why is weaving/bobbing ineffective in mma?

[Walkinshaw**]

It's not ineffective.. just not necessary. To get good at bobbing/weaving to the point where it's a useful tool takes a LOT of practice. And if you aren't very good at it and try to do it it can backfire spectacularly (slipping the wrong way and headbutting a punch, not ducking quick enough or slipping far enough and getting caught etc). The reason it is so important in boxing it because in boxing you only have your hands, so if you use your hands to defend (eg parry or block) than you have no options to counter. Bobbing and weaving allows your to avoid a shot while also leaving your hands free to counter straight away.

In mma/muay thai you aren't just limited to hands, but have knees/kicks as well. So you can defend with your hands and counter with your other weapons.. Of course you can still use head movement in muay thai (samart, somluck et all) - but you have to be even more careful than in normal boxing due to the dangers of kicks and knees when you bob down. Even guys like samart don't use head movement *that* much in muay thai, it just isn't that useful. But depends on who you are fighting as well.. two muay thai guys who favour hands banging it out it will become more useful for eg. Also in MMA fighters tend to use a lot more lateral footwork to avoid, they don't really stand in the pocket and bang very often. The design of the cage means you can back up whenever you want without fear of getting caught in a corner like in boxing

 

[DoctorTaco]

Because getting punched is manly.

 

[Chris Beeby]

It's not ineffective.. just not necessary. To get good at bobbing/weaving to the point where it's a useful tool takes a LOT of practice. And if you aren't very good at it and try to do it it can backfire spectacularly (slipping the wrong way and headbutting a punch, not ducking quick enough or slipping far enough and getting caught etc). The reason it is so important in boxing it because in boxing you only have your hands, so if you use your hands to defend (eg parry or block) than you have no options to counter. Bobbing and weaving allows your to avoid a shot while also leaving your hands free to counter straight away.

This is an interesting point. In MMA though, if you roll/weave instead of parry/cover you can grapple.

Almost all of the threads of people posting why X isn't done in MMA is just because MMA is still in it's infancy. Give it some time.

 

[Nuclearlandmine]

weaving bobbing is too much head movement. I think there are one or two gifs that have a dude getting knockdown/knockout senselessly due to excessive head movement. I think one of them was getting knock out by a kick.

IMHO, the head movement in MMA only works when
1. you move your head in a way that won't compromise your base (ie the CORRECT way of head movement using your body and feints not just moving your head around)
2. you move your head just enough to get out of the imminent harm's way but not put you in any other additional harm (like kick or knee).

 

[HIMBOB]

I think having your head further way from your center of gravity means it is harder for you to respond to a take down or leg kick.

But I have seen some guys use significant head movement to avoid strikes, its just very rare and only the elite strikers.


I also think they only seem to bob and weave in response to a incoming punch, boxers seem to do so they guuy doesn't know where to punch (ie not thrown yet) but I am no boxing expert.

 

[Dragonborn]

Like other people said before, it's really just a stereotype. I don't know any statistics, but sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.

I think it's still worth learning and practicing it. Bobbing and weaving could save your ass sometimes. The more you know the better and just use what you learned when it's the best time to use it.

I seen lots of bobbing and weaving by the way in MMA

 

[Hotora86]

Everything is effective if you're highly skilled in it and drill it specifically for MMA. Machida's Shotokan footwork and parrying is a good example. It's absolutely ridiculous (to most ppl) how he runs around with his hands low and dropped shoulders, so vulnerable to any kind of strikes (it seems). Yet it worked for him in most of his fights up to his victorious title fight and the only two guys that were able to catch him are arguably amongst the best LHWs of all time.

 

[NAKMUAY18]

It's not ineffective.. just not necessary. To get good at bobbing/weaving to the point where it's a useful tool takes a LOT of practice. And if you aren't very good at it and try to do it it can backfire spectacularly (slipping the wrong way and headbutting a punch, not ducking quick enough or slipping far enough and getting caught etc). The reason it is so important in boxing it because in boxing you only have your hands, so if you use your hands to defend (eg parry or block) than you have no options to counter. Bobbing and weaving allows your to avoid a shot while also leaving your hands free to counter straight away.

