Using your boxing to set up Your wrestling! A few tips and tricks
Introduction: Understanding Sanda Kickboxing
Sanda Kickboxing, also known as Chinese Kickboxing, is a fascinating martial art that seamlessly integrates striking and stand-up throws. This style is derived from traditional Chinese martial arts and modified through modern sports science to create a dynamic and competitive fighting form. In Sanda Kickboxing , practitioners employ a variety of techniques including punches, kicks, and throws, which makes it a comprehensive and versatile martial art. This unique blend allows fighters to switch fluently between striking and grappling, making it an excellent example of how different combat techniques can be merged to enhance a fighter's effectiveness in both the ring and real-world scenarios.
How to Use Boxing to Set Up Takedowns
1. Using Feints to Gain Advantage
What is a Feint in Boxing?
A feint in boxing is a deceptive move intended to mislead an opponent about your next action. It involves simulating a punch or a movement to provoke your opponent into reacting, thereby exposing them to the follow up attack. Feints are crucial for manipulating an opponent’s defence, baiting attacks and creating openings for effective strikes or takedowns.
Setting Up Takedowns with Feints
When you throw a jab and your opponent reacts defensively by shelling up—a common defensive posture where the fighter covers up with their arms to protect their head and upper body—you have a strategic opportunity. The reaction to shell up often leads to a momentary rigid stance and limited mobility, giving you the perfect chance to close the distance. By reducing the space between you and your opponent, you can leverage your position to execute a throw or takedown. This is one example of how feints can be used to open up opportunities for wrestling.
2. Blend Striking and Wrestling to Keep the Opponent Guessing
Striking to Distraction
A fighter proficient in boxing can use their striking skills to keep the opponent preoccupied with the threat of punches. When an opponent is fixated on defending against your strikes, their attention is diverted away from defending against potential takedowns. This situation is ideal for transitioning into wrestling.
Opportunities for Clinches and Shoots
As you engage with punches, your opponent’s natural reaction to block or evade can create opportunities for you to clinch. A clinch not only allows you to control the opponent but also sets up possibilities for various throws or shoots. In the chaos of defending against strikes, the sudden shift to grappling can catch an opponent off guard, allowing for successful takedown attempts.
In practice, the key to effectively using boxing to set up wrestling moves, and vice versa, lies in the ability to fluidly transition between striking and grappling techniques. This integration of styles not only enhances your versatility as a fighter but also increases your unpredictability, making it harder for opponents to anticipate and counter your moves. As seen in Sanda Kickboxing, the seamless combination of different martial arts disciplines can significantly amplify a fighter's effectiveness in both competitive and self-defense scenarios.
Want to learn Sanda Kickboxing?
For those eager to master the art of blending wrestling with modern kickboxing. At Sanda Kickboxing Academy in Brixton, South West London, offers a premier training experience. In our academy we teach students how to fluidly combine the precision of boxing and the tactical grappling of wrestling with the dynamic strikes of kickboxing. Under the guidance of our seasoned instructors, you'll immerse yourself in a curriculum that not only sharpens your individual techniques but also enhances your overall combat strategy and physical conditioning. Book your free trial class today!