Tips For Covering Distance

[TheNewDragon]

I'm still pretty new to MMA training. I've been training for what I'd say is a total of 6 months or around that. I've recently got back into training and I love the feeling of being back.

Now on topic. I was wondering if you guys had any tips for covering distance when pushing forward rather it be throwing a single jab or trying to land a combination.

Normally I switch my stance during strikes to help cover distance. Kind of how you would see Dillashaw or Cruz do.

 

[MilesP4P]

I think people often spurt out "throw the jab" or "double up the jab". Which is solid advice for covering distance, but I think people need to also remember to be mindful of their range. Take a baby steps towards your opponent or inch towards them before throwing that double jab, it will land much more flush. Often I see the shorter man doubling the jab and hitting nothing but air because his opponent leans back, I think that is why it is paramount that shorter fighters need to have it INGRAINED in their minds to follow up the double jab with punch combos when the taller man leans back(which is not a good defense unless you are Ali) and leaves them self susceptible to being caught of balance and on the back foot.

 

[Jaxxstatic]

You can deceptively get into range without moving your upper body by keeping weight on your back foot while sliding your lead foot forward when you are just outside of striking range. Mayweather's great at this.

 

[MilesP4P]

You can deceptively get into range without moving your upper body by keeping weight on your back foot while sliding your lead foot forward when you are just outside of striking range. Mayweather's great at this.

Agreed, May is great at this. And people rarely notice the subtle step until its too late and now your in jabbing range.

 

[Higus]

Come forward at angles and/or change elevation on the way in.

 

[Thunderstriker]

What helps for me is throwing shots to the body. For example: Jab - Straight Body - Lead Hook head and a roundhouse to whereever you want. Just throw a lot of strikes AT YOUR OWN RANGE. This is very important - if you close the distance too aggresively, you'll end up in the clinch. Range is very important - use a jab with step or lead hook with step to get into your range (your arm's lenght, no more no less) and then work your combinations while changing levels - don't forget to punch the body, it makes your opponent react and not just put his face in a shell to cover up. Also, pick your shots - look at where he's open, for example you start with a lead hook and straight right, he covers his head up, then you fire to the body, then a hook again, then for example you see he left some space for uppercut - you fire an uppercut... He put himself in a "shell" - you kick a hard roundhouse to the leg or the arms.

I like to call this Controlled Agression and there's an example of it (look from 0:40):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7Pl98GXyU0

 

[aries]

Come forward at angles and/or change elevation on the way in.

Yeah both are good. Change of elevation is a good one for both boxing and MMA. Come in while dipping down as you reach the punching range. GGG does this a lot. Salido does it a lot too. Both are hard to keep at bay. In MMA it's has it's pros and cons. Obviously the threat of the takedown makes it a good deception that can freeze strikers, but then you have to deal with lowline attacks which you don't really get in boxing.

 

[Perfect form]

Spiral your target

Move in a spiral. Square up your feet and move in a spiral pattern around your target.

 

[Tug]

parry punches and adjust angles or counter. ive been experimenting with this a lot recently and its changed my game considerably

 

[killedsirius]

Spiral your target

Move in a spiral. Square up your feet and move in a spiral pattern around your target.

what?

 

[a guy]

It really depends what the other guy is doing to prevent you from covering distance. Is he stepping straight back? Just step forward until he runs out of room. Is he moving away on an angle? Cut it off. Is he jabbing? Parry then jab back while moving forward, or slip and counter. Is he teeping? Catch/parry then come in. Winging a power shot? Either feint forward at the edge of range, let him swing at the air then step in (Dillashaw does this extremely well actually, since you mentioned him) or get under it as you step in. Get the idea? Figure out what he's doing, then don't let him do it.

Now if you're asking about how to cover distance while attacking, that's a different story. Shifting is the answer most people go to because it's the easiest, but it's also the most dangerous. It leaves you very vulnerable. In my opinion, you're better off learning to keep your feet under you and in your proper stance as you step forward with attacks. It's hard to explain how to do that because there are a lot of different types of footwork that need to be combined with correct weight distribution/transfer and foot spacing depending on what attack you're throwing and what position you're starting from. There are too many variables to give a concise explanation. Shifting is a tool, but shouldn't be the basis of your forward movement.

 

[a guy]

what?

lol

Spiral your target

Move in a spiral. Square up your feet and move in a spiral pattern around your target.

I mean, I know what you're going for, but that's a terrible way to explain it.

 

[fightingrabbit]

what?

He means attack them with a conch shell.

Do you guys even train?

 

[Perfect form]

My target is a position relative to my opponent. A position from where I can effectively strike my opponent.

I cover the distance to my target by moving in a spiral pattern.

A bullseye is a representation

My target is a moving target. My target is also often defended by strikes.

Sometimes my opponent doesn't recognize or react to me achieving my target. Those times is when I'll strike.

I'm offering an idea, a concept. This is what I see when I hear "covering distance". It's an idea that help with what and how to train so when I'm in a fight I can feel my way through it.

 

[a guy]

My target is a position relative to my opponent. A position from where I can effectively strike my opponent.

I cover the distance to my target by moving in a spiral pattern.

A bullseye is a representation

My target is a moving target. My target is also often defended by strikes.

Sometimes my opponent doesn't recognize or react to me achieving my target. Those times is when I'll strike.

I'm offering an idea, a concept. This is what I see when I hear "covering distance". It's an idea that help with what and how to train so when I'm in a fight I can feel my way through it.

Yea look, I understand the concept but a conch shell? You're just being pretentious.

 

[Perfect form]

Yea look, I understand the concept but a conch shell? You're just being pretentious.

Meh. The nautilus shell is an excellent representation of the spiral pattern.

 

[Jaxxstatic]

Pretentious (adj.) - making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious.

 

[a guy]

Meh. The nautilus shell is an excellent representation of the spiral pattern.

So is, you know, a spiral

And even still, I don't think it's a good representation of the concept you're trying to get at, mostly because of a reason you already stated--the target is moving.

Pretentious (adj.) - making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious.

Pretentious: attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.

 

[Jaxxstatic]

A conch shell in no way represents what someone has to do to cover distance.
A spiral is the same.

No one spirals their opponent to get inside--maybe to get away, but even then the concept is too limiting.

There are distance drills you can do with and without a partner. I suggest getting into an actual boxing gym if you have one in the area. A trainer can help you more than a keyboard jockey.

 

[Discipulus]

You can deceptively get into range without moving your upper body by keeping weight on your back foot while sliding your lead foot forward when you are just outside of striking range. Mayweather's great at this.

Golovkin too, actually. He takes tiny little steps into range with his head pulled back, so the opponent can't tell unless they're literally staring at his feet, at which point he might as well just hit them.

TS, from my own experience nothing hinders distance-coverage like a too-wide stance. It's especially problematic if you've got your rear foot stuck out behind your body. To cover distance effectively (and to punch, slip, block, etc) you need that foot to be more or less right under your butt. So the key to moving forward while staying in a stable position for throwing strikes is to keep your back foot under your body. Every time you drive forward, you replace that foot as soon as you can so you drive off of it again.