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How to Avoid Punches and Punch Back!

Landing punches in boxing is only half of the story. If you can make your opponent miss and then make them pay by landing your own shots then you are pretty much guaranteed victory.

In this video I will give you a simple system that will ensure that you give yourself the best possible chance of limiting how many punches make contact with your head! Even more than this, I’ll show you how to respond in kind with your own bombs. This is simple stuff but is highly effective. The door to successful counterpunching will be flung wide open.

Here’s the video after which you can leave any questions or comments below.

Avoid Punches and Punch Back!

Cheers

Fran

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{ 49 comments… add one }
  • Owen Mueller March 3, 2023, 11:49 pm

    Very good instruction video on not getting hit. Also enjoyed your response video about dealing with shorter opponents. Thank you Sir. Yours in health, Owen

  • Torsten November 10, 2020, 6:36 pm

    Hello Fran,
    very instructive and efficient drill. What is according your experience the most efficient way for taller fighters to counter shorter, aggressive opponents pushing to get in close range ?
    Regards
    Torsten

  • Salam Fahad May 24, 2020, 1:52 pm

    Even by your high standards that was an excellent video!

    What are your thoughts on shoulder rolling? I would love to see your opinion on breakdown/common faults

    • Fran May 28, 2020, 7:03 pm

      Hi Salam. A video on that is probably long overdue. Not something I coach to be honest, but maybe that’s the title of the video 🙂

  • Pete b December 30, 2017, 9:39 pm

    Thanks Fran . I’ve been watching your YouTube vids for some time now. I consider boxing an art. 67 so I’m not putting the gloves on. I enjoy your information though Fran .

    • Fran January 9, 2018, 8:30 pm

      Thanks Pete…glad you like watching this stuff 🙂

  • Lee Murray June 28, 2016, 8:31 pm

    These videos are really useful Fran Thank you for the access to myboxingcoach.com. Some of the things I see in my quest for CPD as a coach make me question my knowledge sometimes,it’s reaffirming and reassuring to see principles I share and coach!

    • Fran July 8, 2016, 5:51 pm

      We coaches should stick together Lee. Thanks for the feedback mate.

  • Mohamed April 30, 2016, 7:03 am

    Great video thanks fran

    • Fran May 5, 2016, 7:47 pm

      You’re welcome Mohamed, thank you

  • Eric-G December 19, 2015, 2:10 pm

    Appreciate the concise direction especially for a newbie [me] who is learning the basic body movements

    • Fran December 20, 2015, 3:53 pm

      Excellent, happy to help and thank you.

  • Daniel December 15, 2015, 12:07 pm

    I did it on my training yesterday. It was very very effective.
    Thank you very much.
    Daniel

    • Fran December 20, 2015, 3:49 pm

      Excellent, thanks for letting me know Daniel

  • zaccheaus August 5, 2015, 2:47 pm

    A very good set of videos

  • Steven August 2, 2014, 11:21 am

    Great video, thank you. Would you move also after basic combinations, say a 1 -2, or 1-2-3 ? What specific head movement? Does it matter?

    • Fran August 7, 2014, 8:09 pm

      Thanks Steven and you’re welcome. There’s lots of possibilities with movement after the shot Steven. Some of the moves ‘flow’ more naturally (for example an outside roll after a lead hand hook), but all of the body moves will work really.

      Hope this helps.

  • olivier October 16, 2013, 8:13 am

    thx for the video! i got some technical questions 🙂

    After each shot you do an head movement, or is it possible to do it after a combo shot?
    Can i switch head movement by footwork movements(site-step,pivot, etc…) ?

  • Fran August 22, 2013, 4:24 pm

    Hey David. It’s a bandwidth issue. Most members download the video direct to their computer. Takes a couple of hours per video but is well worth the time. There’s a link on each video page. Alternatively, click the cog in the bottom right of the vid screen and reduce the resolution. It’s will enable faster streaming and the cost of lower viewing quality. Let me know how it goes.

  • Mike August 21, 2013, 11:33 am

    Great stuff Fran, personally I really like to jab duck jab as it suits my style perfect (hanging back but still countering and scoring). Thanks

    • Fran August 22, 2013, 4:26 pm

      You’re welcome Mike. Thanks for the comment.

  • Enrique August 13, 2013, 3:37 pm

    Thanks Coach this is very good advise. The fundamentals as the basis of every movement. These new set of videos are excellent, congratulations!

    • Fran August 13, 2013, 8:08 pm

      Thanks Enrique. Nice to to hear from you by the way.

  • Benha August 13, 2013, 11:54 am

    Perfect! Per! fect!

