Keep your hands up? or something to think about?

If you've been practicing martial arts for a while, you've undoubtedly heard the instruction to keep your hands up more times than you can count!

The phrase "keeping your hands up" is not a rule; instead, it refers to a particular style choice based on several factors.

1. What is your go-to strategy for blocking blows mainly to the head?

2. Setting distance in a fight? Using kick distance tactics.

3. Have you prepared your jab?

4. How do you practice your cardio?

1. What is your go-to strategy for blocking blows to the head?

It makes sense to keep your hands up, so they are closer to the position they need to be in if you prefer to "block" and "parry" punches. This is also a basic instinct to raise your heads up when a blow comes, so better keep them close by the potential hit.

However, it matters less if you practice head movement a lot; if this is your preferred tactic (of course, my last point regarding cardio is essential), you might get away with it.

Quality boxers successfully won many fights with their hands "down."(at least in a part of the fight.

Having your hands up and maintaining this position is less crucial in mixed martial arts. I am not saying it is not helpful as an additional good measure of defense and as a base for development, but there are other styles and tactics you can try to include in your fighting arsenal.

You can watch videos about how the best boxers move out of punches using head and body movement.

Ahhh, and remember to keep your chin down.

2. Setting distance in a fight? Using kick distance tactics.

You'll have more time to respond to blows if you use long-range kicks to establish and keep your range. For your opponent to reach you, they need to cover more distance to reach your head.

You can keep your hands lower to save energy while kicks are utilized to establish the tone and range!

For a shorter "punch distance," you need a quicker response time. In such a case having your hands higher may be advantageous.

We first learn about distance in the context of street fighting, but managing distance also limits harm. The ideal distance necessary for properly implementing any technique (striking, submission, sweeping, escape, etc.) is an important component of martial arts, and you can utilize those tactics to disrupt the opponent's distance and negate their effectiveness.

And … remember to keep your chin down.

3. Have you prepared your jab?

If you aim to establish your jab to maintain an arm's length distance, your jab hand does not have to be held at your jaw. By floating your jab hand out in front of you, for example, somewhat of a middle distance, you may cut the distance to your opponent's head in half, allowing your jab to connect faster.

Once again, the positioning of your hands should be determined by the attacks you use.

Mike Tyson is, without a doubt, the finest fighter who simultaneously employs both a hands-up technique and a head movement. Peek-a-boo style (if you want to learn about that too, just contact me)

However, at his height (which was relatively low in comparison to his opponents in the heavyweight boxing division), he wasn't trying to set up a jab against the taller opponents he was up against; instead, he was trying to get inside the range of the other fighter's jab.

4. How do you practice your cardio?

If you don't often practice stand-up fighting, you should absolutely practice the "hands down" position so you may take a much-needed rest since holding your hands up "high" requires a lot of energy.

Therefore if you prefer the hands-up tactics, make sure you have the cardio to support it or make sure you can end the fight quickly.

At the end of the day, when confrontation escalates, you can switch between different defensive tactics.

It is up to you to build your own favorite and best-adjusted tactics.

For example- if you are good with kicks, you can begin by using them.

See if your opponent can endure a continual assault of long-range strikes; if he can not, you will win from a safer distance.

If it doesn't work, you can go closer to establish your jab and try some head movement. If he misses with his fists, it will be incredibly easy to strike him with fairly forceful counter punches and from the right direction.

I am a head movement guy, so sometimes, when I work on my changeable tactics, once my head movement causes my core to tire, I adapt to kicks or more of a "hands up" stance.

Meaning in this tactic, you can rest your core while maintaining hands-up protection, and then after a while of resting (some might need to have such "rest" 10 seconds, others 20, etc..). your core is rested, and you are ready to bob and weave again.

Resting tactics is important to include as well. For example, if your front shoulder suffers from too much jabbing, you can protect yourself using the Philly shell (like Mayweather) until your left shoulder feels revitalized (and wise-versa if you are south-paw).

Ahhh, and remember to keep your chin down.

Learn to alternate your hands Up and down regularly. You will have more options in a fight.

You are much better off if you are a head movement type like me, who can also fight at kick range and can still rely on a 'hands up' stance when necessary.

There is no one way, and each should learn and practice to feel what best fits you; your response and tactics are unique to you.