Become Fighter
Clinching and breaking: Boxing guide
Tie up to rest or stop their work, and escape cleanly.
A clinch is a short pause in the fight. You wrap your arms around the opponent's arms, so they cannot punch, and the referee separates you. It is not a wrestling position in boxing. You cannot hold and hit, and repeated holding is penalised.
Used well, a clinch stops a flurry, lets you recover and breaks the opponent's rhythm. You also need to know how to get out of one without being hit and how to avoid being tied up when you do not want it.
Key points
- Clinch by sliding both arms under theirs, with your head tucked near their shoulder.
- Keep your weight low and your hips close. Do not hang your weight on them.
- Control the near arm so they cannot punch free. Do not hold the back of the neck or use the forearm to push.
- Obey the referee. Break clean on the command and step back with your hands up.
- To avoid a clinch, keep your elbows in and pivot out before they grab.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Holding and hitting. The clinch is a pause. Hitting in it can cost a warning or a point.
- Hanging your weight on them. Support your own weight. Leaning wastes your energy and gets you warned.
- Ignoring the break command. Step back and keep your hands up. A late punch after the command is a foul.
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 Body attack and inside fighting module of Boxing fundamentals.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Body attack and inside fighting
- Changing levels to the body: Boxing guide
- Head and body combinations: Boxing guide
- Short punches on the inside: 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.