Slip & Counter Cross
- Striking
- Defense
- intermediate
- Orthodox stance
- 4 steps
Move the head off the centre-line to avoid a straight punch, then return fire with the cross. Also known as the Slip the jab or the Pull counter. Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 4 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.
When to use it
Use the slip and cross against an opponent who jabs with their head on the centre-line. Read the shoulder and slip just as the punch leaves. Slipping outside the jab loads your rear side, so the cross comes straight off it.
Step by step
- 01
Stance, eyes on the chest
Stay relaxed, hands high, reading the incoming straight punch.
- 02
Slip off the line
Bend the knees and rotate slightly to move the head a few inches off the centre-line so the punch slides past.
- 03
Return the cross
You are already loaded. Fire the rear cross down the middle, rotating the hip into them.
- 04
Recover to guard
Bring the hand back and re-centre your stance.
Key details
- Slip just far enough to make it miss. Over-slipping kills balance.
- Bend at the knees and waist, not just the neck.
- Counter immediately while they are still extended.
Common mistakes
- Slipping into the path of the other hand.
- Only moving the head and losing the loaded counter.
- Taking the eyes off the opponent during the slip.
Common counters
Opponents double the jab to catch your slip, or throw a hook as your head moves. Slipping too far outside puts your head in the path of their lead hook. Keep the slip small and counter straight away.
How to drill it
Your partner throws slow jabs with a mitt on each hand; slip outside each jab and land the cross on their rear mitt. Do three rounds of two minutes, with the jabs getting faster each round.
Related techniques
- SprawlWrestlingKick the hips back and drop your weight onto a shooting opponent to stuff the takedown.
- WhizzerWrestlingOver-hook the near arm and sprawl the hips to defend a single leg and turn the corner on top.
- JabStrikingThe lead-hand straight punch: your range-finder, rhythm-setter and the setup for everything else.
- CrossStrikingThe rear-hand straight punch: your primary power shot, driven by rotating the hip and pivoting the rear foot.
- Lead HookStrikingA short horizontal lead-hand punch that turns through the side of the target on the pivot of the hips.
- Rear HookStrikingA power hook from the rear hand, turning the whole body to land on the side of the head.
Train it with the AI coach