Martial Arts: The Counterpunch

Step 2: The Stance

Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and taking a step back with your right foot to a comfortable distance, as if on tram lines. Then turn your feet 30º and bend your knees. Remember to keep your feet firmly on the ground.

REMEMBER! As with any technique in martial arts, all your energy is drawn up from the ground. It must flow through your body and be released through your target via the maneuver. You achieve this with your stance.

Step 3: Expose the Target

The art of counterpunching relies heavily on speed and accuracy. Your reaction time is of the utmost importance. You perfect this by combining the stance, with effective blocking and accurate punching.

Be sure to watch Videojug's guides to the basic blocks and punching to maximise the effectiveness of your counterpunch.

The objective of the counterstrike meanwhile, is to expose your opponent's target areas by means of deflecting his blows.

If you want, for instance, to punch your attacker in the face, expose the face. If you decide on a rib punch, expose his ribs. If you want to, let's say, counter a kick, punch to the groin.

Remember, this all depends on whether you are lucky enough to block the punch. You may not get a second chance to strike with a counterpunch, so make it work.

Step 4: Review

It's vital to combine a solid stance with effective blocking and an accurate punch to your chosen target area.