Thread: Dealing with pressure?

Yeah I've been switching which hand I lead with i.e. throwing my left first instead of my right while retaining my southpaw stance then quickly throwing a right hook to the head while stepping to the right.
Seems to be working at the moment I just struggle once my opponent gets his momentum going it's getting better though

[Don't believe what I say, as I am fairly new to boxing (4 months training) -- although I do have quite a bit more martial arts, fighting, and specifically Systema (Russian Martial Arts) experience -- but if it gives you some ideas and they prove to work FOR YOU then use them.]

I am a pressure fighter -- all things being equal -- I will go forward consistently and successfully even against boxers who are (somewhat at least) better than I am. The biggest mistakes people make that lets this happen are:

1. Leaning back as you back pedal -- you MUST keep your balance and form no matter the pressure. (I don't mean you cannot OCCASIONALLY pull back to slip a punch, but rather that you must not get back on your heels with your OWN weight and balance HELPING to pressure you backwards.
2. Going straight back -- take no more than one back step (at least at first until you get the idea) before you start to sidestep or circle -- move laterally and try to let the pressure evaporate against the place you WERE standing
3. Not throwing enough -- use your jab primarily, but use anything you can throw, don't just back up and let him keep coming -- you have to make him respect you, and primarily it is best to make him respect your jab or suffer the consequences for failing to do that. Do not let him just keep swarming into your area without getting hit and paying a price.
4. failing to Box -- use all of your boxing skills -- this one is harder, no quick fix, but it comes from doing all of those things above AND continuing to use your basics. Move, Hit, Maintain form/balance, stay relaxed, use good defense, etc.

Remember, I am no expert, but this makes applying pressure much harder for guys like me, and you want (you NEED) to stop him from doing that.

--
HerbM

Originally Posted by HerbM

[Don't believe what I say, as I am fairly new to boxing (4 months training) -- although I do have quite a bit more martial arts, fighting, and specifically Systema (Russian Martial Arts) experience -- but if it gives you some ideas and they prove to work FOR YOU then use them.]

I am a pressure fighter -- all things being equal, I will go forward consistently and successfully even against boxers who are (somewhat at least) better than I am. The biggest mistakes people make that let this happen are:

1. Learning back as they back pedal -- you MUST keep your balance no matter the pressure. (I don't mean you cannot OCCASIONALLY pull back to slip a punch, but that you must not get back on your heels with your OWN weight and balance HELPING to pressure your backwards.
2. Going straight back -- (at least at first until you get the idea) take no more than one back step before you start to sidestep or circle -- move laterally and try to let the pressure evaporate against the place you WERE standing
3. Not throwing enough -- use your jab primarily but use anything you can throw, don't just back up and let him keep coming -- you have to make him respect you, and primarily it is best to make him respect your jab or suffer the consequences for failing to do that and justs swarming into your area.
4. failing to Box -- use all of your boxing skills -- this one is harder, no quick fix, but it comes from doing all of those things above AND continuing to use your basics. Move, Hit, Maintain form/balance, stay relaxed, use good defense, etc.

Remember, I am no expert, but this make applying pressure much harder and you want (NEED) to stop him from doing that.

--
HerbM

You sure know your stuff Herb

While I truly and deeply appreciate the several kudos (Thanks folks), please do remember that I am really only a beginner at boxing so be sure to confirm all of my suggestions for yourself. A lot of people sell others on stupid tactics (that they have never tested in combat), and I don't ever want to be one of THOSE GUYS.

That said, I also left out one more important item (it's tacitly in the 4th point to Use your Boxing Skills, but making it explicit would have been better):

5) Forgetting to parry, block, slip, fade, and duck -- you MUST use your good defensive skills, especially parrying and fading.

Last night, during shadow sparring (no real contact), Coach took away my ability to apply pressure by instructing me to BACK UP.

At first he just told me to STOP going forward and wait for my opponent to come to me (They were still getting hit every time.)

Then Coach changed the rules so that I was required to take at least one step back, then circle or sidestep.

My secondary instructions were that I was required to STAY IN THE CENTER of the ring while doing this back up stuff. He forbid me to go to the ropes OR to go forward.

Boy that was weird -- but effective -- for a pressure fighter like me. This thread and the fact that I had thought this out trying to help others really helped me though (So thanks to YOU GUY ALSO for motivating me to think out this stuff).

I did precisely what I suggested above with the addition of the Defensive Skills.

For MONTHS, Coach has had me doing defensive drills only (when working with partners). Catch and Fire: Fire and Parry (or fade). Turned out when he finally let me (shadow) spar a little this defensive work was immediately useful. I was already a pressure fighter from street and martial arts, but this gave me a new weapon.

I now find it trivial to parry punches and continue throwing my own whenever I am attacking with pressure, and (as of last night) even when they are applying pressure to me.

