Translation: circle out
The Circle Out is a lateral movement technique where the fighter moves in a circular path away from the opponent, maintaining distance while continuously changing the angle. [1] Circling out is the primary defensive movement for fighters who want to stay at range, using the circular path to keep the opponent constantly adjusting their position and unable to set up combinations. [1],[2] The direction of the circle is tactically significant β circling away from the opponent's power hand is generally preferred. [2],[3]
Circular footwork became a defining element of modern boxing through fighters like Muhammad Ali, who circled to his left against orthodox opponents, and Gene Tunney, whose lateral movement defeated the aggressive Jack Dempsey in 1927. [1] The technique is taught as a foundational footwork pattern in all major boxing and kickboxing gyms. [2]
Muhammad Ali used circular movement as his primary defensive strategy throughout his career, notably against George Foreman in the 'Rumble in the Jungle' (1974), where his ring movement contributed to one of boxing's most famous upsets. [1]
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Learn mawashi uke, follow along with this video. Please let us know if you have any questions. Flimed by Mario Jerez hβ¦
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Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
Evasion techniques avoid contact entirely; lowest injury risk of all techniques
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Boxing (Edwin Haislet, 1940)
Alias sources β [1] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950) [2] Boxing Mastery (Hatmaker, 2004) [3] Fighter's Fact Book (Christensen, 2000)
Effectiveness sources β [1] Boxing Mastery (Hatmaker, 2004) [2] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950)
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (ε€ζ₯θͺ) β used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
Alias sources β [1] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950) [2] Boxing Mastery (Hatmaker, 2004) [3] Fighter's Fact Book (Christensen, 2000)
Effectiveness sources β [1] Boxing Mastery (Hatmaker, 2004) [2] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950)
agility, quick directional changes, balance in motion
light feet, strong calves and ankles
calves, tibialis anterior, quadriceps, hip stabilisers
Keep your hands open rather than gripped, and don't focus on the grip initially. According to the East Bay Karate-Do tutorial, hands should be open and ready before you execute the block.
Block away from your body rather than too close to it. If you're blocking so close that you accidentally slap yourself, you're definitely too close to the body.
The circle block involves two main motions: down and around. The preparatory steps are down and around, similar to Sat Uke but with open hands instead of a closed fist.
The Circle Out is a lateral movement technique where the fighter moves in a circular path away from the opponent, maintaining distance while continuously changing the angle. Circling out is the primary defensive movement for fighters who want to stay at range, using the circular path to keep the opponent constantly adjusting their position and unable to set up combinations.
Circling out has been a fundamental boxing movement since the sport's codification, used by defensive fighters to control range and frustrate aggressive opponents. Muhammad Ali's circular movement around the ring became one of the most famous defensive strategies in boxing history.
Unified MMA: legal β Legal defensive technique; WBC/Boxing: legal β Legal β blocking and evasion are core boxing skills; WKF: legal β Legal β blocking is a fundamental karate skill; Kyokushin: legal β Legal; WT: legal β Legal; WAKO: legal β Legal; K: legal β 1/GLORY β Legal; IFMA: legal β Legal
Danger rating 1/10. Low β evasion techniques avoid contact entirely; lowest injury risk of all techniques
The standard setup chain: Anticipate the Attack β Execute Defence β Recover Stance β Counter or Disengage.
Standard counters include: Timing β attack when the defence is recovering or between movements / Feint β use deception to create openings in the defensive structure / Angle Change β attack from an unexpected angle that the defence does not cover.
Common variants: Standard defence (primary defensive technique from the most common position); Reactive defence (triggered by the opponent's attack, minimal movement for β¦); Proactive defence (anticipating the attack and positioning to neutralise it β¦); Counter defence (using the defensive movement to create an immediate countβ¦).
Muhammad Ali used circular movement as his primary defensive strategy throughout his career, notably against George Foreman in the 'Rumble in the Jungle' (1974), where his ring movement contributed to one of boxing's most famous upsets.
Top errors to watch for: Circling directly backward into the cage β circle LATERALLY along the cage, not backward into it / Circling toward the opponent's power hand β generally circle toward their weaker side / Breaking your stance during the circle β maintain proper stance width and guard throughout / Circling without any offensive action β jab, post, or counter while circling to discourage pursuit.
The Circle Out is also known as SΔkuru Auto, Ring Circling, Circle Away, Lateral Circle.
