Keep your feet shoulder-width apart with your less dominant foot slightly forward. If you are right-handed, your left foot should be slightly forward. This will help give you more balance when you want to slip a punch or throw one of your own. [2] X Research source This defensive position is very important, since it’s often difficult to retaliate when you are so close to your opponent.

You should pivot your back foot in a counterclockwise motion that mimics your body’s movement. Raise up slightly on the ball of your right/back foot and turn the foot in coordination with the rest of your body.

At this point, you’ll be able to step in with your leading foot and throw a jab of your own. Depending on the positioning of your opponent, you’ll most likely throw a jab with your dominant hand.

Be sure to keep your eye on your opponent and your chin tucked behind your shoulder during this entire move. This move will help you keep a strong center of gravity, and make it easier for you to come back up after you slip the punch.

Raise your hands near your face for a good defensive stance. This will put you in the right starting position to slip a punch outside of the jab.

You’ll need to pivot both of your feet in the same clockwise direction that you rotated your hips.

At this point, you’ve fully slipped your opponent’s punch and you should be able to put out a crossover jab over their arm, or an uppercut from below to their body. Choose which arm to jab or uppercut with based on your opponent’s body positioning. If you have a clear crossover shot, you will likely jab with the same arm your opponent did, as it will “cross over” their arm. If you have an opportunity to give your opponent an uppercut jab, use whichever arm is the closest or would be coming from the most effective angle. An inherent advantage of slipping is that one of your opponent’s hands is next to your head. That is one less hand they can use to defend themselves and a hand that must be pulled back before your opponent can go anywhere.

Becoming predictable and returning to the same position are great ways to help your opponent predict your moves.

You can also try various sprinting activities, as these can also increase your agility in the boxing ring. Sprinting involves running as fast as you can for shorter periods of time. Try varying long-distance running with sprints. Long-distance runs will help improve your endurance, and they’ll help you recover faster during a boxing match. Sprints will help strengthen your legs and footwork, and they’ll help prepare you for the chaos of a fight. [10] X Expert Source David EngelMuay Thai Instructor & Self Defense Trainer Expert Interview. 5 May 2020. Jumping rope can help improve your balance, which is essential for defense. [11] X Expert Source David EngelMuay Thai Instructor & Self Defense Trainer Expert Interview. 5 May 2020. You might also want to try follow-the-leader drills where you follow a trainer and mimic their actions. This helps you hone your observation skills and improve your reaction time.

Make sure that your head movements are somewhat irregular, not just back and forth to a steady rhythm. Otherwise, this is just as predictable as keeping your head still.

These kinds of movements help you stay in the moment, focus on what your opponent is doing, and slip punches in the moment when you see them coming.

Don’t take your eyes off your opponent even for a moment. This could give them the opportunity to catch you off your guard.

Some great stretches to perform before you jump in the boxing ring are the standing toe-up Achilles stretch, assisted reverse chest stretch, and rotating stomach stretch. [14] X Research source Try incorporating plyometric stretches before a match, like push-ups and lunges. [15] X Expert Source David EngelMuay Thai Instructor & Self Defense Trainer Expert Interview. 5 May 2020. Always warm up your neck to prevent stiffness. This will help you move more quickly when you need to slip a punch. To warm up your neck, try loosening up your jaw and rolling your head around on your neck. Roll your head forward, then all the way around to the back in a half-circle. Then rotate it the other way. Do this for several minutes.

Throw a jab a little left of center to catch your opponent off-guard. Throw or feint one jab, then throw another quick one in the hopes that your opponent won’t recover quickly enough.

Watching your opponent can help you learn when they are going to throw a punch and what kind of punch it will be. Don’t make too many assumptions about your opponent’s behavior. There is a chance that they are trying to get you into habits that will set you up for a knockout punch.