Pressure Counter Fighting

[Frenchie1133]

Hey folks,

I am curious to hear drills to help with this, I find myself walking foward all the time and being forced to lead to be able to draw a counter!

I know mcgregor does that hop step(Think Aldo knockout)

Mayweather does that lean in/pull back

Just trying to see if you guys have other tricks like that, and/or ways to drill this style into me!

 

[jojoRed]

Probe and try to draw out an attack with feints and jabs?

 

[Fire of Youth]

Work your positions. Threaten from all angles and heights. As soon as they adjust to your current position, move to a different one.

 

[ARIZE]

Depending on your level, there is a classic method, but it needs a lot of work in practice, and some experience. Not sure if a beginner can pull it off... And a lot of patience.

You feed him with a basic, simple combo. The same again and again. (I don't mean every strike you make is that combo, but you will use it a lot). Those strikes are not feint or semi contact ones... They are meant to hurt, to keep the pressure. But they are also meant to draw a specific response that you have been train to counter...
But that means a lot of homework... You must know what are the usual response to that combo, and train to counter them.

It also can be a movement trap... for example if you feed him the 2-3, and you see him reacting by stepping to his left to avoid/minimize the hook, you can then caught him with a hard 4 on the later rounds...

But that means a lot of preparation, and also you can never be sure how your opponent will react to a certain combo or strike... You may have trained for 2-3 scenarios, but then that guy uses something else completely. And even if he uses something you are expecting, you may not be ready for it.

It's dangerous because at some point he will read you. He will try to capitalize on that repetition... You just have to be ready and properly defend the first few times, and at some point, to use the counter you've been working on...

 

[biscuitsbrah]

in for drills

 

[Sano]

Lots of different ways to counter someone as a pressure fighter. A lot more than just being a backfoot counter striker. You can force the action and dictate the pace a lot more.

Countering while they are throwing:
1) Be in range and play the jab game. Exchange jabs and make them think that's what you are doing, then you time their jab, slip to the inside and come over the top with an overhand simultaniously, for example. That's the cross counter, but don't be too predictable with it.

Illustrates a few variations of that counter.
2) Slipping to the outside of their jab instead and jabbing with your own

Using the space:
1) If you are fighting/sparring someone who wants to get away from you while you are cutting off the ring and pressuring them, leading them into either side then catching them with either (shuffle step) lead hook, or a rear hook, depending on which way they are moving is an option.

Drawing out punches:
1) Volume, feints and intet. People being pushed back and overwhelmed sometimes opens up a lot just because of the pressure. So be ready to counter and strike. Also feinting, and putting your head where they think they can hit you, while deliberately waiting for the attack to slip/block/parry and counter, is a staple. The pull counter is an excellent one for that (hard to do though), or slipping to the outside and coming back with the rear uppercut or straight afterwards. You have to read the opponent and that can be hard at times, it's a chess match.
2) If you can pressure them enough to go highguard, and have them against the ropes, then going to the body is your best friend. Just be careful of their counter hooks.

Changing up your tempo, look and level:
1) Be unpredictable. Don't do the same draw each time. Step back sometimes and give them space, take angles, don't come straight in. Use headmovemt. Go high, and low. The more you confuse them and give them different looks, the harder it is for them to read what you're doing and when you are letting them punch, or countering. Sometimes it's okay to give them a false sense of security, lull them a bit and then bang.

Keep your eyes on the opponent at all times. Being an aggressive counter puncher is all about being aware, using your eyes and reading the opponent.

 

[AndyMaBobs]

There's probably no better example than Vasyl Lomachenko, the best boxer in the world. He deliberately leaves 'openings' that to draw out the punch he wants to counter. He'll feint to the point of his opponent freezing up and swinging wild - then capitalise off of it.

 

[Silver tongue samurai]

https://media.giphy.com/media/xS1LkjMN61Oes/giphy.gif

One of my favorites

 

[Silver tongue samurai]

I do a lot of solo drilling and find the double end bag is one of my best friends for countering drills especially with pulls
•1-2-pull-2
BMT offensive defensive drill:
•1-2-3-roll-3-2 (roll with the 3 into the second 3)

BMT Back Em up:
•jab jab cross
•jab lead hook cross
•lead hook jab cross

These have all helped me. Just be aware use your ranged weapons and be careful of counter counter fighters haha. Checkout shane burgose too

 

[Frenchie1133]

Unbelivable answer man! Thank you so much, thanks to everyone else contributing as well!

Lots of different ways to counter someone as a pressure fighter. A lot more than just being a backfoot counter striker. You can force the action and dictate the pace a lot more.

Countering while they are throwing:
1) Be in range and play the jab game. Exchange jabs and make them think that's what you are doing, then you time their jab, slip to the inside and come over the top with an overhand simultaniously, for example. That's the cross counter, but don't be too predictable with it.

Illustrates a few variations of that counter.
2) Slipping to the outside of their jab instead and jabbing with your own

Using the space:
1) If you are fighting/sparring someone who wants to get away from you while you are cutting off the ring and pressuring them, leading them into either side then catching them with either (shuffle step) lead hook, or a rear hook, depending on which way they are moving is an option.

Drawing out punches:
1) Volume, feints and intet. People being pushed back and overwhelmed sometimes opens up a lot just because of the pressure. So be ready to counter and strike. Also feinting, and putting your head where they think they can hit you, while deliberately waiting for the attack to slip/block/parry and counter, is a staple. The pull counter is an excellent one for that (hard to do though), or slipping to the outside and coming back with the rear uppercut or straight afterwards. You have to read the opponent and that can be hard at times, it's a chess match.
2) If you can pressure them enough to go highguard, and have them against the ropes, then going to the body is your best friend. Just be careful of their counter hooks.

Changing up your tempo, look and level:
1) Be unpredictable. Don't do the same draw each time. Step back sometimes and give them space, take angles, don't come straight in. Use headmovemt. Go high, and low. The more you confuse them and give them different looks, the harder it is for them to read what you're doing and when you are letting them punch, or countering. Sometimes it's okay to give them a false sense of security, lull them a bit and then bang.

Keep your eyes on the opponent at all times. Being an aggressive counter puncher is all about being aware, using your eyes and reading the opponent.