Clinch

Place your arms around your opponent’s shoulders with your biceps touching him as you pull them into you (not using your hands). Have your arms slide down to his elbows, keeping your head up over his shoulder, not on it. If you’re on the ropes or in the corner, spin him fast and hard. Keep your hands up on the break.

STRATEGY: This technique is done when you’re fighting close (inside fighting: review lesson # 11) and want to stop your opponent from punching. It is also used when you’re trapped on the ropes and cannot successfully use another technique; simply clinch (tie them up), the referee will step in and break the hold allowing you to get out/off the ropes. Another opportunity to use this technique is when you are fighting a very hard puncher with lots of power; stay very close to him not allowing him any arm motion/extension so he can not gain any forward momentum on his punches. Every-time he throws, step in and clinch (hold him).

DRILL: Practice with a partner, in the center of the ring, on the ropes and in the corner. Take turns being the clincher. Mix and match partners if possible so that you can work with different body types.

Imagine the ring divided into boxes, like a cross where the lines meet in the center of the ring (+). Never let your opponent turn and cross a line. Cut him off by mirroring, not following him. Stay even with him and stop his movement by throwing hooks in the direction he wants to move (hook him off). When you have him in the corner think of a triangle and keep him contained in it. Also give him small boxes to work in, not allowing room for him to roll out. If he turns a corner and passes over your imaginary line, immediately adjust and start a new one. Move forward and to the side, not backward.

STRATEGY: This technique is used to slow down and contain a fighter (trapping him) with a boxer’s style, so you’re able to catch him. It is very effective at taking the ring away from him, so he is unable to stick-and-move or range fight you. Control the real estate in the ring!

DRILL: Practice in groups of two; keep rotating so everyone has a chance to work with different body styles. Let one student be the boxer, the other the bull/slugger, cutting off the ring. Play a game: Every time the boxer turns a corner, he gets a point. The first one to reach three, wins. Keep taking turns, giving each partner one minute to earn a point. Keep the punching very light; this is not a hitting drill!

Feinting

Fake a hit to one area of the body (head/abdomen) then hit in a different area. It’s all about deceiving your opponent. You hope he goes to adjust his defense, or does the offensive move you’re drawing him to do so you can exploit the new found opening. To do this you will need to use your eyes, hands, body, legs, facial expressions and sound all as decoys, alone and in unison.

PRACTICE in front of a mirror. Examples: fake a 1 and throw a 2. Draw back a 2 causing him/her to move to the right and throw a 3. Fake a 1 very high and throw a 1b.

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