Being able to parry the initial attack(s) gave me a lot of time and freedom to back up at my own rate or in the direction of my choice, AND (most fun) to Counter-Punch.

I have never thought of myself as a counter-puncher (except in the sense that I would take or avoid one punch and move in with constant pressure), but the defensive drills have given me the ability to even go backwards and still maintain the INITIATIVE.

Using a parry is my favorite -- more so than fading, ducking, blocking, or slipping -- because it allows me to maintain my FORM and this makes moving, especially backwards and laterally much easier. It is much easier to pivot (with balance and speed) and move when you are in good form. (Systema takes this to the point of making it one of the 4 fundamental principles, along with constant Breathing, Relaxing, and Moving.)

All those (sort of boring) defensive drills really pay off. Coach is a pretty smart old guy (younger than me though <grin>).

And guess what: The guys were STILL GETTING HIT, and I was getting away untouched while staying in the center of the ring and never stepping forward. (Whoo-ooo!)

(These guys are all much younger and have all been practicing as long or longer than me, although I do have a longer reach than any of them and I do attend more classes than anyone else. <grin>)

Again, thanks for the encouragement, and I hope all of this does help some of you to find your own way to improve.

I am 57 years old and boxed for the very first time less than 4 months ago, so anyone can do this -- or learn to do it effectively their own way.

Don't get me wrong, I am in very good shape (I did two classes in a row last night because one was not enough of a work out) and my arms are long enough for a guy 5-6 inches taller, so I have some advantages -- we all do.

We all have advantages and disadvantages.

The KEY is to fight your strengths and train your weaknesses.

--
HerbM

Originally Posted by HerbM

While I truly and deeply appreciate the several kudos (Thanks folks), please do remember that I am really only a beginner at boxing so be sure to confirm all of my suggestions for yourself. A lot of people sell others on stupid tactics (that they have never tested in combat), and I don't ever want to be one of THOSE GUYS.

That said, I also left out one more important item (it's tacitly in the 4th point to Use your Boxing Skills, but making it explicit would have been better):

5) Forgetting to parry, block, slip, fade, and duck -- you MUST use your good defensive skills, especially parrying and fading.

Last night, during shadow sparring (no real contact), Coach took away my ability to apply pressure by instructing me to BACK UP.

At first he just told me to STOP going forward and wait for my opponent to come to me (They were still getting hit every time.)

Then Coach changed the rules so that I was required to take at least one step back, then circle or sidestep.

My secondary instructions were that I was required to STAY IN THE CENTER of the ring while doing this back up stuff. He forbid me to go to the ropes OR to go forward.

Boy that was weird -- but effective -- for a pressure fighter like me. This thread and the fact that I had thought this out trying to help others really helped me though (So thanks to YOU GUY ALSO for motivating me to think out this stuff).

I did precisely what I suggested above with the addition of the Defensive Skills.

For MONTHS, Coach has had me doing defensive drills only (when working with partners). Catch and Fire: Fire and Parry (or fade). Turned out when he finally let me (shadow) spar a little this defensive work was immediately useful. I was already a pressure fighter from street and martial arts, but this gave me a new weapon.

I now find it trivial to parry punches and continue throwing my own whenever I am attacking with pressure, and (as of last night) even when they are applying pressure to me.

Being able to parry the initial attack(s) gave me a lot of time and freedom to back up at my own rate or in the direction of my choice, AND (most fun) to Counter-Punch.

I have never thought of myself as a counter-puncher (except in the sense that I would take or avoid one punch and move in with constant pressure), but the defensive drills have given me the ability to even go backwards and still maintain the INITIATIVE.

Using a parry is my favorite -- more so than fading, ducking, blocking, or slipping -- because it allows me to maintain my FORM and this makes moving, especially backwards and laterally much easier. It is much easier to pivot (with balance and speed) and move when you are in good form. (Systema takes this to the point of making it one of the 4 fundamental principles, along with constant Breathing, Relaxing, and Moving.)

All those (sort of boring) defensive drills really pay off. Coach is a pretty smart old guy (younger than me though <grin>).

And guess what: The guys were STILL GETTING HIT, and I was getting away untouched while staying in the center of the ring and never stepping forward. (Whoo-ooo!)

(These guys are all much younger and have all been practicing as long or longer than me, although I do have a longer reach than any of them and I do attend more classes than anyone else. <grin>)

Again, thanks for the encouragement, and I hope all of this does help some of you to find your own way to improve.

I am 57 years old and boxed for the very first time less than 4 months ago, so anyone can do this -- or learn to do it effectively their own way.

Don't get me wrong, I am in very good shape (I did two classes in a row last night because one was not enough of a work out) and my arms are long enough for a guy 5-6 inches taller, so I have some advantages -- we all do.

We all have advantages and disadvantages.

The KEY is to fight your strengths and train your weaknesses.

--
HerbM

Herb is educating all who read his wise words.