Head movement... when to utilize it?

[Fearless]

I am, as some may have read in the past, a short fighter, my trainer is trying to get me to have a Tyson like approach, he's told me during sparring "more head movement".

I understand slipping meaning to counter, but sometimes I feel like I am just standing there waiting for my opponent to throw a punch. I also read that the idea isn't to do that but to make your opponent throw...

My question on head movement is how to utilize? Do I move it on frequent occasions? As in, slight movements (up down, side to side etc) while I am just moving around? Or do I just move it when my opponent punches.

Same with bobbing and weaving inwards... is it advisable to just, when given the opportunity, bob and weave in (maybe after setting up with a jab or two first) then attack without having to anticipate my opponent's punches?

I have a feeling I may have answered my question, but please do correct me.

[mconstantine]

First off...fighting this style is exhausting so you have to train to be economical with your movements.

Second...make sure you have a good understanding of range first. Being shorter means there is a range/distance where your opponents can reach you, but you can't reach him. That's when you want to start moving your head. No real need to move your head when you're out of your opponent's range unless you're feinting trying to disguise an attack. Sidenote: That zone where he can reach you but you can't reach him...never linger there. You should only be in that zone in passing as you go in, or come out.

Third...whether you should move your head before or after your opponent punches depends on what you want to do. A good default position is to always move your head once you're in punching range. But once you learn to think in the ring, you may want to set offense up by baiting your opponent to throw. You can do this by NOT moving your head when in range. But you have to be looking for your opponent to throw so that you're not caught off guard, slip, step in and counter. Slipping, stepping in and countering off of punches should eventually become instinctive to where you don't have to think.

Bobbing and weaving is best on the inside but can be good on the outside too. If you get too slip happy, a sharp taller fighter can time your slips and drop right hands down on you. See Lennox Lewis.

Train for all of these aspects man...aim to be versatile and unpredictable. There are few set/firm rules, it's just all about what you're trying to do in that moment.