Become Fighter
Cutting angles: Boxing guide
Step off the centre line so your punches land and theirs miss.
Most beginners fight on a straight line: you come forward, they come forward, and whoever is bigger wins. An angle takes you off that line. From the side your opponent has to turn before they can hit you, and you do not.
An angle is made with a short step and a small turn, not a big run. Step out about a foot with the foot on the side you want to go, then bring the other foot after it so your stance never crosses. Your chest ends up pointing at their near shoulder, not at their chest.
Key points
- Step with the foot closest to the direction you want to go, then follow with the other. Never cross your feet.
- Aim to finish with your lead foot just outside their lead foot. That is the angle where your jab and cross land and their rear hand has a long way to travel.
- Move against their power hand: circle away from their rear hand, towards their lead hand's outside.
- Throw while you move, or straight after. An angle you do not use is just walking.
- Keep your hands up and your weight over the middle of your stance the whole time.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Stepping too far and losing balance. One foot of travel is plenty. If your feet land wide, your next move is slow.
- Turning your back to the opponent. Turn the hips and feet, not just the head. Keep your chest and both hands facing them as you move.
- Circling the same way every time. Alternate directions. A predictable circle is easy to cut off, and moving into their power hand is dangerous.
Combinations that use it
- wr-circle-sprawl: Circle out, Sprawl
- 1-2-out: Jab, Cross, Circle out
- 1-2-pivot: Jab, Cross, Pivot
- bx-pivot-1-2: Pivot, Jab, Cross
- bx-out-1-2: Circle out, Jab, Cross
- bx-check-pivot: Check hook, Pivot
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 Ring craft module of Boxing fundamentals.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Ring craft
- Distance management: Boxing guide
- Punching on the move: Boxing guide
- Cutting off the ring: 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.