Lean Back
Defence
Shift the weight to the rear leg and lean the head and body out of range of a kick or punch.
How to throw it
Shift your weight onto the rear leg and lean your head and upper body straight back, taking your chin out of range while your feet stay set. Keep your guard up and your eyes on the opponent so you can read the shot as it falls short. Stay balanced over the back foot so you can rock forward and answer the moment the strike passes.
When to use it
Use the lean back to make a punch or kick fall just short without giving up ground, which leaves you loaded to fire back on the return. It is especially useful against a long kick or a straight punch where a small weight shift is all you need to avoid it.
Common mistakes
- Leaning so far back that you lose balance over the rear leg and cannot counter
- Dropping the hands as you lean, so you eat a follow-up you never saw
- Leaning with the legs planted heavy instead of shifting weight, which leaves you stuck and slow to recover