Become Fighter
Defence against strikes and shots: MMA guide
Blocks and parries that keep your hips ready and your head off the line.
MMA defence has to answer punches, kicks and shots with one posture. A boxer who drops his hands to guard his body leaves his head open. A wrestler who sinks too low walks into a knee.
The base rules: keep a high guard, move your head off the line, and never stand still. When a shot comes, the sprawl is always the answer to the hips.
Key points
- High guard with elbows tight. Hands protect the head, elbows protect the body.
- Parry the jab with a small palm movement. Do not chase it.
- Move the head off the centre line after every defence.
- If the head drops or a level change starts, sprawl.
- Counter immediately. Defence without a counter is just survival.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Reaching for the punch. Parry short, close to your face. Do not chase.
- Staying still after defending. Move your head or your feet in the same moment.
- Looking down when sprawling. Keep your eyes forward so you stay aware of the opponent.
Combinations that use it
- block-2: High block, Cross
- parry-2: Parry, Cross
- kb-block-cross: High block, Cross
- bx-parry-2-3: Parry, Cross, Lead hook
- mma-parry-cross-sprawl: Parry, Cross, Sprawl
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 Striking for MMA module of MMA foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Striking for MMA
- Jab and cross with takedown awareness: MMA guide
- Low, body and front kicks: MMA guide
- Checking kicks: MMA 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.