1. Stance (Boxing Guard/Ready Position)

• Foot Position: The Cover Up technique is generally used when you are in a defensive situation, especially when under heavy attack. Start in your standard boxing stance (either orthodox or southpaw). Feet should be shoulder-width apart with weight balanced on the balls of your feet, ready to move if needed.
• Knees: Keep your knees slightly bent for balance and mobility, even when covering up. This allows you to move or adjust your position if the situation changes.
• Hands/Guard: In the cover-up position, your hands and arms are used to protect your head and torso. Your lead hand (left hand for orthodox, right for southpaw) should be in front of your face, protecting against jabs and hooks. Your rear hand (right for orthodox, left for southpaw) should be near your chin, providing extra protection from incoming punches.

2. The Cover Up (Defensive Technique)

• Step 1 – Bring Hands Up: The cover-up is essentially a defensive shell designed to absorb punches while protecting your head and body. You bring your hands high to shield your face. Your rear hand should come up to cover your chin, and the lead hand comes across to guard the side of your face.
  • The forearms should be close to your face, and your elbows tucked in to protect your ribs and torso.
  • The hands should be positioned such that they are facing the opponent’s punches. You want your arms to create a strong barrier between you and your opponent’s strikes.
• Step 2 – Protect the Body: To defend against body shots, pull your elbows inward and lower them to shield your torso. Your forearms should be angled to block any punches targeting your midsection. While this position does a good job of protecting your upper body, you still need to be aware of lower body strikes, so your stance should remain firm.
  • Elbow Tuck: Tuck your elbows down to cover your ribs, ensuring you don’t leave any openings for hooks to land on your sides or body shots.
• Step 3 – Chin Tuck and Head Position: Keep your chin down to prevent an uppercut from landing cleanly. By tucking your chin, you also help protect the neck and throat area. This helps to avoid punches slipping through gaps in your guard.
• Step 4 – Eye Position: While covering up, keep your eyes open and focused on your opponent. Even though you are shielding your head, it’s crucial to remain aware of their movements, allowing you to counterattack or move when necessary.

3. Footwork During the Cover Up

• Step 1 – Stay Balanced: While covering up, ensure your feet are firmly planted to maintain balance. You do not want to be static in one place for too long, as it will make you an easier target.
• Step 2 – Pivoting and Sliding: You can use subtle movements with your feet to adjust your position while covering up. For example, pivoting on your lead foot to shift your body slightly to one side can make it harder for your opponent to land clean shots, even when you are in a defensive posture.
• Step 3 – Take Small Steps: While protecting yourself, don’t be afraid to take small, subtle steps back or to the side to avoid getting trapped in one spot. This allows you to maintain a strong defensive position while staying in control of the situation.

4. Defensive Positioning and Protection

• Hands and Forearms: Keep your hands up to protect your head, but don’t let your arms drop too far. The forearms should remain angled toward the incoming punches to absorb the impact.
• Head Position: By keeping your head down and chin tucked, you make it much harder for punches like uppercuts and hooks to connect cleanly. The head should always stay slightly behind the guard, not directly in front of it, which makes you more vulnerable to punches.
• Body: The elbows must be tight to the body to guard against body shots and hooks that come around your guard. If your elbows flare out too far, it creates gaps that your opponent can exploit.

5. Follow-up and Recovery

• Step 1 – Counterattack: After your opponent’s initial barrage, you may find an opening to counterattack. Once you’ve absorbed a few punches or deflected them, you can quickly come back with a counterpunch.
  • Common counters include quick uppercuts, hooks, or jabs. The cover-up is often followed by a quick jab to disrupt your opponent’s rhythm, or a counter-cross if you’re able to open up space.
• Step 2 – Resetting: After the cover-up, once you’ve successfully weathered the storm, reset your stance to launch your own attack or create distance. The cover-up is a temporary defensive posture; after absorbing or deflecting punches, you want to quickly transition back into an offensive position.
• Step 3 – Moving to Safety: If your opponent’s attack seems overwhelming, you may want to create space after covering up by moving backward or sideways. This will allow you to reset and think about your next move.

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Over-covering: Sometimes, boxers will stay in the cover-up position for too long, which can make them predictable. After a few punches, always look for a chance to escape, counterattack, or reset.
• Dropping Hands: A common mistake is dropping your hands after you feel safe. Keep your hands up even while covering up. Dropping your hands too early can leave you vulnerable to counters or follow-up punches.
• Lack of Head Movement: Even while in the cover-up, you can still subtly move your head to make it harder for your opponent to land clean shots. Not using head movement during the cover-up can make you a stationary target.
• Not Adjusting Guard for Different Punches: If you’re being attacked with hooks, ensure your forearms are angled to block the punches. If your opponent is throwing jabs or straight punches, make sure your hands are high to protect your face.

7. Advanced Concepts

• Cover Up and Slip: You can combine the cover-up with a slip. If your opponent throws a straight punch (e.g., a jab or cross), you can cover up to absorb or deflect the punch and then slip your head to the outside to avoid further attacks. This allows you to stay protected and avoid getting hit cleanly while positioning yourself for a counterattack.
• Cover Up and Roll: You can also integrate a roll into your cover-up. After covering up against a punch, if you anticipate a hook coming from the other side, you can roll under the punch by rotating your body to absorb the shot on your shoulders.
• Cover Up and Counter: Another advanced strategy involves using the cover-up as a feint. While in the cover-up, your opponent may think you are overwhelmed or unable to defend. This can set up opportunities for you to counterattack with hooks, crosses, or uppercuts when they expect you to be passive.

Summary:

The Cover Up is a fundamental defensive boxing technique that involves using your arms, hands, and elbows to protect your head and body from incoming punches. It is typically used when you are under heavy attack, allowing you to absorb or deflect strikes while staying protected. The cover-up should be dynamic and not static; you should always look for opportunities to counter, move, or reset once the immediate danger has passed. It is an essential technique in a boxer’s defensive arsenal, especially for dealing with high-pressure situations.