1. Stance (Boxing Guard/Ready Position)

• Foot Position: Start in your standard boxing stance. In the orthodox stance, your left foot is forward, and in the southpaw stance, your right foot is forward. Feet should be shoulder-width apart to maintain balance and mobility. Keep your weight on the balls of your feet.
• Knees and Hips: Maintain a slight bend in your knees to stay agile and balanced. Your hips should be relaxed but aligned with your body to allow for fluid movement.
• Hands/Guard: Your lead hand should be close to your chin, while your rear hand is up to protect your chin and jaw. Keep your elbows close to your body for rib protection. Your head should be slightly off-center to make it harder for your opponent to land clean punches.

2. The Weave (Defensive Movement)

• Step 1 – Recognizing the Punch: The weave is used to slip under an incoming punch, especially hooks or uppercuts. Timing is crucial as you need to recognize the punch and react quickly.
• Step 2 – Lowering Your Body: As the punch (usually a hook or an uppercut) comes toward you, drop your weight by slightly bending your knees and lowering your body. This helps you avoid the punch and gets you out of the way quickly.
  • For an incoming hook, dip your body downward, and then shift your weight to one side. As you dip, make sure your head moves down and to the side, moving under the punch.
  • For an uppercut, you may need to weave under the punch by moving your head downward and either to the left or right to avoid the attack.
• Step 3 – Moving in a Circular Path: As you weave, move in a circular or “U” shape under the punch. The movement should come from your legs and core rather than just your upper body. This ensures the movement is smooth and fluid, helping you avoid the punch and position yourself for a counterattack.
  • Weave to the left: If the punch is coming from your opponent’s right side (in an orthodox stance), you’ll weave to the left (under the punch).
  • Weave to the right: If the punch is coming from the left, you will weave to the right.

3. The Counter (Follow-up Attack)

• Step 1 – Immediate Counterattack: After weaving under the punch, quickly follow up with a counterattack. You’re now in a good position to strike, especially with hooks, crosses, or uppercuts, as you’ll be in close range and have an angle for a clean shot.
  • After weaving left, a good counter could be a right cross or left hook.
  • After weaving right, you can throw a left hook or right cross.
• Step 2 – Using the Angle: The weave not only helps you avoid punches but also creates an angle for you to attack your opponent. Once you’ve weaved under the punch, you can launch your counter from a position that your opponent may not be able to defend.

4. Footwork During the Weave

• Step 1 – Subtle Movement: The weave should not involve large steps. Instead, it’s a fluid movement where you drop your weight and shift it slightly to one side. Your footwork should help you stay balanced while you perform the weave and get into a position for a counterattack.
• Step 2 – Stay Low: When weaving, keep your body low to the ground to avoid getting hit. This is particularly important when weaving under hooks or uppercuts, as it will prevent you from standing tall and making yourself an easier target.
• Step 3 – Pivot and Reset: After weaving, you can pivot or step into a new position depending on how the situation develops. Reset your feet into a solid stance once you’ve completed the weave and are ready to throw a counterpunch.

5. Defensive Positioning and Protection

• Rear Hand Guard: Keep your rear hand close to your face throughout the movement. Even though you are weaving, your rear hand should be ready to protect your chin from counters or follow-up strikes.
• Lead Hand Position: Your lead hand should remain up to protect against incoming jabs or hooks. It should also be ready to follow up with an attack once you have successfully avoided the punch.
• Keep Elbows Tight: Your elbows should remain close to your body to protect your ribs. Flaring your elbows can expose your sides to body shots or hooks from your opponent.

6. Follow-up and Recovery

• Step 1 – Quick Recovery to Guard: After weaving and potentially landing a counter, quickly recover to your guard position. Don’t leave your hands down after the weave, as this opens you up to more attacks.
• Step 2 – Reset Your Position: If you’ve moved around during the weave, ensure that you reset your stance, whether it’s a left or right weave, and ensure that you are balanced and ready to attack or defend again.
• Step 3 – Look for Openings: After you’ve weaved, look for an opening to land a punch. The movement itself often creates an angle for counterstrikes that the opponent may not see coming.

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overweaving: One mistake to avoid is weaving too far, as this can cause you to overcommit and become off-balance. A smooth, controlled movement is essential.
• Standing Up Too Quickly: After weaving, avoid standing up straight too quickly, as it exposes your head and body to incoming punches. Stay low and protect yourself as you follow up with a counter.
• Not Following Up: After weaving, don’t stand still. Always follow up with a counterattack to take advantage of the position you’ve created by avoiding the punch.
• Lack of Movement: If you don’t move your head far enough, or you only use your arms, the weave may not be effective in avoiding the punch. Proper body movement, especially using your legs and core, is critical for successful weaving.

8. Advanced Concepts

• Weaving and Angling: At a more advanced level, you can weave and angle your body to set up stronger counters. Instead of just dodging punches, you can use the weave to move into a new position to attack while the opponent is still in their original position.
• Double Weave: You can use the double weave technique to avoid multiple punches, especially when your opponent is throwing several hooks or uppercuts in quick succession.
• Feinting Before Weaving: Feinting before you weave can mislead your opponent into throwing a punch at a time when you’re already in motion. This can create the perfect opportunity to avoid the punch and counterattack.

Summary:

The Weave is a key defensive technique in boxing that allows you to avoid hooks, uppercuts, and other wide punches by moving your head and body underneath the punch in a smooth, circular motion. It requires timing, good footwork, and body control to be effective. When executed correctly, the weave not only helps you evade punches but also positions you perfectly for a counterattack. The ability to weave and immediately counter can be a game-changer, allowing you to turn defense into offense swiftly.