When we’re throwing punches it’s important and useful to use offensive and defensive principles in concert with one another. In many ways the principles that help us with our striking offense also help our striking defense at the same time.

For example, you may know that you should snap your punches out nice and fast when you throw them in order to have a better chance at catching your opponent with your sharp offense. As it turns out, you want to snap your hands and arms back to your own guard (covering your face and body) after throwing your offense just as rapidly as you snapped your punches out.

If we drop our hands low or retract them back to our guard too slowly, we can be timed and countered too easily. Watch the above short instructional and work this during your shadowboxing rounds as well as on the pads, bag, and in sparring!