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You are here: Home / All The Lingo / Sports Terms That Begin With ‘B’ / Bob And Weave

Bob And Weave

bob and weave

What Is The Definition Of Bob And Weave?What Is Bob And Weave In Boxing & MMA? Definition & Meaning

1. This is an evasive tactic that a boxer uses in their defense. The term refers to when a boxer, or fighter, moves their head and body laterally, up, down and rapidly to avoid their opponent’s punch.

When the boxer’s opponent throws a punch towards their head, the boxer will bend their knees and will move either left or right to go underneath the punch and to avoid contact. The direction in which the boxer starts to move laterally depends on which hand their opponent uses to throw a punch.

For example, if their opponent jabs with their right hand, the boxer will bend their knees in order to go under the punch, then they will shift their body to the right to move away from contact.

What Are The Best Ways To Improve At Bobbing And Weaving?

The bob and weave requires cardiovascular strength and agility.

Shadow boxing with a rope or hand wrap is an effective practice technique and can be done almost anywhere. If you practice with a rope or hand wrap, it needs to be positioned at shoulder height. Another effective training strategy is to train with a partner. Partner training helps a boxer measure time and range with their hooks. It also helps develop a boxer’s reflexes and confidence. 

The bob and weave technique is developed best when done in conjunction with other skills like blocking, punching, and parrying. 

What Are Some Common Mistakes When A Boxer Bobs And Weaves?

A poor boxing stance or being off-center makes it easy to accidentally bend at the waist or too low.

Other common mistakes are moving one’s head from side to side which prevents a boxer’s head and hips from moving quickly enough, moving in the same direction as a punch, squaring up, and bobbing and weaving with their guard down. 

When form and position are compromised, the bob and weave is less effective and a boxer becomes an easier target. 

Examples Of How Bob And Weave Is Used In Commentary

1. Mike Tyson bobs and weaves to avoid the onslaught of jabs and punches, then on his way back up, throws a powerful cross to knockout his opponent.

SportsLingo Goes The Extra-Inch With The Meaning Of Bob And Weave

The bob and weave technique is one of the most basic defensive techniques that is taught to an MMA or boxing fighter. A fighter will work a lot on their cardiovascular fitness and agility skills in order to be able to effectively dodge their opponent’s punches. One of the advantages that a fighter has defensively is that they can sometimes predict where to bob and weave, as most fighters tend to jab with their left hand. By knowing this, the defensive fighter can duck low and away from the fighter’s left jab.

Sport The Term Is Used

1. Boxing

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