Boxing blocking: zoom on the parry, the block and the catch!

Blocking in English boxing 

Blocking is a defense technique used to neutralize your opponent's punches. To block a blow, you put in opposition your elbow, your forearm or your glove.

With the blockages, the punch still hits you. But the aim is of minimize its impact by absorbing it. You can also use it in different combat sports and martial arts.

It's a bit basic defense in English boxing and the most easy to learn. On the other hand, making a good blocking still ask for training and some practical.

We can also almost say that there are two types of blocking :

• THE blocking where you don't than take the blow
• THE blocking or you take the blow by accompanying him

The advantages of blocking

In English boxing, blocks are interesting for:

• Find openings in order to counter
• Tire your opponent
• YOU rest physically And mentally
• Move forward without necessarily send a blow
• Fight calmly has average And short distance
• Defend shots at the level of the body part
• Defend on the direct and the hooks

The disadvantages of blocking 

But the blockage did not not only advantages... that's why the blocking is not perfect :

• It is not not easy to master
• If you miss, you are exposed
• YOU lose speed to counter, because your hands are busy to block
• Even if you block punches, you get hit
• Counter after a block will ask you quite a bit of energy
• Your hands can hide your vision
• THE blocking is not not efficient facing a opponent with large volume typing

For help you limit these inconveniences, don't worry we got you! We'll see together how to do a good block in English boxing. 🧐

How to properly block punches? 

So, before you start trying to block shots, you have to go there step by step. You have to First of all :

• Estimate the distance so as not to get hit stupidly.
• Observe your opponent carefully (his shoulder line) to see his movements.

Once these two boxes are checked, you can move on to blocking.

With a blockage, the aim is of cover as much surface as possible. Basically, you should try to protect your head and body at the same time.

So, for that, you have to go to turtle fashion :

• YOU elbows are tucked in And stuck to your body.
• Your chin is tucked in.
• You keep the hands firmly glued to your face.
• Your eyes are always open And pointed at your opponent.

Then, for block a blow, you must be well installed in your guard, that is to say to be stable on your supports. THE weight of your body must be slightly on your back leg.

Once you are very compact and airtight, to block, you come intervene in front of your opponent's fist. For this, you can put your glove, your forearm or your elbow.

At the same time as you block, make a small rotation of the bust And rotate your foot. This will allow you to accompany And to absorb the blow.

For example, if your opponent throws his cross at you (from his right arm), rotate your front foot slightly and turn your torso towards your back leg.

For succeed in your blocks, here are some tips:

• Clench your fists upon impact.
• Adopt a keep in heart to see before you.
• Manage your distance so as not to be too far or too close.
• Your gloves must always be in contact with your face.
• You can add a movement to exit the axis.
• Don't stay frozen, but always moving (bounce for example).

And if you want to see a boxer who masters the art of blocking, we advise you to take a look at the highlights by Arthur Abraham and of Bilel Jkitou.

Now we're going to go a little deeper into details of high blocking and low blocking. Let's go! 💥

1. The high block

To make a high blocking, you can either keep your gloves around your eyebrows or keep them higher, at the level of head.

With the gloves at your eyebrow level, it's yours glove that will block the blow. Remember to keep it well stuck to your face. Otherwise your opponent's blow will hit your glove which will itself hit you.

If you block with the glove on your head, there it is your arm and no longer your glove which blocks. The advantage is that you absorb the blow more, but On the other hand your ribs are more exposed.

Anyway, no matter the technique:

• Do pivot your foot forward or backward depending on the shot you are blocking.
• Absorb the blow making a slight rotation of the bust.
• Once you block the blow, be careful.

For example, imagine that your opponent sends you a direct who arrives on your front arm (your left arm if you box orthodoxly). For to block the shot :

• Put on your gloves at the level of your eyebrows or your head.
• Do pivot your front foot.
• Make a small rotation of the torso towards your back leg.

This torso rotation go shift your weight backwards. In this way you absorb the blow in reducing its impact.

2. The low block 

The principle is the same as for a high block. On the other hand, there is a small something more for low blocking; you lower your center of gravity.

To lower your center of gravity, sit lightly on your legs by bending the knees.

Then, for to block, lower your elbows a little, approximately at the level of hips. And especially, remember to keep your elbows close to your body.

However, don't lower your gloves too much, Otherwise your face is uncovered. They must at least stay at shoulder height.

And as for the high block, think about rotate your foot well and to turn your torso. But above all, always come back on guard after blocking the blow.

Blockages are often effective. But sometimes your opponent can anticipate your blocks or feint you. To avoid this, you should try to vary the blocking. And this is where the parade ! 👊

The English boxing parade 

This defense technique is a bit of a variant of blocking. THE movement is similar, but the goal is to deflect the blow with a small movement of the hand.

If your parade is successful, it can unbalance your opponent, then put back against. The parades are therefore a good way to use your opponents' momentum against them.

The parade is a gesture that seems easy, but she is rather technique to do. The goal is to deflect the blow before it hits you. And for that, you must have the right timing And the right movement.

In English boxing, parades are especially very effective against boxers who put a lot of force into their punches. They use their body to give power. So with a good parade he is easy to unbalance them.

The parade is also interesting against boxers with a long reach. For what ? Because after throwing a punch, they take time to bring their arm back to guard.

Therefore, your Parries become a formidable weapon, because you get tired THE boxers with a long reach. You then have more openings.