  • Austin burridge August 13, 2013, 6:21 am

    Ace Video Fran!
    I actually find this one to be one of my all time favorites and thats sayig something considering the badass archive you created! Great teaching

    • Fran August 13, 2013, 8:06 pm

      Haha. Nice. Thanks Austin.

  • Theron DesRosier August 13, 2013, 2:58 am

    Thanks Fran,
    This is very useful. Lots to think about and practice.

    • Fran August 13, 2013, 8:06 pm

      Glad it helps Theron. Thanks

  • Rodney August 12, 2013, 10:35 pm

    Great stuff. I always emphasize to my guys to punch and not be there for the receipt. Here is something that usually works. Attack with multiple jabs (3 or 4). Put a 3 or 4 punch combo behind it. Then slip 90 degrees to the outside. Now your opponent has to turn and reset before he can counter. As he resets/ turns you attack again. Southpaw vs orthodox — finish your combo with your rt. hook so you can weave underneath his Lt. Jab & turn 90 to your right. Opposite for orthodox vs orthodox where finish with your rt. hand. Any comments.

    • anonymous August 13, 2013, 11:36 am

      By slip to the outside, do you mean slip and pivot?

      • Fran August 13, 2013, 8:07 pm

        No, it’s slip to the ‘outside’ of an incoming jab (orthodox versus orthodox to your right to go outside the jab).

      • Rodney August 14, 2013, 3:46 am

        Yes

    • Fran August 13, 2013, 8:04 pm

      That’s some smart thinking Rodney. You are constantly taking yourself out of the opponent’s line of fire whilst maintaining him in your. That angle change is key. Thanks Rodney, great contribution

      • Rodney August 14, 2013, 3:48 am

        Yes

  • Paul Smith August 12, 2013, 10:23 pm

    Beautiful!!!

    I’m loving these new video segments Coach….Keep ’em coming please!

    Thanks.

    • Paul Smith August 16, 2013, 5:34 pm

      Bon Voyage Fran. 🙂

  • Chris Hinton August 12, 2013, 9:11 pm

    Great video, Fran! I’ve learned so much of my slipping stuff from you! I practice it all the time and still can’t get it to look nearly as good and crisp as yours! Oh well, I’m off to the gym, and will be practicing it again tonight, trying to more closely emulate what you’ve shown here again. Thanks so much!

    • Fran August 13, 2013, 7:58 pm

      Thanks Chris. Stay nice and relaxed and the speed will improve. Always nice to have an expert in a fellow combat sport enjoy the crossover of skills.

      Thanks Chris

  • Dave Waterman August 12, 2013, 8:15 pm

    I like this Fran, nice and simple. I just got back from the boxing club this evening where we had a 17 year old lad, only been to the club a couple of times, but sparring effectively already. I was trying to get him into the habit of taking a defensive manoeuvre after each shot or combination. He picked it up pretty quickly. I wish I had the opportunity to show him this video to illustrate what I was saying. Unfortunately for us he’ll not become a permanent fixture because he’s off to join the army next month. He’s joining the Parachute Regiment who did so well this year in the Army Major Units Boxing Championship. I hope they pick him up.

    Without trying to be a know all, I think the lay back would fit in well to make six occasions where the boxer moves his/her head to avoid an incoming counter after firing the jab. And the layback offers the boxer the opportunity to throw the back hand cross as a counter.

    Finally, I’m very happy to have received two emails in my inbox in quick succession telling my there was an update to ‘My Boxing Coach.’ Great stuff, La 😉

    • Fran August 13, 2013, 7:55 pm

      Alwight me Owld China.

      The lay back is absolutely another body movement that fits in here. This is one of those ‘principle’ things that can be used in a number of ways.

      By the way, I like the idea of a lad getting classical boxing coaching before going into the services. I’m sure it will stand him in good stead and as you say, fingers crossed he can get picked up for the Paras team.

      Nice to be back mate, thanks for the nice comment.

  • anonymous August 12, 2013, 7:40 pm

    By the way, I know this question isn’t relevant to the video, but what do you think about weight training for boxers, or complex training

    • Fran August 13, 2013, 7:50 pm

      Strength and conditioning is important. Quite like lighter weights, more and faster reps.

  • anonymous August 12, 2013, 7:36 pm

    Definitely going to be using this, especially the jab duck jab. However, I have some questions.

    I’m an outside fighter, will the jab duck jab still work?
    Also when ducking how low do you recommend my head to go, I was thinking as low as my opponents lower chest, will that be alright?

    And lastly, can you do these while moving forward?

    • Fran August 13, 2013, 7:50 pm

      Yes it will work. Duck only low enough for the shot to graze the top of your head (efficiency is key). You absolutely can do it on the move (sign up to the boxing drills on the home page to find out more). Hope this helps.

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