Title: Slip & Counter Cross: Steps, Key Details & Mistakes | DARCE

Canonical: https://darce.app/techniques/striking/slip-cross

> Slip & Counter Cross. Move the head off the centre-line to avoid a straight punch, then return fire with the cross.

# 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

1. 01

   ### Stance, eyes on the chest

   Stay relaxed, hands high, reading the incoming straight punch.

2. 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.

3. 03

   ### Return the cross

   You are already loaded. Fire the rear cross down the middle, rotating the hip into them.

4. 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

- [Sprawl Wrestling Kick the hips back and drop your weight onto a shooting opponent to stuff the takedown.](https://darce.app/techniques/wrestling/sprawl)
- [Whizzer Wrestling Over-hook the near arm and sprawl the hips to defend a single leg and turn the corner on top.](https://darce.app/techniques/wrestling/whizzer)
- [Jab Striking The lead-hand straight punch: your range-finder, rhythm-setter and the setup for everything else.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/jab)
- [Cross Striking The rear-hand straight punch: your primary power shot, driven by rotating the hip and pivoting the rear foot.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/cross)
- [Lead Hook Striking A short horizontal lead-hand punch that turns through the side of the target on the pivot of the hips.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/lead-hook)
- [Rear Hook Striking A power hook from the rear hand, turning the whole body to land on the side of the head.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/rear-hook)

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