Boxing in a Street Fight

When the sweet science of boxing can help you deliver a can of whoopass

I'm not telling you to go out and start street fighting because you learned a punch or two, but picture walking out of a bar or school and getting jumped by a couple of guys intent on giving you a beating.  Are all these cool boxing techniques you are learning for inside the ring, going to save your ass on the outside?

The boxing skills you learn here and from your trainers can definitely help you in a street fight, but you are going to have to modify things a bit.  It's like any environment, learn to adapt and survive.  Don't and Darwinism will take over.

I have to say thanks to Nathan Teodoro for posting an article on boxing as a viable form of self defense.  Prior to reading it, I hadn't really thought of the applications of boxing outside of the ring.  As you can see from the video, boxing absolutely is a viable form of self defense.  I especially like the jab that knocks the one attacker out.

Things to Remember if You Bring Boxing to a Streetfight:

1.  Don't Duck - Bringing your head down invites a kick or knee to come up.  Slipping is good, side to side is good, bringing your head into striking range by something hard is bad.

2.  Disrupt Attacks - Use your jab to stop forward momentum of your attackers.  If they get a hold of you, all the boxing skill in the world won't save you.

3.  Keep Moving - highly effective in the ring, imperative outside of it.  Again, if you're a static target, you can be taken down and pummelled.

4.  Don't Break Your Hands - Nathan mentions in his article that you should not hit with closed fists for fear of breaking your hands.  Better to go with open palm strikes and eye gouges and the like.  Well, if you're a boxer, I'm not so sure.  Trying to go with those other things could open you up to different injuries if you are not familiar with them.  I'd continue punching, just be selective where you are hitting (don't be slamming into someone's forehead for instance)

5.  Stay on Your Feet - If you are overcome, boxing will not help.  Hard to jab on your back.

This is where MMA, in my opinion, has greater application. (see Boxing vs MMA)