The fundamentals
Master every weapon and every escape
50 detailed breakdowns across 6 categories.
High Guard
Both gloves held just above the temples, elbows tucked tight to the ribs, chin behind the lead shoulder. The high guard is the most common defensive posture in boxing and a building block of every sty…
Philly Shell
A defensive shell developed in Philadelphia in the 1960s and made world-famous by James Toney and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The lead arm crosses the body horizontally at chest height, the rear hand cups th…
Peek-a-Boo
Cus D'Amato's signature defensive system, developed in the 1960s and used most famously by Mike Tyson. Both gloves are pressed against the cheekbones, the elbows close to the body, the head moves cons…
Slip
A short, sharp head movement that takes the chin off the line of an incoming straight punch. Slipping outside the jab (away from the opponent's centreline) is the safest exit, opening the rear hand fo…
Roll
A rotational lower-body movement that drops the head and torso under a horizontal punch (typically a hook) and returns the body to the opposite side. The classic bob-and-weave: roll under the lead hoo…
Parry
A short, sharp deflection of an incoming punch using the palm or knuckle of the rear hand. The parry redirects the punch off-line by an inch or two — just enough to miss — and opens up a clean counter…
Block
Stopping a punch with the glove or arm. The simplest defence in boxing, used at high frequency when an opponent throws combinations. The trick is to block with the forearm or palm — not the elbow join…
Catch and Counter
Receiving a punch in the palm (most often the rear hand catching a jab) and returning immediately with the lead hand. The catch keeps the head still — so the eyes stay on the opponent — while opening…
Lean-back / Pull
A backward lean of the head and torso that takes the chin out of range of a punch — typically a jab or a cross. The pull is the most efficient defence by distance traveled (head moves the least), but…
Shoulder Roll
Rotation of the lead shoulder upward to catch a punch on the deltoid — the central defensive move of the Philly Shell. The shoulder roll keeps both hands free for counter-punching and forces the oppon…