sends back, and fire back a one-two right away. Use it when you get into a jab exchange, to take back the flow of the attack instead of just defending. It works especially well when the opponent has a habit of answering your jab with their own.
• Step back, then jab as they follow (vs. their one-two)
  Step back1
  Step back, then jab as they follow (against their one-two) means stepping back out of the opponent's one-two to make distance, then landing a left jab as they keep coming to stop their advance. If you only step back, the opponent rides the momentum and keeps pushing you. Leaving a left jab in front of your face after you step back cuts off the momentum that carries them forward.
• Step back, then one-two
  Step back12
  Step back, then one-two is a combination where you step back to make the opponent's attack miss and then come back in with a one-two. Don't just step back. Make the moment right after their attack hits air your way in to counter. Let their forward momentum spin out, and come in yourself right after it stops. Use it when you're stepping back to meet the opponent's step-in.
• Slip, then right cross
  Slip2
  Slip, then right cross is a counter where you slip the opponent's left jab with a small move to the right and drive in a right cross as you come back. Use it when the opponent is throwing a straight jab, and send the right cross over their jabbing arm. The slip itself gets you ready to punch, so there's almost no gap between defense and offense.
• Slip, then left hook
  Slip3
  Slip, then left hook is a counter where you slip the opponent's right cross to the left and turn the twist that creates in your body into the rotation of a left hook. The aim is to land it while they're still finishing their right. Don't slip and then wind up. Get ready to punch inside the slip itself.
• Step back and place a left hook
  Step back3
  Step back and place a left hook is a counter for an opponent coming straight forward. You step back to make their punches miss and place a left hook as your back foot lands. Don't fight their advance. Step back and have the left hook waiting where they're about to step in. Leaving no seam between stepping back and punching gives them no time to react.
• Simultaneous left jab counter (while parrying)
  Parry＋1
  Simultaneous left jab counter (while parrying) means parrying the opponent's left jab with your right hand and driving in your own left jab on the same beat. Unlike "Parry, then left jab," where you parry first and then fire back, the defense and the punch happen at the same time. The moment the opponent punches becomes your time to counter. Because you get your hand out first against their left jab, it's easier to take control of the exchange.
• Step back to draw them in, then right cross
  Step back2
  Step back to draw them in, then right cross is a counter where you aren't pushed back. You step back on your own to draw the opponent in, then time a right cross as they step forward. You use the step back as a trap to pull them in. Keep the right loaded while you step back so you can meet the moment they step in.
• Slip, then left body hook
  Slip3b
  Slip, then left body hook is a counter where you slip the opponent's punch and drive a short left hook to the body on the way back. Unlike a counter to the head, you can go for the stomach from the low position you slipped into, which splits their defensive attention between high and low. It's also a set pattern you repeat to teach your body to go straight from defense into a counter.
• Block and fire back
  Block12
  Block and fire back is a combination where you block the opponent's punch and then, without a pause, return a left jab or a one-two from that same spot. If you only block, you spend longer on defense and the opponent keeps punching. The moment right after the block overlaps with the end of their punch, so it's an easy moment to get a counter in.
• Block, then right cross (vs. their one-two)
  Block2
  Block, then right cross (against their one-two) is a counter where you take the opponent's one-two on your two-arm guard and fire back a right cross right after they finish their right. Use it at close range when there's no room to get out of the way, or when the opponent is pushing in with combinations. Don't stop at blocking. Brace your core and make blocking and hitting back from that same spot one movement.
• Simultaneous right cross counter (shoulder switch)
  Head off line＋2
  Simultaneous right cross counter (shoulder switch) means moving your head slightly to the left as the opponent punches and throwing a right cross by turning your right shoulder ahead of your left. The shoulder switch extends your reach and, at the same time, takes your head off the line of their attack. Because the punch itself is also your defense, use it when you and the opponent are punching at the same time.
• Two-stage counter (countering the counter)
  Parry12
  Two-stage counter (countering the counter) means parrying the opponent's punch, drawing their return with a short left jab, and slipping the power right cross in as they fire back. You don't stop at one counter. Defending, hitting back and timing their return all become one sequence. Use it when the opponent is also looking to counter, and turn their plan against them.
• Simultaneous left jab counter (catch)
  Catch＋1
  Simultaneous left jab counter (catch) means stepping in as the opponent throws a left jab, catching it with your right hand just as it starts, and throwing your own left jab at the same time. You don't knock their jab aside. You stop it head-on, which breaks both their forward movement and their rhythm. Use it against an opponent trying to take control with the jab.
• Simultaneous left jab counter (head off line)
  Head off line＋1
  Simultaneous left jab counter (head off line) means moving your head just off the line of the opponent's left jab while throwing your own left jab, so yours wins. You do it with your chin tucked, so even if their jab lands, it hits the front of your face instead of the point of your chin. Keep your eyes on the opponent as you punch, and you set yourself up to land first in a jab exchange.
• Simultaneous left jab counter (catch, then slip)
  CatchSlip＋1
  Simultaneous left jab counter (catch, then slip) layers two moves, catching the opponent's punch with your hand and moving your head to make it miss, then throws a left jab. You link catching, slipping and punching without breaks, as a drill for chaining defense into offense. When one defense isn't enough, it also lets you add a second layer of defense before you hit back.
• Weave, then left body hook
  Weave3b
  Weave, then left body hook is a counter where you weave under the opponent's hook so it misses, then fire a left hook to the body on the same momentum. Don't stop at avoiding it. Make going low and hitting back from that low position one flow. Right after the opponent misses with a hook, their body defense tends to be thin, and that's the moment you go for.
• Bait jab, parry, then power jab
  1Parry1
  Bait jab, parry, then power jab is a combination where you use a bait jab to draw the opponent's counter left jab, send it off line with your right hand, and land the power jab the moment their balance breaks. You draw their counter with nothing but the left jab and turn that counter into your way in. Use it when the opponent is timing counters off your left jab.
• Bait the counter, don't wait for it
  Bait and counter
  If you just wait for the opponent to punch, you don't know what's coming where, and your counter won't be on time. Leave just one spot in your guard open on purpose and get them to punch there. If you know where it's coming, you can meet it already prepared. This is for people who aim to counter but always react too late.