Become Fighter
How to slip a punch
Move your head off the centre line so a straight punch passes beside it.
A slip moves your head a few centimetres to the side so a straight punch passes next to it. You do it by bending the knees and rotating slightly, not by leaning from the waist.
Slipping keeps you close and ready to counter, but it needs good timing. Learn the shape alone in front of a mirror. Test it later with a coach or partner at slow speed.
Key points
- Bend the knees and let the hips and shoulders rotate slightly. The head follows.
- Move the head only far enough to clear the punch, about a head width.
- Keep your eyes on the opponent the whole time.
- Keep both hands up. The guard does not drop when the head moves.
- Come back to the centre line and counter before the next punch arrives.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Bending at the waist. Bend the knees instead. Keep your back straight and your head over your hips.
- Looking at the floor while slipping. Keep your eyes up and on the opponent. Your chin stays tucked, not dropped.
- Dropping the hands. Press the gloves to your cheeks and keep them there through the whole slip.
- Moving too far. A large movement takes you out of position. Slip a head width, no more.
Combinations that use it
- slip-2: Slip, Cross
- 1-2-slip: Jab, Cross, Slip
- slip-slip-2: Slip, Slip, Cross
- slip-2-3: Slip, Cross, Lead hook
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 Basic defence module of Boxing fundamentals.
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
More from Basic defence
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.