Defending Against Boxing. Never mess with a boxer.
Defending Against BoxingDefending Against Martial Arts, part 4 of 6: Defending Against Boxing an article by Grand Master Dave DeGrouchie Founder World Budo Alliance.
Mike Tyson once said “Everyone has a plan…until they get punched in the face..” Truer words never spoken. Now days, the entire focus of my martial arts journey is learning, and training. I do it for fun, recreation, and fitness.
Defending Against Boxing
Religiously, I train Monday-Friday, at 3:00pm. Being the owner of a full service Janitorial company, does not allow free time in the evenings when one would normally hold classes. In truth, I would prefer it no other way. I taught for a couple decades, opened and closed countless times, and taught everything from traditional type martial arts, to MMA, Boxing, and other disciplines.
There once was a time that I would proclaim the evils of combat sports all dressed up in my GI and belt…..then fast forward about 15 years or so in my tenure as a teacher, and I am cornering one of my professional boxers…..Yeah, been to the moon and back a few times. Glad I did, as only through doing it that way, did I gain the ability to notice the stars. Anyhow, I’ll try not to stray too much off topic here.
Defending Against Boxing
What I did learn over my decades of training, is not only various forms of combat be it sport or self defense (vastly different of each other), but I realized many others have learned the same….thus resulting in today’s assailant, having a very high combat IQ with which to hurt others with. In my 6 part series started here on this blog: Defending Against Martial Arts, I dive into the subject of being able to recognize the working aspects of today’s well known combat systems, so that you can further study how to defend against them.
Today’s assailant probably knows how to Box, how to grapple, and so on. You need to be exposed to these systems in order to know what makes them work. It’s not about going skill for skill, as that will take years and better skill will win. It’s about taking out the tools that make the skill work. For example, take out a boxer’s knee, his boxing can’t be launched anymore. Bite a BJJ guy’s nose off, his BJJ isn’t so good anymore, etc.
Defending Against Boxing
Grabbing your coat lapels is out, Ippon Seoi Nage is in. It’s not 1984 anymore. Martial arts will not save you, because the attacker probably knows the best version of it, and is experienced in wanting to cause harm. THAT, is what you are up against now, and defending against THAT, is “Modern self defense”.
I will end with the same disclaimer I always end with. This is not an attack on boxing. This is an attack on the reality that just like pedophiles can be preachers, bad people can be boxers.
Defending Against Boxing: Boxing is fast, smart, and always in motion. Lot’s of pressure. Case in point, I once conducted a seminar with another traditional martial arts club. Great guys, great ability. But, boxing was not part of their syllabus. When it was my turn to take the floor, I covered working the jab, in motion. I taught the piece, gloved everyone up, and the training began. High ranking black belts that were gods at their chosen systems, getting tagged in the face, turning their heads and trying to outrun my students who had about 3 months training behind them.
Black belts flapping in the chaos like the tails of scared dogs. No, they did not suck. They didn’t know how to deal with the pressure, and the panic response in their brains from getting tagged straight in the face, caused them to shut down, and lose control. I was deemed a lose cannon by the other teacher in the room. But anyway, if that group knew what made boxing work, they would have not been destroyed, and scared, in a controlled environment ( god help them if they ever face a real attacker).
If they knew, a boxer can never land from 4 feet away, or, hug the boxer like a lover, and his weapons are extremely limited…they would have been ok. Not better boxers, but they would have shut down what makes boxing work. That’s the ticket. That’s how you defend against today’s skilled assailant. Recognize what weapon they are using, take out it’s ability to work.
Defending Against Boxing Point #1: Train in boxing:
• This does not have to be in the form of joining a boxing gym. Watch videos, read books, watch fights. Train with a partner in what you see. Get a scrappy feel for what boxing is. This way, it will not be alien when you are faced with it from an attacker. You will see the signs.
Defending Against Boxing Point #2:
• Understand that range is what makes boxing work, and attack range. Not the boxing skill itself.
Defending Against Boxing Point #3:
• Be able to identify the universal human weak points such as knees, the groin, the eyes, the throat, etc. Bite when you hug, kick knees when in middle range,
Defending Against Boxing Point #4:
• Never be there to be hit in the first place.
Defending Against Boxing Point #5:
• Boxing is toe-to-toe. Learn evasive movement. GM Mason’s Octagon teachings, and Sabaki training of Ashihara Karate (which I am deeply invested in as a student at present), are great places to learn how to get the F**K OUT OF THE WAY!!
Defending Against Boxing In Conclusion
Today’s assailant is skilled folks. He or she has all the best training at their fingertips.
Headlocks are out, guillotine chokes are in. A haymaker is out, 5 punch combinations with in and out movement are in.
Grabbing your coat lapels is out, Ippon Seoi Nage is in. It’s not 1984 anymore. Martial arts will not save you, because the attacker probably knows the best version of it, and is experienced in wanting to cause harm. THAT, is what you are up against now, and defending against THAT, is “Modern self defense”.
I will end with the same disclaimer I always end with. This is not an attack on boxing. This is an attack on the reality that just like pedophiles can be preachers, bad people can be boxers.
Know the signs. Attack the science. Stay safe.
GM Dave
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I hope you enjoyed this article from GM DeGroucie on Defending Against Boxing. Have a great day!
Yours in the arts,
Grand Master Art Mason
International President WBA
Grand Master Art Mason
