Slip

Slip
A sideways movement of the head used to evade straight punches and strikes. The idea is to avoid the punch while staying in range to quickly counter attack. Push off the floor with the foot opposite the direction you are moving, slightly rotating the upper body and shifting your head to the side. Move just enough to evade the punch. 

It is generally safer to slip to the outside of your opponent's punch as you are a little less succeptable to the opposite hand punch, but this isn't a black and white rule. 

-Lead Side Slip - Slipping to the side of your lead foot.
-Rear Side Slip - Slipping to the side of your rear foot.

Canelo Alvarez - rear side slip with counter cross

*Fight Smart Trav technique example

Beyond Basics

Slip With Footwork/Stepping

-Lead Side Slip with Lead Angled Step Forward  *example

(Note: I would usually only do this when simultaneously throwing a rear cross and the step would be angled)

-Rear Side Slip with Lead Step Forward *example

-Lead Side Slip with Lead Step To The Side (Left) *example *example

-Rear Side Slip with Rear Step To The Side (Right) *example

-Rear Side Slip with Switch Step To Slide Step *example

All these options will be followed up with some motion to return to your stance and or reface your opponent. For instance, the lead side slip with lead step to the side (left) might be followed by a front foot pivot to reface your opponent. 

Slipping With A Punch

You generally move your head to the rear side when throwing a lead arm punch and move your head to the lead side when throwing a rear arm punch. Offensive examples are described in some of the sections discussing the various punches under Fundamentals: Offensive Strikes. Defensive examples are discussed with the Slip Series in the Counter Attack: Evasions section. 

Slipping After A Punch

Slipping after a punch is used to get your head off line and evade a potential counter strike from your opponent (proactive defense).  You can slip to either the same side of the arm you just punched with or to the opposite side. Generally, the same side slip is most prevalent and natural feeling but both are important. 

-Lead Hand Punch->Same Side Slip *example

-Lead Hand Punch-> Opposite Side Slip *example *example

-Rear Hand Punch->Same Side Slip

-Rear Hand Punch->Opposite Side Slip

Slipping With Parry

Some people incorporate a parry along with there slip. The advantage of combining the two is that you essentially have a double layer of defense. The disadvantage is that you may misinterpret the incoming strike or your opponent feints and attacks on the outside line. 

Fundamental Defenses

Evasions 

Slip

Bob & Duck

Weave(Roll)

Lean

Snap Back (Rock back, pull back, lean back)

Parries, Blocks, Catches
Parries and Deflections

Parries 

(Hand Parry, Forearm Parry, Scoop Parry)

Shoulder Roll

Blocks
Covers 

(Side, Front, Double, Helmet, Body, Dutch Block)

Long Blocks

Shin Block (Checking) Round Kicks

Catches

Catch Straight Kicks to the Body

Catch Round Kicks to the Body

Front Kick

Rear leg push kick to the chin

Types of Front Kicks

1. Push (Teep) Kick

2. Snap Kick

Bazooka Joe: What's the Difference Between Push Kicks/Teeps & Front Kicks

Contact Part of Foot

Front Kick Examples

-Self Defense Example

Back Elbows

Back elbows include those that use the back portion of the elbow (the portion of the elbow closer to the shoulder). 

1) Up - Elbow thrown in an upward angle. Video A tricky elbow most commonly seen in Muay Thai. Perhaps the most famous example of its use in MMA was by Anderson Silva vs Tony Fryklund. Video

3) Horizontal - Elbow thrown horizontally. Video

4) Down -(Tomahawk Elbow) - Video

5) Spinning Elbow - A spinning version of the horizontal elbow. - Video, Example

Front Elbow Strikes

Elbow strikes are one of the most powerful and devastating weapons in combat sports, primarily due to the sharp, hard, and dense nature of the elbow bone. They are short range weapons, used in close/clinch range. They can be an effective tool to split an opponents guard. From long range, longer strikes must be used to close the distance and effectively setup the use of elbows.  

There are essentially two categories of elbows: Front and Back. This section covers the front elbow. 

Front Elbow Strikes include elbows that use the front of the elbow (the area of the elbow closer to the forearm). It is far more commonly used than back elbows. 

1) Diagonally Down - Elbow starts above the shoulder line and slashes in a downward angle. Video

2) Diagonally Up - Elbow thrown in an upward angle. Video

3) Horizontal -  Elbow thrown horizontally. Video

4) Vertical Up -  Elbow thrown vertically up. Video  Can also be thrown with more of a forward motion as a spear elbow Video

5. Side Elbow - Striking with the inside of your elbow. Used when very close to your opponent. This technically would be a third elbow category but I just threw it in with the front elbow.  Video

Hammerfist Strike

The hammerfist is a strike using the bottom or pinky side of a clenched fist. It is a powerful strike which can be thrown from a variety of angles.

One advantage to the hammerfist is that you are striking with the bottom fleshy part of the fist instead of the knuckles, thus reducing the chance of injuring your hand. It's also picked up by new students quickly as it's a fairly simple technique to learn.


Various types of hammerfist include:

1. Horizontal Hammerfist
  a) The basic side hammerfist is a palm down strike sometimes used to attack an opponent standing off to your side. *technique example

  b) The hammerfist can also be used against an opponent positioned in front of you. It can be thrown as a direct strike from your guard. It can also be used as a follow up/recovery strike whenever your hand crosses your center line. One example would be as a follow up to a hook.

Andrei Arlovski following up the hook with a hammerfist

2. Vertical Down Hammerfist
Against a standing opponent, you will occasionally see the vertical down hammerfist used as a strike to an opponents head. *technique example

Artem Lobov lands a forward hammerfist

Standing Hammerfist TKO

Also used when you are framing against an opponents lowered head with one hand and hammer fisting with the other.

Sean Strickland

More often it is used whenever your opponent is lower than you, such as when they are doubled over or have fallen to the ground. There are a ton of examples of its use in mma against a downed opponent.

McGregor hammerfisting Aldo

3. Diagonally Down Hammerfist

The diagonally down hammerfist can be thrown as either a front (palm up) or back (palm down) strike. 

4. Diagonally Up Hammerfist

A back (palm down) strike which is fairly uncommon but can be useful from a Philly Shell style position.

5. Spinning Hammerfist

Santiago Ponzinibbio lands a back hammerfist

Cung Lee vs Silva

Back Fist Technique in Jeet Kune Do: Mike Blesch

Finger Jab/Eye Pokes & Gouges

Daniel Cormier Eye Jabs Stipe Miocic

The finger jab is essentially a jab where the fingers are extended and the eyes of your opponent are targeted. 

To execute, keep your fingers slightly curled down so that upon impact you minimize the chance of them bending backwards. 

One advantage of the finger jab is that you gain a few extra inches of reach with the extended hand over the closed fist. Additionally, it can potentially end a fight immediately by blinding your opponent and causing intense pain. Major disadvantages are the small target area of the eyes and the potential of hyperextending or jamming your fingers if you miss and hit the cheekbone or forehead. 

Eye Jab in what looks to be some sort of mutual combat situation

Doctor Reacts to HORRIFIC Eye Poke! Belal Muhammed vs Leon Edwards UFC Fight Night 

Worst Eye Pokes In MMA

Tutorial Wednesday Night Group - Jeet Kune Do Finger Jab