Head Movement is a fundamental method of defense in Boxing. And I believe that head movement is the first method of defense that all beginners in Boxing should learn.
The reason why I think all beginners in Boxing should start off with head movement is that it will allow them to feel successful and dynamic right away. And it’ll allow beginners to feel like their Boxing idols right away.
Plus it’s fun.
There’s many ways to move my head when someone’s trying to punch me in the face. There’s slipping, ducking, weaving and there’s the snapback.
All of these methods of moving my head have a specific purpose but there’s one method of head movement that all beginners in Boxing should start off with.
Ducking.
The Duck is when you drop your head straight down.
When you do the Duck, you’re using your legs and you’re bringing your right knee to the ground. Essentially, you’re doing a lunge as you’re hitting a Duck.
You should be able to do the Duck with a child on your shoulders. Meaning, you’re not bending from the hip and you’re not bringing your head forward.
When you’re Ducking, you’re just bringing your head straight down to ensure that your partner’s punch misses. Your partner’s punch should just float past the top of your head when you’re ducking it.
The main reason that you want to start off with the Duck as an absolute beginner in Boxing is that the Duck ensures that you’re in balance. When you’re slipping or weaving, there’ a tendency to whip your head too much from side to side; thus, creating a scenario where you might be off balance.
When you’re Boxing, you always want to stay in balance so that you can always be in position to punch. if you’re out of balance, there’s no way for you to throw punches with power and accuracy.
Constantly being in position to throw punches with proper balance, form and accuracy is the primary principle behind Boxing.
It is critical that we’re always in balance when we’re Boxing.
Thus, the Duck should be the first form of head movement that you master so that your balance stays perfect. Once you’ve mastered the proper timing and positioning for the Duck; then, you can graduate to slipping and weaving.
