Girls Boxing Article
In Most Fights A Big Right Hand Will Probably Be Thrown...Learn How To Defend It Muay Thai Style
No matter what type of stand up fight you see, whether muay thai or other, you always see plenty of big right crosses being thrown. This is because it's easy to throw, it's very powerful, and most people have grown up either throwing one in the school yard or at least seen one thrown.
They're very familiar to us...
In fact, the one/two, combination (a jab followed by a cross punch) is the cause of more knockouts than any other combo in most stand up competitions including muay thai. This means if you don't have an effective defense for it you will probably be knocked out by it at some point.
Let's review the defensive tactics for the cross punch...
1 Getting out of the way - just step back out of range or lean back if the punch is aimed at your head. Remember to keep your hands up.
2 Parrying - use your left hand to parry the cross (if you're right handed). If you use the right hand you can direct the punch into your face instead of away from it.
3 Shielding - keep your hands up with your gloves resting against your forehead and bring your elbows together. Make sure there is no gap big enough for his punch to get through.
4 Neutralize with your own attack - your own attack which is faster and closer to your opponent will get to him before he gets to you. Your own jab thrown hard and just before his will sometimes work but I prefer the footjab. It's longer and quicker and puts your opponent off balance enough to completely neutralize his attack even if he's bigger and stronger than you.
5 Grabbing the weapon - this doesn't really apply with the cross punch as it's usually too quick and gets pulled back before you can grab it. If your opponent is slow and clumsy he may leave his arm out-stretched after you have blocked it. You might be able to tie him up in a clinch if this happens but it's highly unlikely.
The one main difference you have to remember in muay thai when defending against the cross punch is to NOT DUCK. You can lean away and weave a little but be careful of a knee coming.
