Street Fighting Myth - Keeping a Boxer Out

Street Fighter Versus a BoxerWere you able to keep the distance?
Imagine a street fighter against a boxer. Or evenHow about having your partner trying to force a close
some trained in a more classical martial arts againstdistance, as you retreat all over the room? If your
someone versed in boxing. Once the boxer gets to anenemy is running at you full blast, can you retreat
infighting range, some feel that the fight is all over.quickly enough, to avoid being hit?
How would you deal with someone pounding yourTry the above exercise again -- you continue to
midsection from a very close range -- maybe evenretreat, and your partner continues to close the
clinching, to prevent you from escaping?distance.
For some, the obvious answer to the above problemCould you escape if you were given a six-foot buffer?
would be to prevent your attacker from getting tooIf you started retreating when your opponent was six
close in the first place.feet away, could you escape? How about ten feet?
If he or she can't get to an infighting distance, then theIt's not as easy as it seems, is it?
boxer's punches will never get close enough to makeCould You Get Distance Against a Boxer?
contact, right?If, all of a sudden, an attacker decided to "get you,"
In fact, you might even be able to use your "secrethow much warning would you need to get away from
weapons" -- your kicks.those punches to your midsection?
Exercise With Practice PartnerHow much of a buffer would you need to be able to
So, if you are thinking that you'd never let an enemyrespond with your mastered skills? And if you were to
get close enough to punch, then it's time for anotherrespond in time, it wouldn't be with a block, right? You'd
practice exercise:probably have to respond with something more direct,
Grab a practice partner.right?
Stand in a neutral stance, feet about shoulder-widthI love wrist locks, but now is not the time to try one.
apart. Have your partner run at you from across theYou are getting pounded. You need to respond with
room. When he or she gets to almost touchingsomething direct.
distance, you react. Try to move out of the way,Fighting a boxer? You need a way to get or keep
before your feel contact to your ribs or sides, boxeryour distance, or you have to be able to handle the
style.barrage of punches headed toward your body.