Defense is critical in boxing. Protecting yourself is equally – if not more – important than knocking out your opponent.
The best way to improve your defensive techniques is with defensive drills, which incorporate both punch blocking and evasive footwork. Here we’ll take a closer look at punch blocking as a key component of defensive boxing, and run through some excellent defensive boxing drills for you to try with a partner.
How Do You Block Punches?
Everyone may block punches a little differently so you will learn a lot of techniques from different trainers. With practice, you’ll start to take what you like best to use in your own fighting style. A great place to start is with these boxing defense basics:
How To Block a Punch:
Jab
Put slightly more weight on your rear leg to absorb shock
Lift your rear hand up to protect your face
Open your hand in your glove with your palm facing your opponent
Meet your opponent’s jab with slight resistance
*Don’t use too much resistance or you’ll end up pushing your hand down, leaving yourself open
Cross
Raise your lead arm so that your hand is almost behind your head
Use your forearm to block the cross
*If you use your glove to protect your face, you’ll still end up getting some shock to your head
Hook
Bend the knees slightly
Pivot on your feet as you bend your torso and drop your elbow to your hip
Use your elbow to block the hook
How Do You Practice Blocking Punches?
You practice blocking punches by doing defense drills. Always start slow so you can train your muscle memory and allow your brain to memorize the patterns in blocking each punch.
Boxing defensive drills with a partner are the best way to start putting these punch blocking moves to the test.
Defensive Blocking Drills
FightCamp Trainers Aaron Swenson and Tommy Duquette have 4 (four) boxing defense drills that you can practice to level up your blocking game.
Jab
Both partners face each other in a fighting stance
Partner 1 raises their rear hand to protect their face
Partner 2 throws a jab as Partner 1 blocks with their rear hand
Both partners return to starting position
Repeat 5 times and switch
Jab – Cross
Both partners face each other in a fighting stance
Repeat blocking pattern for the jab once
Partner 1 raises lead arm with elbow in front, hand behind their head
Partner 2 throws a cross as Partner 1 blocks with their forearm
Both partners return to starting position
Repeat 5 times and switch
Jab – Cross – Lead Hook
Both partners face each other in a fighting stance
Repeat block pattern for jab-cross once
Partner 1 bends their knees slightly, pivoting their feet to turn towards Partner 2’s lead hand
Partner 1 drops their elbow to their hip
Partner 2 throws a lead hook as Partner 1 blocks with their elbow
Both partners return to starting position
Repeat 5 times and switch
Jab – Cross – Hook – Hook Body – Hook Body
Both partners face each other in a fighting stance
Repeat block pattern for jab – cross – hook
Partner 2 follows the lead hook with a body hook to each side of Partner 1
Partner 1 adjusts the same hook blocking technique to counter both body shots
Both partners return to starting position
Repeat 5 times and switch
What Are Defensive Techniques Used In Boxing?
Boxing defensive techniques consist of blocking punches in combination with good footwork. The footwork aspect is all about staying agile and balanced. If you are able to swiftly move away from your opponent, you may not even have to absorb any impact of blocking a punch at all. Still, even defensive punch blocking requires constant shifting of your weight to stay balanced, so awareness of your full body from your hands to your feet is key in every defensive move.
How Can I Practice Defense By Myself?
The best way to practice defensive boxing techniques is with a partner, but you can practice defense by yourself on a punching bag or shadowboxing. Since effective defensive boxing moves develop largely from muscle memory, going through some of these patterns on your own can help you find your own rhythm as you move.
Boxing defense can make or break a professional fight. An integral part of defensive training is learning how to block each incoming punch. Defensive blocking drills are an important aspect of boxing training, and it’s ideal to have a partner when practicing punches. Remember to always start slow and use minimal impact force as you’re learning – the speed will come!
FightCamp’s Tribe Package offers at-home boxing equipment for two--perfect for couples and partners who are looking to train together.
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