3 Ways To Improve Defense

[@GabrielVargaOfficial]

Like today's tips? I'm going to have sooo many more in the Ultimate Defense System For Striking Sports vargacombat.com/ XMartial www.xmartial.com/?ref=GVARGA 10% Off "GABRIELVARGA"

[@noavr1308]

I feel like the hardest thing about defense is when the person you are sparring against just goes full blast on body hooks and head hooks, it's basically impossible to not get hit or to find a window or an opening to strike back.

[@TheGroovyJones]

My best options then are dive in for a clinch, or get off the opponent's center line (which is a whole thing) and quickly do something to make them reconsider the all hooks all day strategy. Clinches are simpler.

[@jordanpayne6042]

If they’re teeing you off like this, you’ve got to use your footwork to create some space and then reset. The only real situation where you can’t escape the flurry of hooks is when you’re back into the ropes, corner or cage (depending on if it’s boxing, kickboxing or MMA). In that case, you’re going to want to start alternating between rolling and continually shifting your guard between the high guard (to block hooks to the head) and the the low guard to block body hooks. Meanwhile, you need to look for small windows to reestablish your threats, especially since their head will be fairly undefended in a big flurry of hooks. Look for counters and openings to tag him a few times, which should shut down the flurry and give you a moment to clinch up and reposition or use your footwork to get off the ropes. All easier said than done and requires a ton of practice, but something to think about!

[@oaksaint4458]

If boxing, take one step back with the rear foot, while keeping your lead foot in the same position, and launch a straight punch. This will keep you out of hook range as well. It's a Cuban Boxing technique but I don't know it's exact name. My coach had us drilling this.

[@darlandimm1464]

I'm assuming you can't keeo the opponent away and stop their relentless assaults . If that's the problem, i suspect you might not be returning enough fire. One of the main and most important ideas of defense is creating opportunities for offense and one must have an offense, this is fighting after all. One of the other components is deterring the opponent from doing something. If the opponent is able to overwhelm you with pure pressure he is either leaving himself open enough that you can counter them or simply is more than you can handle. Either way, starting to "blast full on" as you describe it already gives you the opportunity which you can use to land your counter, catching/blocking with one hand and throwing with the other is a very common way to deal with this. Getting hit with a good hook is a good deterrent, the offense actually becomes defensively functional as well. Doing that requires precision and a calm head but that's what makes a fighter.

[@ehellsword2]

If your partner is doing that you need to tell them to slow down at your pace. Sparring is for technique-you're not trying to knock your partner out. You're just trying to get better at strategy and tactics.

[@PJSC1]

Man just called me a little scared creature

[@ksh45er]

Yep

[@reiz6170]

😂

[@JohnnyLynnLee]

Best video on the channel. Once I had a friend who had a background on taekwondo/ karate and he would always evade a kick, kinda like Wonderboy style. And he didn't like much this thing about checking the kick. But he asked me one day why, in his opinion, I was kinda of unpredictable, how he could be more like that, because he felt he was always being timed soon in the fight. I told him he should sometimes check and immediately kick back again, Thai style. Not because of the check itself. But because his opponents would get used of him being AWAY after a kick. And then he would stay there to deliver a kick of his own right away. He wouldn't expect it. He tried. And said and done. In his first sparring applying it, after only evading for the first minute, when he started sometimes checking and slamming back his kicks he would ALWAYS hit. The guy couldn't check his kicks. And the other friend was really good at checking. BUT, he became USED to the fact that after he kicked he wouldn't need to worry, because the opponent would always be AWAY. And then when this friend all of a sudden planted himself, embraced for impact, and delivered his own kick it hit the target each and every time and it took a good TWO rounds for the other guy to adjust for it. Different techniques have different timing for their execution. Just by alternating between them you are changing the beat. Like Gabriel saying here. One thing is you hitting the air all the time when the guy rely mostly on head movement. another thing is always hitting the glove and forearms. ANOTHER thing yet is hitting the gloves and then all of a sudden going across the air. If you are the guy hitting it makes things more difficult.

[@Ninja-vr7zw]

Gabriel with G for GOAT🐐🥋

[@xxxag1768]

Ive been more focused on defense as of late as i should. This is perfect timing. Always appreciate content like this as a self taught martial artist

[@xmnia2726]

This video had perfect timing, since I can't kick very well right now, working on defense and boxing is something I could use a lot of tips on. Thanks for the awesome content as always!

