Peak-a-boo style in Muay Thai and Kickboxing

[curlbroscience]

Here is a definition of the Peak-a-boo style that I found online:

Peek-a-Boo is a boxing style where the hands are placed in front of the boxer's face, like in the babies game of the same name. It offers extra protection to the face and makes it easier to jab the opponent's face.

Peek-a-Boo boxing was developed by legendary trainer Cus D'Amato. Peek-a-Boo boxing utilizes relaxed hands with the forearms in front of the face and the fist at nose-eye level. Other unique features includes side to side head movements, bobbing, weaving and blind siding your opponent. The number system e.g. 3-2-3-Body-head-body or 3-3-2 Body-Body-head is drilled with the stationary dummy and on the bag until the fighter is able to punch by rapid combinations with what D'Amato called "bad intentions". The style allows swift neck movements as well quick duckings and bad returning damage, usually by rising uppercuts or even rising hooks.

There are several boxers that use the peak-a-boo style figthing in different ways.

Mike Tyson via Cus used peak-a-boo with his fast head movement and punching power to close the gap. (One of my boxing favorites)

Started doing research on Winky Wright and it appears that he uses the peak-a-boo style more as a defensive shell to get inside and deliver punishment.

I am experimenting with the Crazy Monkey Defense developed by Rodney King which seems to be similar to the peak-a-boo shell defense that Winky Wright used. They have a CM2 strategy that utilizes the head movement from Cus d'Amato to get inside.

- Any thoughts on the peak-a-boo style fighting in Muay Thai.

- Would hands that close to your head make you susceptible to absorbing head kicks?

[powerof0ne]

I was taught a similar defense and for me I would only use it if I was really getting rocked heavy in the head and I'd use it just to kind of "come to" while I defend myself (which I have done before).

I don't feel comfortable enough using that kind of style to use it that long because I feel slower with my offense from it.

Maybe that's just me?
Osu!

[curlbroscience]

Thanks PO1.

Watching Mike Tyson and Winky Wright I can see a noticeable difference in speed. Mike Tyson was just a blessed with Speed, Power and ferocious hooks/uppercuts in both hands. Winky just sort of took it and exchanged.

I do feel that when I am turtled up on the outside I do not see a lot coming. Sort of a mentality of "I am going to get hit!" instead of "How am I going to hit him!"

PO1, did you find that when you came in like this, you could easily come inside on the clinch? My thought is that if they try to clinch since my guard is up like that I have the natural advantage of shooting both arms in....

Can't wait to get in the ring tonight.

[wullie]

i would only use it, like PO1, if i was rocked and needing to get the head clear. for me it blocks to much vision and which is ok if you only need to worry about hands coming at you, also leaves your lower abdomen uncovered.

[curlbroscience]

As a shorter fighter, I am thinking that a high guard/peak-a-boo may be important. I've been trying to work on punching from a high guard these past few months and it's such a different mechanic.

One of my two favorite fighters Mike Tyson and Mike Zambidis use high guards and are notoriously shorter fighters in their divisions. Zambidis did not have the head movement like Tyson, but he stood and traded a lot in the pocket with his high guard. His high guard although not a traditional "Peak-a-boo" style fighter is relatively close to that. On body kicks he lowers his guard and sweeps with the other hand.

Zambo doesn't really kick a lot either... I don't know if that is due to his guard or that his kicking is sub-par.



I'm still trying to establish the type of fighter I am in the ring.