In this video lesson I look at using your head and shoulders for angle, distance and power. It is for boxers, martial artists and self-defence students who want better position in every exchange.

It is vital that you understand how the head and shoulders can be used together to generate the best angle and distance, with power, against your opponent. The same principle can be used for defensive movement too. Play with it, add it to everything else you train, and see how it works for you.

Why the Head and Shoulders Matter

Most people think about angle and distance in terms of the feet. The feet matter, but they are slow. The head and shoulders can change your angle and your range much faster, without needing a step.

Move the head a few inches and you are no longer on the line your opponent was aiming at. Turn the shoulders and your reach changes, your target changes and the direction of your power changes. Done together, they let you hit from an angle your opponent is not expecting.

How It Works

Your head leads your body. Where the head goes, the weight tends to follow. Your shoulders set the line of your punches. When you move them together on purpose, you can:

  • Slip off the line of a punch while staying in range to counter
  • Add reach to a punch without overextending the arm
  • Shorten the distance for a close-range shot without stepping
  • Create an angle so your punch lands where your opponent is not guarding
  • Load the body for power as you come back from a defensive movement

Common Mistakes

The most common mistake is moving the head too far, which leaves you off balance and out of position. Small movements are usually enough. Another is moving the head without the shoulders, or the shoulders without the head, which breaks the link between defence and attack. A third is bending at the waist and putting your head over your front foot, which makes you easy to hit.

How to Practise

Shadow box and focus only on small head and shoulder movements, slipping and turning without moving your feet. Then add a punch after each movement. On the pads, have your coach throw slow shots so you can practise slipping and countering from the new angle. Keep it relaxed and keep your guard in place throughout.

Take It Further

Angles, distance and power are all built into the Learn To Box Online Course. For more on boxing technique, see The Boxing Series.