[@JohnnyLynnLee]

Maybe you could try this. Once I had a friend who had a background on taekwondo/ karate and he would always evade a kick, kinda like Wonderboy style. And he didn't like much this thing about checking the kick. But he asked me one day why, in his opinion, I was kinda of unpredictable, how he could be more like that, because he felt he was always being timed soon in the fight. I told him he should sometimes check and immediately kick back again, Thai style. Not because of the check itself. But because his opponents would get used of him being AWAY after a kick. And then he would stay there to deliver a kick of his own right away. He wouldn't expect it. He tried. And said and done. In his first sparring applying it, after only evading for the first minute, when he started sometimes checking and slamming back his kicks he would ALWAYS hit. The guy couldn't check his kicks. And the other friend was really good at checking. BUT, he became USED to the fact that after he kicked he wouldn't need to worry, because the opponent would always be AWAY. And then when this friend all of a sudden planted himself, embraced for impact, and delivered his own kick it hit the target each and every time and it took a good TWO rounds for the other guy to adjust for it. Different techniques have different timing for their execution. Just by alternating between them you are changing the beat. Like Gabriel saying here. One thing is you hitting the air all the time when the guy rely mostly on head movement. another thing is always hitting the glove and forearms. ANOTHER thing yet is hitting the gloves and then all of a sudden going across the air. If you are the guy hitting it makes things more difficult. In your case, even if your kick isn't good that ability you'll suddenly gain of kicking in two different beats may give you an immediate result.

[@M-a-k-o]

I appreciate it that you share these terrific tips Gabe. I will join your defensive course.

[@Johnadams21760]

I joined the strike ready course, can’t wait to start March 25th!

[@Benheario]

Got a fight tommorow Amature Muay Thai Gonna play defensive

[@princexerakugo7335]

Don't play defense use good defense my friend and aim to pressure. I hope you win update tomorrow.

[@sherijohnsen3499]

I fight for the national title tommorow bro we both Got this💪

[@northernmagi]

Don't fight to survive, fight to win. If you are not giving your opponent anything to worry about it's just a matter of time before you take an L.

[@leftvassis]

If you know your opponent and his style, good. If you dont, avoid going in the fight with a pre-set gameplan. Feel him out and see what works. If you see your attacks are working or he has certain openings go for them, be dynamic

[@KXRTT---]

genshin players always win their fights

[@peterb9481]

This channel is second to none!

[@teshunhao5131]

tq

[@DKYtut]

Donovan Wisse has a very nice style to learn mixing high guard with head movement, especially for people who are in heavier weightclass and prefer boxing heavy style or Dutch style

[@elserpientethechamp2122]

Thank you so much for this episode on defense Gabriel, I really learned a lot from this and this episode was perfect timing for me, because I am having a sparring session tomorrow and my first amateur kickboxing fight approaching so I found this really useful keep up the great content as always Gabriel!

[@clapdrix72]

Just pulled the trigger on the course! Looking forward to soaking it in! If I could choose one skill to be phenomenal at it would be defense. Without it, you're at best a technical brawler like Justin Gaethje or Fabricio Andrade - it's more like watching a train crash than a beautiful art form. And you're just playing roulette every fight, not systematically and reliably outclassing dudes. I just hope the live sessions aren't a cluster fuck of commenters bombarding with dumb filler.

[@__azzzul__]

Gracias 🇲🇽

[@droffilcnosredneh525]

Watching this 5 hours before my second amatuer fight

[@jayw8306]

Good luck with your fight

[@droffilcnosredneh525]

@@jayw8306thanks

[@ligmaman9mm709]

U win?

[@certified_boogeyman]

He still sleep

[@Maks-wp2wj]

i think my man fell into a coma

[@julianjensen1713]

Absolutely love your videos🙌🏽

[@scottwilliams846]

Cool. I'm actually already doing 2 of these and trying to work on the last one. But I still think my defense sucks.

[@edddie26]

How can I predict my opponent’s punch and slip in the right direction? Like where should I look? His arms, his elbows, his eyes?

[@sabageimsyt6192]

How do i defend overhand right as taller opponent?

[@kingades1013]

1:41 4:00

[@kingades1013]

5:19

[@kingades1013]

7:30

[@maranat045]

Just so you know there is a big hole on your right sock

[@sabet3600]

Great

[@alex_285]

❤❤❤

[@gabrielgabriel5177]

Our muay thay coach totally dislikes turtle shell guards. If someone uses that in a ring he said he will walk away lol

[@sklope2poulet976]

It depends on the fighter

[@gabrielgabriel5177]

@@sklope2poulet976 but in our gym no one should use it

[@Ninja-vr7zw]

I also didnt like the turtle shell AT ALL but if a 6x times world champ uses and recommend it, well...

[@jocoolshow]

Turtle shell is amazing for going from defense to offense as long as you use footwork and head movement with it but I don’t do Muay Thai, I do mma so the striking uses a lot more punching and boxing combos

[@gabrielgabriel5177]

@@jocoolshow yes i see its used a lot in mma and in kick boxing but quite rarely in traditional muay thay. Of course sometimes you see it used in muay thay also..but the reason why our coach dont want us to use it is that becouse the opponent can easily grap you hands and do elbow or knew or through you down. And plus in the competition the judges might se you as weaker one becouse you need to go into turtle shell

[@Saigoku777]

I'm the first how to watch your video 💀🎉