In terms of ideas and ring performance, the Peekaboo boxing technique is exceptional. Constantine “Cus” D’amato, the great Mike Tyson’s trainer, invented it first. The peekaboo technique, which emphasises a tight defence and aggressive counterpunching, maybe a potent weapon in any boxer’s toolbox. We are happy to present a peekaboo style beginner’s tutorial today.
Origin of Peekaboo Style
Cus D’amato invented the peekaboo fashion, as was already acknowledged. Cus didn’t really call the boxing technique “peekaboo”; instead, he called it “tight defence.” Although it may be used by any boxer, this technique leans more towards shorter, stockier boxers. This is due to the fact that the peekaboo fighting style makes the shorter fighters’ deficit in reach into one of their primary weapons. Utilising head movement and altering footwork to enter an opponent’s punching range, when the shorter fighter has the advantage, is the foundation of the peekaboo technique. Once inside, the peekaboo boxer aims to hit their opponent as hard as they can in the torso and head.
The process would then start over as the adversary tried to flee and keep the conflict outside. This method of closing first, then unleashing once inside the range of the adversary, differs significantly from a conventional counterpunching strategy. In order to set up a counterpunch when the opponent misses a strike or has a gap in their guard, a common counterpuncher’s tactic would be to jab and shift their head from the outside. The adversary is forced into exchanges by the more proactive peekaboo approach, which seeks to make them miss and aggressively open up possibilities for counterpunches.
According to Mike Tyson, Cus D’amato drew inspiration for the peekaboo technique from Goju Ryu Karate. Cus observed their workouts and used the Karate principle of positioning oneself before hitting with all one’s might, or with “bad intentions.”
Despite the fact that Mike Tyson is the most well-known boxer who employs the peekaboo technique, Cus D’amato also produced two other exceptional boxers, namely Floyd Patterson, the youngest heavyweight champion before Tyson and an Olympic middleweight gold medalist, and Jose Torres, the current owner of the WBC, WBA, and lineal light heavyweight championship belts and a 1956 Melbourne Olympics silver medalist.
You might also be interested in reading this: Should Boxing Fights Contain Fewer Rounds in the Future?
Stance
The peekaboo stance differs greatly from a traditional boxing stance. Instead of standing with their feet shoulder-width apart and a line between their lead big toe and back heel, a boxer does the peekaboo by standing almost squarely on their toes. Even while it may appear counterintuitive to stand straight up and make oneself a greater target, the peekaboo stance has certain unique advantages as well. It can be difficult to move rapidly and explosively in any direction with a more traditional boxing stance, but the virtually lateral stance in particular makes it possible for a boxer to accomplish just that.
The boxer can deliver powerful blows from unanticipated angles because their hips are squared, allowing them to exert force into both their lead and rear hands.
Footwork
The squared-up posture of the peekaboo technique results in unusual footwork patterns and combinations. D’amato honed his boxers’ ambidextrous skills by having them often transition from orthodox to southpaw, sometimes even in the middle of a combo! The rear foot stride is one of the distinctive footwork moves used in the peekaboo style. Many coaches and trainers believe this to be “incorrect” and instead instruct boxers to advance with their lead foot first, then their rear foot. As opposed to the lead footstep, which involves an explosive lead foot movement, the back foot step has the boxer moving their rear foot first, stepping exactly next to the lead foot. Despite being unconventional, this method allows a boxer to close the distance much more quickly since it travels almost twice as far as a standard forward stride in boxing.
Mike Tyson frequently used the back foot stride and a jab to position his lethal right hand.
The slide step is another distinct peekaboo footwork move that Mike Tyson employs. Move your head over your lead leg as you slip your opponent’s punch to execute the slip step. Step your back leg forward at the same time to temporarily assume the opposing posture. From this opposite posture, step through and punch with what is now your rear hand while moving to your previous stance with your rear leg. You must follow this pattern to evade an opponent’s jab, close the distance, and position your lead hand for a powerful blow. The back foot step and the slide step, as well as a more detailed description of when to employ each, as demonstrated by Mike Tyson in the examples above.
Another distinguishing feature of the peekaboo look was the D’amato shift. When Tyson wanted to take an aggressive angle on a tired opponent, he would employ this move. A fighter slips and shifts weight over their lead leg to initiate the D’amato shift. You are now moving your hips anticlockwise in a galloping manner. You should be facing your opponent from the side while assuming the opposite posture, with your rear leg roughly where your lead leg began. In addition to placing your lead hand in a position to strike around your opponent’s guard, this stance places your rear hand near to your opponent so you may deliver a strong hook or uppercut.
The side shift, also known as the shot, is the final peekaboo footwork technique we’ll talk about today. This phrase is typically used when a boxer charges in while standing entirely on their front foot. A peekaboo fighter uses the forward motion’s momentum to push off their front foot and towards their backside as opposed to being stuck and rooted. The rear foot can be pushed off and the lead side shotted by using this following a powerful lead hook in which the whole weight is shifted to the back leg. The side shift is a flexible technique that may be utilised to increase mobility and generate angles, particularly in the middle of a combination.
This article only touches the surface of the distinctive peekaboo boxing method. To add a potent weapon to your boxing armoury, practise these motions in the mirror and while shadowboxing!
This is everything about Peekaboo Style. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
