The bob & weave ineffective?

[daeinwolf]

Some friends and I were discussing some defensive techniques and the question of effectiveness came about when I mentioned the "bob & weave". One of the guys said that he found it to be useless when compared to parrying or "slap-blocking". I have found them both to be of use at certain times. I was wondering what you folks thought about the validity of the "bob & weave" and your experiences with it?

 

SiK---Joshua

[DLopez]

It is an excellent defensive manuever in boxing I believe, but probably because in boxing, there is no danger of a knee or front kick coming up to greet the bobber's head.

 

I think you are right that you must choose the right time to employ it, and if you can get away with it, you're then in a good position to counter or even get in close to grapple your opponent.

 

My $.02

[JerryLove]

There are a great deal of strikes (and all grapples) which do not appear in boxing. The ability to bob and weve is an excellent one. The ingraned trait to rely on it may backfire.

[WolverineGuy]

Like previously stated, its knowing when to employ it. THe nature of combat is different outside of a boxing ring, so you have to adapt to different situations. The same applies to all martial arts techniques.

[cross]

Slipping and footwork are the most effective defensive techniques taught in boxing. Often you combine slipping with parrying.

there is no danger of a knee or front kick coming up to greet the bobber's head.

 

Hopefully your hands will be up to defend against that.

[delta1]

I agree that it can be useful, but should not be relied on too much.

 

As for your hands being there to protect the face from a knee strike- they may be there, but they won't protect much if the knee is thrown with intent. In fact, without gloves, a good knee strike is likely to dammage the hands if they are sandwiched. The arms might do more, but they may not be completely effective either.

[JerryLove]

There are a couple ways to use the hands/arms to deal with a knee under those circumstances (though if your hands are below your ducked head, I wonder what's protecting the back of your neck and skull).

 

You could shove into the hip-socket or bladder-area. I like this becuase it's disruptive to more than just the knee.

 

You could redirect the knee (I don't think I'm up for describing this process).

 

Hrm, that's about all I can think of from that position.

[daeinwolf]

I am glad that I am not the only one to see some use for this. And like I said, only at certain times is it useful.

 

Thanks for the response.

 

SiK---Joshua

[SevenStar]

It is an excellent defensive manuever in boxing I believe, but probably because in boxing, there is no danger of a knee or front kick coming up to greet the bobber's head.

 

thai boxers do though, and we bob and weave. knees aren't really an issue unless you are ducking too low, in which case, you are doing the technique wrong. If you got kneed, then that's likely why.

 

the best idea is to use both methods. parrying has it's merits, as does bobing and weaving, as does sidestepping... as a matter of fact, there's a thread about this somewhere already... I think it's on the kickboxing forum.