Frank, my neighbor, loves to practice boxing with me.
By “with me” I mean he throws punches, jabs and a mean right hook out of the blue — at me.
He says it’ll keep me on my toes because in real life, attackers don’t warn you before they beat the crap out of you.
So I asked him to show me some defensive moves he used as a bodyguard in Chicago (he worked for some mafia type, but won’t give me details).
Frank says, “Chuck, you only need 3 moves — but if you only learn one move, make it parrying.”
Here are the 3 moves — from effective blocking, parrying and slipping — approved by Frank, an ex-mafia bodyguard and Vietnam vet.
#1: Blocking
This move is a basic boxing defense and probably one of the first skills that you’ll learn.
Blocking is an easy way to defend yourself without moving out of range.
It takes very little energy and also hardly any skill to learn.
You’re not trying to catch punches but simply trying to cover up your most vulnerable areas.
Blocking is designed to protect your head and your body while also not leaving you open to any follow up punches.
There are a few drawbacks to blocking.
It may be more difficult to counter and you’ll still absorb some damage.
Once you learn how to block, you’ll learn when to use it and when you want a more aggressive maneuver for self-defense.
#2: Parrying
Parrying is similar to blocking a blow but it’s a little more complex.
Instead of blocking a punch (and absorbing the hit), you deflect the punch away with your hand.
You can even use this to “guide” an attacker off balance, using his momentum against him.
This is a great way to wear out an attacker, too.
The only drawback is that it’s not great for light punches or curved ones.
#3: Slipping
If you only ever learn one defensive technique then slipping is probably the most useful for self-defense.
This requires evading punches completely by displacing the head or the body to one side — by going to the outside of an incoming punch.
This is an incredibly effective maneuver where your attacker misses you entirely
You can then use your hands or body to escape them.
You don’t need to be fit, in shape, or be particularly strong.
No need to become a ninja or expert on weapons.
You just need a handful of moves and a way to turn your natural fear into strategic rage.
You can learn everything you need to know about the TRUTH about what it takes to dominate a fight…
And how you can make winning a fight as natural and automatic as sneezing…
Discover the simple fighting skills you need for self-defense.