In mma/muay thai you aren't just limited to hands, but have knees/kicks as well. So you can defend with your hands and counter with your other weapons.. Of course you can still use head movement in muay thai (samart, somluck et all) - but you have to be even more careful than in normal boxing due to the dangers of kicks and knees when you bob down. Even guys like samart don't use head movement *that* much in muay thai, it just isn't that useful. But depends on who you are fighting as well.. two muay thai guys who favour hands banging it out it will become more useful for eg. Also in MMA fighters tend to use a lot more lateral footwork to avoid, they don't really stand in the pocket and bang very often. The design of the cage means you can back up whenever you want without fear of getting caught in a corner like in boxing

Excellent post, completly agree

 

[LZD]

To bob and weave in MMA you have to be aware of more things than in pure striking. And with all the other skills you must train for MMA, getting good enough becomes difficult. Some fighters who are really great at bobbing and weaving in kickboxing or boxing, can't execute their skills in MMA because they are not as proficient/in control/aware of the wrestling aspect.

 

[thewhiteSRR]

Seems a lot of people have the wrong idea about weaving. You can bob and weave while staying tight and keeping yourself protected from kicks and punches. There is a situation for everything.

Weaving doesn't necessarily mean bending til your head is in the other dudes waist.

 

[Discipulus]

I think having your head further way from your center of gravity means it is harder for you to respond to a take down or leg kick.

But I have seen some guys use significant head movement to avoid strikes, its just very rare and only the elite strikers.


I also think they only seem to bob and weave in response to a incoming punch, boxers seem to do so they guuy doesn't know where to punch (ie not thrown yet) but I am no boxing expert.

Good bobbing and weaving shouldn't take your head away from your center of gravity. Your hips and legs should always move first. A good bob actually puts you in a pretty stable stance, like that of a wrestler.

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

Anderson Silva disagrees.

But I would say we don't see it so much because when kicks and knees are involved the risk is higher.

 

[ufcufcufc***]

I am by no means an expert on this at all, and I only train in pure Muay Thai, but my coaches have been pounding into my head for a year and a half to stop with so much head movement. Slips and parries, mostly parries, are how they've coached me to defend strikes, because in muay thai, its too easy to get clinched with all the head movement, too many ways to get caught. Maybe because muay thai is so prevalent in mma is why the bobbing and weaving seems ineffective in the sport?

I agree. Do to knees , it's not as wise to due. I remember a guy was bobbing and weaving tooo much that the instructor kneed him

 

[aries]

To this whole thread I'd like to say two words: Dominck Cruz

I also think they only seem to bob and weave in response to a incoming punch, boxers seem to do so they guuy doesn't know where to punch (ie not thrown yet) but I am no boxing expert.

Actually boxers quite often draw their opponents to fire at them in order to slip and counter. It just looks the same as them just reacting to the opponent when in fact they set them up.

 

[devante]

Guys don't pick their spots or take who their opponent is into consideration; which is why it doesn't work, no tech works all the time. You have to know when how and who to use it against

 

[Boxer43]

that is exactly my question.

why? are you supposed to just slip and/or move away from strikes?

why cant you weave out from a giant hook and counter with combinations like in boxing?

Who ever said that probably thinks it will lead to clinching and takedowns. Starting in boxing i can say i never had to give it up or at least not completely

 

[pheonix5]

Excessively would be the key word here.If a fighter does anything excessively the opponent will eventually get the timing and then it's just a matter of time before he ko's the dude.Bobbing and weaving has to be used at the right time,mixed in with other evasive movements like in and out footwork,angling off,slipping and parrying.If all you show is bobbing and weaving it's gonna be a short night.

 

[Buffmedic01]

I think alot of people here don't understand the difference between head movement and bobbing and weaving. Because alot are implying that if you are not bobbing and weaving your head is static. Now that being said, in MMA a mistimed bob'n'weave could make you more vulnerable to kicks... but that is debatable and more than likely you would be caught by an accidental kick than someone timing your movements and landing a purposeful kick. I bob and weave when I spar mma style, I have found that lateral movement seems to fit me better when sparring mma style. More because of tdd than anything. I would hate to bob right into a knee though... just saying.

 

[jkcobra]

Anderson Silva; vs forrest griffin if you want a specific example. Head movements just as important in mma it should just be used a little differently, with awareness of clinching, knees, and kicks. Also continuous movement is good but standing in one spot weaving around is asking for a takedown or solid leg/body kick

 

[Tony Manifold]

What do you think a duck under is? It's a wrestling expression of the same principles. Bobbing and weaving is as effective in MMA as in boxing you just have dip from the knees more and less from the waist. It actually blends really well with wrestling.