I have a few questions about Peek-A-Boo (Tyson style)

[ZeeBrah]

Before I start, a bit of background on me. I trained at a very good boxing gym for 3 months from march to May, and I have been trying to get better on my own since then, as there is no longer any boxing gyms near me.

As a beginner, I was always taught the Peek-A-Boo guard. It was pretty self-explanatory, however, the coaches were focused on only the Pros, so I never actually learned the Peek-A-Boo DEFENSE.

As of late, i have been trying to improve my Peek_A-Boo defense through attempting to emulate videos of Mike Tyson. Obviously, I know I don't have the speed, agility, stamina, or reflexes Tyson did, but I feel that the Peek-A-Boo defense fits me very well, as I have many qualities in common with Tyson. I'm about as strong as Tyson was strength-wise. I have a pretty strong upper body and back, and I can lift around the same weights as he could. I'm also 5'11" as a heavyweight, just as he was, I have a 72" reach like he does, and I feel as though the only two punches I'm really good at are lead hooks and uppercuts, especially hooks to the body, which is obviously the bread-and-butter of the Tyson style.

Don't take this as me saying that I'm the next Mike Tyson, because I'm probably not, I'm just saying that I possess many of the same physical qualities as Tyson, so I feel as though his style would suit me well.

So, with that being said, I have a few questions about the style (keep in mind I'm training on my own and only have access to a Bobby Bully Dummy and one light heavybag):

1. What are some drills I can do to improve the speed in which I bob and weave?

2. What are some ways I can work on my reflexes without expensive equipment?

3. When moving side-to-side, the movement is coming from the obliques, right? If so, what are the best exercises I can do? I currently do side bends and side plank hip lifts.

4. Since a boxing stance is a little wider than shoulder-width apart, and the peek-a-boo defense has you bending your legs a lot, powerlifting-style squatting would be more sport-specific than Olympic squatting because it places more stress on the posterior chain and the hips, correct?

5. What are some drills I can practice that work on getting inside quickly and delivering body shots?

There's probably more questions, just I can't think of them all now.

[ad98]

1. What are some drills I can do to improve the speed in which I bob and weave?
If you can get a rope hang it in between two points and bob and weave from end to end for a couple of rounds

2. What are some ways I can work on my reflexes without expensive equipment?
Sparring or get a friend to throw tennis balls and try and catch em before they hit the ground

3. When moving side-to-side, the movement is coming from the obliques, right? If so, what are the best exercises I can do? I currently do side bends and side plank hip lifts.
For the obliques Waist twist rest some kind of bar or dowell on your neck and
twist from side to side also twist sit-ups

4. Since a boxing stance is a little wider than shoulder-width apart, and the peek-a-boo defense has you bending your legs a lot, powerlifting-style squatting would be more sport-specific than Olympic squatting because it places more stress on the posterior chain and the hips, correct?
Yeah but you'd be better doing it like this instead of just squats 5x5 on Cleans for the hips Squats for the legs Deadlifts for the posterior chain

5. What are some drills I can practice that work on getting inside quickly and delivering body shots?
do the rope drill I mentioned earlier but put a heavy bag at the end hit the bag then bob and weave backwards to the start and repeat

[cja07007]

A slip bag is a Cheep way to work on head movement

heres tyson on it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjF2IHw0EyE

Here is how to make one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdN-B2KweIc

[ZeeBrah]

Thanks for the answers, guys. As for squats, power cleans, and deadlifts, I do all three.

I do heavy squats and deadlifts, and usually light hang power cleans (though sometimes I go heavy).

[ZeeBrah]

Oh yeah, and a few other things.

Another similarity between me and him is that I have a minor lisp, LOL.

But what I also wanted to say was that I'm also a southpaw. Are there any advantages/disadvantages of using the Tyson-style Peek-A-Boo as a southpaw? All I can really think of is that I'd be easier for me to get inside, as he'll be closer, and my body hook won't have to travel as far.

Plus, I like to throw a lot of quick check hooks right off of the jab, so those would also be closer and land more as well.

Any more advantage,s and any disadvantages? Is it not recommended to use Tyson-style Peek-A-Boo as a southpaw?

[DIB42]

Oh yeah, and a few other things.

Another similarity between me and him is that I have a minor lisp, LOL.

But what I also wanted to say was that I'm also a southpaw. Are there any advantages/disadvantages of using the Tyson-style Peek-A-Boo as a southpaw? All I can really think of is that I'd be easier for me to get inside, as he'll be closer, and my body hook won't have to travel as far.

Plus, I like to throw a lot of quick check hooks right off of the jab, so those would also be closer and land more as well.

Any more advantage,s and any disadvantages? Is it not recommended to use Tyson-style Peek-A-Boo as a southpaw?

Cus D'Amato's Peek-A-Boo is very physically demanding. Try using the head movement and footwork for an entire sparring session. You'll probably be very effective at first, but if you're not in top shape, you'll fade very quickly, and I don't find it especially effective for someone who isn't aggressive with it.

So cardio/cardio/cardio, and then some more cardio.

As a southpaw, I'd concern myself largely with the straight right and lead hook from an orthodox fighter. *the 8,1,8 is what my gym calls it* S,LH,S

I'd suggest getting some time in with the shoulder roll as well.

Are you a left handed southpaw, or a right handed southpaw?

[sammiza567]

a southpaw with this style can be very effective if you perfect it. work on stepping over that lead foot with head movement and bring the lead hook to the body or head. you can also shoot your straight left as you step over, pivot and then bring the lead hook upstairs. my favorite combo against a southpaw is a straight right and then a left hook sometimes double it up, so yours would just be the exact opposite. another good one would be slipping your opponents straight right and throwing a vicious left uppercut or left hook to the body is perfect.

[ZeeBrah]

I'm a left-handed southpaw.

And one combination I think might work is overhand left, duck, left hook body, right hook head. The flow feels natural, and the opponent probably wouldn't know what hit him after I come back with the right hook to the head.