- Always protect your face with your hands.
- Keep you elbows tucked in to protect your body.
1. Proper Hand Position
✅ Hands Up:
- Keep your hands at cheek level (or slightly higher).
- Your lead hand (front hand) should be a little forward to block jabs and set up counters.
- Your rear hand (back hand) should be close to your chin for extra protection.
✅ Elbows Tucked In:
- Keep your elbows close to your body to block body shots.
- Don’t flare them out, or you’ll expose your ribs.
✅ Chin Down:
- Tuck your chin slightly to protect yourself from uppercuts and hooks.
- Your shoulder should help cover your jaw when throwing punches.
2. Guard Variations
There are different types of guards depending on your style:
✔ High Guard (Classic Defense)
- Both hands high, elbows tight.
- Best for absorbing punches and defending against aggressive opponents.
✔ Philly Shell (Shoulder Roll Defense)
- One hand lower, shoulder up for defense.
- Used by boxers like Floyd Mayweather.
✔ Peek-a-Boo Guard (Hands Tight & Centered)
- Hands in front of face, elbows in.
- Great for aggressive fighters who move forward.
3. Common Guard Mistakes
❌ Dropping Hands After Punching – Always bring them back to your face.
❌ Wide Elbows – Leaves your body open to hooks.
❌ Leaning Back Too Much – Can throw off your balance and make you vulnerable.
❌ Overextending Arms – Your guard should be compact and tight.
4. Drills to Keep Your Guard Up
🥊 Mirror Shadowboxing – Watch yourself to check your guard position.
🥊 Coach/Partner Tap Drill – Have someone lightly tap your head if your hands drop.
🥊 Resistance Band Guard Drill – Hold bands at your guard to build muscle memory.
🥊 Jab & Reset Drill – Throw a jab and immediately return to guard.