Become Fighter
Feinting: Boxing guide
Show a movement without committing, to read and move the opponent.
A feint is a movement that looks like the start of a punch or a step, but is not. Its job is to make the opponent react. They flinch, block, step back or lift a hand. Once they have reacted, you know something about them and you can hit what they left open.
A good feint is cheap. It costs you a small movement and no balance. A bad one is a wild gesture that leaves you off balance. Start with the lightest feints and make them believable.
Key points
- Feint with the shoulder, the knee, the hand and the eyes. Use the smallest movement that gets a reaction.
- A feint must look like the real thing in the first inch. Mimic the start of the jab exactly.
- Stay balanced. Do not lean or reach on the feint.
- Watch the reaction. That is the information you wanted.
- Follow with a real punch at once while they are still reacting.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Feinting with a big arm movement. Make it small, and make the first inch look exactly like the real punch.
- Pausing after the feint. Throw the real punch at once. The reaction only lasts a moment.
- Feinting every time. Mix real and false starts. If every jab is a feint, they will stop respecting it.
Combinations that use it
- bx-feint-1-2: Feint, Jab, Cross
- bx-feint-2-3: Feint, Cross, Lead hook
- bx-feint-1b-2: Feint, Jab to the body, Cross
Related techniques
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Feints and set-ups module of Boxing fundamentals.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Feints and set-ups
- Drawing the counter: Boxing guide
- Breaking rhythm: Boxing guide
- Level changes as set-ups: Boxing guide
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.