On the other hand, parries are not really effective against fast and light boxers. For what ? Because their movements are fast, they don't use their momentum And bring their arms back very quickly on guard.

The advantages of the parade 

Just like blockages, parry is an interesting defensive technique :

• A successful parade gives openings And imbalance your opponent.
• She works very well on live streams (jab and cross).
• She allows to tire out your opponents.
• She is very useful at long distance.
• YOU deflect your opponent's blows without taking any impact.

The disadvantages of the parade 

On the other hand, you must be wary, because the parade can also be risky :

• She does not does not work well on hooks and the uppercuts.
• She is not not very effective on combinations.
• If your gesture is bad, you find yourself discovered.
• The parade is not not easy to use in close combat.
• She can slow down your counterattacks, because your hand is busy parrying.
• In case of feint, if you are being fooled, your guard is open.

But don't panic, as with blockages, we will help you limit these disadvantages. We will see how to make good parades. 💪

How to properly parry blows in English boxing? 

In boxing, the goal parades are create an opening for you without exposing yourself. For this, you must make short, quick movements. The wider your parade, the more exposed you are.

The more you will have hands high, the more it will be easy to make a parade. However, don't raise your elbows too much, they must protect your ribs.

THE parades are especially useful against direct, because their trajectory is linear. While the hooks and the uppercuts are often too powerful to counter.

On the other hand, the parade still ask for training and of good reflexes. For it to be effective, you must find the good timing and the good distance.

You can also make body parries using your elbows. But be careful, it's complicated. It's not impossible, but it must just have the right technique.

Anyway, to ward off the blows, you have two options:

1. There hunted parade
2. There blocked parry

1. The hunted parade

The chased parry consists of deflecting a blow from its trajectory without absorbing the impact. To do this, you will tap/push on your opponent's glove.

In fact, the hunted parade is just a small diagonal movement of the forearm. It's as if you give a little slap to chase the blow.

For reduce the impact And don't be surprised, Think of rotate your foot. For example, for a front arm parade, do pivot your front foot.

For parry, your elbow must be very slightly lifted, but really very little. Your parade must be energetic to minimize contact.

To the end of movement, your glove must be facing down, or even perpendicular to the ground.

A little thing that you should keep in mind: To ward off a blow, try to keep your thumb in front of your eyes. Like that your guard is in the heart and you can see your opponent well.

Here are some tips for a good parade :

• Don't make a fist, keep your hands open in your gloves.
• Your arm movement should be short and sharp.
• You have to parry the shot just before the punch hits you.
• Stay focused on your opponent's shoulder line.

2. The blocked parade

Its name comes from the fact that it is a bit of a mix between blocking and chasing parry. As with blocking, you make a torso rotation to absorb and accompany the blow.

There difference with blocking, It is that instead of keeping the gloves at the same level (eyebrows or head), you drag them up.

For a blocked parry, you have the gloves glued to your cheeks, and you slide up.

There is no no arm movement either as for the hunted parade. So, you keep the gloves glued to your face. Which allows you to stay in a compact guard.

The objective is to block with a glove and of turn your torso so that your opposite hip and shoulder are facing back. Like that you accompany the blow and you are in a best position for storage !

For a good blocked parade, Think of :

• GOOD keep the gloves stuck to your face.
• Have the keep in heart to see your opponent (especially his shoulder line).
• Don't turn your head.
• Roll your shoulders inward when you block the blow.
• Stay solid on your supports to be able to store.

OK, now that you know about chase and block parries, it's time to see a last variation of blocking : THE wrestling. 🤚

Wrestling in English boxing 

This variation of the block is a bit like the parry, except you don't make an arm movement. You simply place your palm in opposition without deflecting the blow.

You have to put enough resistance so as not to catch your glove in your head, but not too much either. Because if you get feinted and you put too much power, you're exposed.

Wrestling is especially used for quick live And not very powerful. Only the palm of your glove is enough to catch these kinds of shots.

To make a good wrestling, you have to :

• Raise your glove and put it in opposition to direct coming at you.
• Do like catching a tennis ball or baseball.
• Do pivot the same foot as the hand you are wrestling with the shot.
• To move And hide your head behind your hand.
• Bring your arm back to guard after catching the blow.
• (You can also add a small step back to stay away.)

It's not not necessarily the best blocking technique, but she works pretty well on jabs. Because yes, on a hook, A uppercut or one powerful cross, YOU risk getting hit and your glove in your face.

Before we let you go we prepared you a final list of tips for your blocks, so take notes if necessary! 📝

Our latest tips for your blockages 

• Do not close your eyes, always look at the shoulder line of your opponent.
• Adopt a keep in heart so as not to obscure your field of vision.
• Always look ahead and not downwards.
• Think of breathe well, don't stay in apnea.
• Contract your muscles And exhale at time the impact.
• Move your legs, don't stay static.
• Move your head too, it should not be a fixed target.
• Always maintain a high and compact guard.
• always think well bring your arms back into custody.
• If you find a opening, do not hesitate to counter.

Conclusion

In English boxing the blocking is here basic defense technique. It is the most instinctive and the less risky. While parade and the wrestling are slightly riskier variants.

For perfect these techniques defense, the ideal is to train with a partner or to Bear paws. This will allow you to find the good distance and the good timing.

And this is not not because you don't get in the ring that blocks are useless... They help you to have the good mindset to box!

For learn even more about attacks, movement, etc.., have a look on our article on the boxing technique. 👀

Blocking is good, punching at the Circle is better 

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