If you’ve ever watched someone work the Heavy Bag in the gym, it is easy to tell those individuals who have a competitive, rather than fitness, boxing background i.e., those who have been taught how to spar etc. It’s not about how they punch/hit, but rather about their use of head movement. Those that have been trained as “fighters” move their head before a combination, and after finishing one. Someone who is working the bag, from a fighting perspective, will understand the importance of head movement, in a way that is totally different to someone who is using the bag as a fitness workout (and there is nothing wrong with using the bag this way). In this article I want to look at how head movement can be used both defensively - and more importantly - offensively.
One of the first things I train every student in – and perpetually reinforce to existing students – is the ability to control range. At first, this is a conscious skill (making sure they can see their partner’s/opponent’s front foot, with their peripheral vision, whilst looking at the center of the chest), which later turns into a subconscious one i.e., they “automatically” know when they are in or out of range. At this stage I’m also very much about them keeping their head over their shoulders, and their shoulders over hips, and moving in a stable and balanced stance etc. Understanding range, means that they know how to force an opponent to physically move in order to make a strike, and how/when it is “safe” for them to move into range in order for them to make a strike/punch etc. For me this is one of the building blocks for developing a range of fighting skills. However, control of range in this way means that the only time they can come into range to make a strike/punch is to move forward, which is fine if an opponent allows them an opening to do so, and/or if they can create an opening through their movement etc. This may be extremely difficult against an opponent who is putting them under extreme pressure with constant forward momentum. There will be those in the Krav Maga community who will make the argument that in such situations you should simply “fight fire with fire” e.g., turn up your aggression, start moving forward and swinging back etc. Whilst this strategy has its place, against a larger, committed assailant it might be as effective as running and throwing yourself against a castle wall. However, a clever use of head movement, can effectively bring an attacker into range, whilst keeping yourself safe i.e., avoiding being hit. For the sake of example let’s imagine a fighter with some training who is constantly moving forward with a left jab, recoiling, and firing it so fast, that there isn’t a “gap” in which to counter. Not only is it fast but they know how to throw it with power, stepping forward with it, and pushing off from their feet. Initially, you might back up, controlling range, avoiding the punch, but at some point, you will need to interrupt their striking pattern; each time you move back becomes an invitation for them to throw another strike. However, if you suddenly don’t move back, but instead slip the punch, by turning your head to the right, dropping your weight, by bending your knees, their Jab will/should go over your left shoulder, with your assailant now moving into range (life is rarely as simple as this but I’m using a simple example to illustrate the point). Rather than you moving into range, you have brought your attacker into range.
This is how head movement can be used offensively, which is the preferred way to use it, and how by using good control of range in conjunction with it, you can set up attacking opportunities e.g., you don’t necessarily have to use head movement to deal with an aggressor coming forward, as described above, as you can “draw” an assailant towards you by moving back. With good control of range, you can force them to over-commit, by moving back and giving them the illusion that with every next strike/punch they might just reach you. As they become more desperate to land the punch there will come a point where they over-commit to it, and overreach and/or commit too much forward momentum. A well-timed slip at that moment will see them move deep into range, with their arm fully extended over your shoulder. Counters that work well at this range are low hooks, and body shots; head shots can be difficult if an assailant is so close to you and has over-committed the punch, as it is unlikely to have been recoiled leaving the punching-arm guarding your attacker’s head/face – the body and ribs though are nicely exposed. Sticking with the left-jab and slipping to the right - by turning your right shoulder and pulling your head to the right – if you’re fighting in an orthodox stance your weight will have been transferred to your right foot, meaning that you are all set to transfer it to your left foot, as you swing in the right hook. This is how you use the slip to not only evade being hit, but to set up your punches with power. This is why actions such as slipping should be seen and used as offensive rather than defensive maneuvers.
Head movement is also an extremely good way of distracting an opponent/aggressor - this is something I have written about in a previous blog (click here to read) - and whilst it is first important to learn how to control range though body movement and positioning, at some point adding in head movement is a necessary addition to your skillset. Although, not primarily meant as a defensive tool, when finding yourself in range, either because you have moved in, or caused your attacker to move in, it may become your only way of evading punches at this range, and being able to do this with the ability to quickly counter with your own punches becomes important and necessary.