Blocking Doesn’t Work?
If you watched the video you will see that in the video most of the people aren’t actually blocking… the ones that actually have their hands up are covering.
Covering is a boxing technique that is used when a boxer is disoriented and can’t focus on the incoming punches.
It is a last-ditch effort to prevent a knockout until the room stops spinning.
For some reason many coaches teach it as a defense. But it is a terrible defense. It allows your opponent to just tee off on you and slug away full power without any fear of being hit.
This is about the worst possible thing you could do.
Covering
The problem with covering is that you bury your head and lose all ability to see incoming punches. It is not purposeful. It usually precedes a defeat. Now in a 12 round boxing match there can sometimes be a purpose for it. But for the street burying your head so you can’t see, standing still and allowing someone to just swing away full power is not how you win. It is a quick way to get knocked out.
The reason covering sometimes works in boxing is because they are both wearing padded boxing gloves, both fighters are covered in Vaseline and sweat and so when one glove hits another one covered in the slippery substances the punch has a good chance of glancing instead of landing full force.
This is not the case in MMA or a street fight.
Real Blocking
Now a real block is when you see a punch coming in and you purposefully put your arm in a position to intercept the punch.
Your head is up unlike in covering. You are looking for your counterstrike.
Footwork is often involved… so is timing.
A Better Solution to Covering & Blocking
Even if someone is doing real blocking instead of covering there is always a chance the block could fail. Or a flurry of punches come that is too fast for you to be able to react in time with follow up blocks.
A much better solution to standing still and blocking is to use distance.
When you are toe-to-toe with someone punches come in very fast. Especially when there is more than one.
Your ability to see and respond accurately to all of those punches is not so great. But when you add a little distance in there… suddenly you DO have the ability to block those punches.
The secret is to stay just outside of your opponent’s range. Just where they need to step or lunge in to hit you.
You will have time to see their strike coming and block, parry, intercept, or move out of the way. Just don’t stand still after your block because now you are in toe-to-toe range and they will launch follow-up strikes.
So footwork is critical to maintaining a “lunging range.”
Enter From Lunging Range
Stay in that lunging range until you have made the choice to strike. Your strike could be a counter to their strike, or you could launch your own lunging strike if you are fast enough.
Regardless, once your strike has landed don’t stay put with your guard up or start swinging punches wildly or you turn the fight into a game of chance.
The correct thing to do after you land your initial strike is to straight blast in, acquire a modified Thai clench and then start spinning your opponent around while smashing knees into his face and body. You can also land groin kicks, elbows to the head, head butts, and other blows that are likely to end the fight.
This comes from the RAT or Rapid Assault Tactics. The system used by many government agencies and special forces operatives such as SEAL Team 6 and the CIA just to name a few. These operatives don’t have the luxury of time to square up and spar with someone who is trying to kill them. They must end the fight ASAP.
If you are after real self-defense you would be wise to copy this tactic.
Summary
Covering by burying your head between your arms and waiting for an opponent to stop hitting you is a very specific boxing strategy that will get you a big loss in real violence.
Use better tactics if you want to be a better fighter.
Until next time,
Brian Copeland
