High Percentage, Easy to Perform Counters

[bellemastiff]

I am building up my stamina and skills with hard work every day. I finally feel like I have the VERY basics down like breathing, basic balance, keeping guard up all the time, shooting the jab out & back quickly, etc.

I've also begun sparring on Saturdays. At the gym I go to, the guys spar VERY hard (not out of control -- but aggressive). I am holding my own. What I seem to do best so far is actually surprising me. I am not that aggressive (possibly due to stamina issues -- I'm afraid of punching myself out then getting my butt beat). So I sort of jab and move and wait for them to come at me.

My BEST moments so far are when a sparring partner either jabs or throws a 1-2 and I lean back ever so slightly to make them miss then REAL quick I throw like a 'power jab' right to their nose. It always seem to shock anyone it happens to, and then they usually are less aggressive after that.

Anyways it seems "right" to box like this (for me) , but the problem is I really I only have this one "counter" (lean back on the 1-2 then counter with a jab).

I am wondering what are some other HIGH PERCENTAGE counters. Stuff that is EASY to do (relatively) even assuming you're not a very fast or athletic boxer. Like if you were training a mediocre talent but who was working HARD, and you could only teach him 1 or 2 counters, which ones would they be? (Basically, my preference is to try to learn to do a couple things WELL and confidently, at this point, rather than learn 100 things halfway. Because when I'm sparring I usually revert to very basic stuff I'm real confident with). BTW, I'm referring to outboxing counters here -- at this point I'm able to counter infighting pretty instinctively -- it's the outside range punches , that I want a couple SOLID "go to" counters for!

[mconstantine]

Counters to take away the jab are the best to learn first so you're off to a good start.

The classic counter right over the jab. (Best when opponent throws lazy jab...even easier if they fall in with their jab)



Matthysse destroyed Dallas Jr. with this. I also like the way Matthysse executes it. Floyd for example is brilliant at this too, but he pulls straight back (hence pull counter) just out of range of the jab, than explodes forward. Matthysse does more of a slip of the jab, then turns back with the right hand.

I've practiced this both ways and I struggle pulling straight back then exploding forward. It takes more energy and athleticism. The slip then counter is easier for me and it torques your body in a way to deliver with more power with that counter right.

If you just watch Floyd Mayweather and Juan Manual Marquez, you'll see 2-3 solid counters to use, at least. This is assuming you're not a southpaw.

[greynotsoold]

Assuming you are an orthodox boxer, if you can slip and/or parry to the outside off his left jab there are a bunch of them (By 'to the outside' I mean so his jab goes over your left shoulder). You have to drop your left hand to get it out of the way, but you can land these punches basically for free. Just kind of lay back to get him really stepping with- committing to- his jab, then parry it over your left shoulder with your right glove...
And counter with your own jab, bringing it up from chest level and pushing off your right foot, nice timing punch and a real stiff counter. Or parry it the same way, and hook to the chin or to the belly. Or slip to the outside and drive the right uppercut to the floating rib on his left side. Or slip outside, pivot to your right (on your left foot- a short pivot) and follow his jab home with your right hand.

[~AK49~]

I've practiced this both ways and I struggle pulling straight back then exploding forward. It takes more energy and athleticism. The slip then counter is easier for me and it torques your body in a way to deliver with more power with that counter right.

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May be an issue/technicality on your balance. On pull counters you can't be in your regular balanced stance. You have to have your weight on your front foot, and when you pull back you get into your regular balanced stance and can fire immediately back off your back foot. If you try doing a pull counter in your regular stance, you pull back and put all your weight on your back foot/bent backwards. In other words, you're in no athletic position to fire anything meaningful back.

You probably know this, but FYI if it helps.

[greynotsoold]

May be an issue/technicality on your balance. On pull counters you can't be in your regular balanced stance. You have to have your weight on your front foot, and when you pull back you get into your regular balanced stance and can fire immediately back off your back foot. If you try doing a pull counter in your regular stance, you pull back and put all your weight on your back foot/bent backwards. In other words, you're in no athletic position to fire anything meaningful back.

You probably know this, but FYI if it helps.

You can pull back just by dropping the heel of your rear foot to the floor and shifting the weight over that leg. To follow his punch back, just come off that back foot. This doesn't affect your balance or your ability to punch back effectively in any negative way at all.
And, really, it should be a minimal move to begin with. Be right at the end of his range, lean back and counter. If you get in too close there are too many variables in 'how long his arms are.' If that makes sense...

[~AK49~]

You can pull back just by dropping the heel of your rear foot to the floor and shifting the weight over that leg. To follow his punch back, just come off that back foot. This doesn't affect your balance or your ability to punch back effectively in any negative way at all.
And, really, it should be a minimal move to begin with. Be right at the end of his range, lean back and counter. If you get in too close there are too many variables in 'how long his arms are.' If that makes sense...

Yeah, was thinking about editing in that range and reach are huge. Obviously gotta keep range, and a reach advantage/disadvantage will make it easier/harder. But...if you have to pull back/bend backwards too far, you're screwed, can't fire anything back and are in a defensively prone position

Some of the best pull counters I've seen, Floyd mayweather, are when he has his weight on his front foot. When he pulls back, he's in a balanced upright position, and can fire right back.