Setting Traps

[Machine]

I had a few amateur fights when I was younger and came back to the sport about 5 years ago in a training and sparring capacity.

I've got good technique but when I spar I tend to be fairly straight-foward and take advantage of the scoring opportunities when they arise. However, I was wondering how you set traps for the other guy. I understand that setting traps would be making the other guy do what you want him to do using feints and perhaps certain combinations to make the guy go where you want him to. Can anyone give me a more technical perspective on setting traps and some examples of how to do it? Much appreciated.

[boxbible]

You can wait for openings if you want to, but some guys might not give you any. Plus, fighters are most vulnerable when throwing punches. If you catch them while they're throwing, you can inflict serious damage. Also, when fighters slip or block one shot, the other side is usually open.

Let's say a fighter likes to counter with a hook every time you throw a right. So after letting him counter you several times, you feint the right hand by sticking it out half way and throw the left hook instead. You "drew" his left hook counter, but made him run into yours instead.

Or say, a guy likes to jab each time you throw a jab thereby nullifying your followups. So, you can "draw" his jab by feinting yours, then bend your knees and slam a right to his exposed body.

Another one you could use would be to set him up with several hooks off the jab. He slips his head away from the hook. Then you jab... dip slightly like you're gonna hook, then immediately shift your body to the right and throw a straight right where he has conveniently shifted his head. In this case, you didn't draw a punch from him, but drew a slip that committed him which opened him up for another punch.

Other good ones are any punches that make your opponent back up by pulling their front foot back leaving them squared up and easy prey. Usually after a 2-3 punch combo. So, you fake 2-3 punches all the while keeping balance to throw a combo at the end of it.

Or, for fighters who like to fall in, do what ever it is that makes them fall in with the intent to take a half-step back at the end of it and throw a combo involving an uppercut.

Good luck...

[Machine]

Good stuff. I think when I'm sparring I'm always too concerned about what I'm doing and my own technique rather than watching the patterns of what the guy is doing. Thanks a lot for the info. Anyone else got some more tips about this stuff?

[ralphc]

Setting traps is what sets the intelligent boxers apart from the rest. First you need to have mastered all the fundamentals boxing. Once you have done that then it becomes easy to observe your opponent's weaknesses. Ricky Hatton lunging style is open to a check hook, but only one opponent, Floyd Mayweather, has done it. If Mayweather hadn't perfected the check hook he would never have knocked out Hatton.

We all move in repeating pattterns. When you figure out how the guy in front of you moves, you can easily induce him up to move a certain way to which you are able to counter. The are millions of possible scenarios, depending on the style match. It is something you just improvise as you go along.