Standard Push Off

Genus

Translation: standard push off

Range & classification

Overview

The Standard Push Off executes the fundamental push-off defence where the fighter extends the lead arm against the opponent's shoulder or chest while simultaneously driving backward off the rear foot, creating explosive separation distance. ^[1] The push hand acts as a frame that prevents the opponent from following while the footwork creates space. ^[1],[2] Proper execution requires timing the push with the opponent's forward momentum to maximise the distance created. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Stiff-Arm Push Off^[1]Range Reset^[2]Lead Hand Push^[3]

Used in

Boxing MMA Muay Thai Kickboxing

History & Origin

The standard push off has been part of boxing's defensive toolkit for generations, used by out-fighters and counter-punchers to maintain their preferred range. ^[1] It is a fundamental defensive technique in MMA for managing aggressive opponents. ^[2],[3]

Country of origin· shown in random order

EnglandBoxing
GreeceBoxing
BrazilMMA
USAMMA, Kickboxing
ThailandMuay Thai
JapanKickboxing

Effectiveness

The standard push-off is the baseline distance-creation technique. ^[1]

Lineage

A fundamental boxing defensive technique. ^[1]

Competition Record

Used in boxing competition. ^[1]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Using foot positioning to control range and angles — maintaining optimal distance relative to the opponent

Joints Involved — Ankles (pivot and directional changes), knees (level maintenance), hips (balance and weight distribution)

Force Vector — Multi-directional — lateral steps, pivots, and retreats adjust distance and angle simultaneously

Distance Principle — Managing the distance between fighters is the most fundamental defensive skill — controlling range dictates which techniques are available

Position & Entry

From fighting stance — Use foot positioning to maintain optimal distance — step back, angle off, or pivot to avoid attacks

As cut angle — Step off the centre line while the opponent attacks, creating an angle for the counter

Variants

Standard defence — primary defensive technique from the most common position

Reactive defence — triggered by the opponent's attack, minimal movement for maximum protection

Proactive defence — anticipating the attack and positioning to neutralise it early

Counter defence — using the defensive movement to create an immediate counter-attack opportunity

Videos

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Top 10 Deadly Pressure Points Explained | Ultimate Martial Arts Secrets

Standard Push Off·Master Yourself·Added by Admin

Welcome to the world of Kyusho Jitsu, where precision and knowledge are your best weapons. In this video, we break down …

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Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Low1/10

Evasion techniques avoid contact entirely; lowest injury risk of all techniques

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Advanced

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

— Unified MMA — Legal defensive technique

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

WBC/Boxing — Legal — blocking and evasion are core boxing skills {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}

— WKF — Legal — blocking is a fundamental karate skill

WKF Competition Rules 2024PDF

Kyokushin — Legal {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}

— WT — Legal

WT Competition Rules 2024PDF

— WAKO — Legal

WAKO Competition RulesPDF

K-1/GLORY — Legal {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}

— IFMA — Legal

IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓Place both palms on the opponent's shoulders or upper chest

✓Explosively extend both arms while stepping your rear foot back — the push and the step create combined distance

✓As soon as you've created space, retract your hands to guard position and re-establish your fighting stance

✓The push-off creates approximately arm's length of distance — enough to reset to mid-range

✓Use the push-off after clinch breaks, against pressure fighters closing distance, or to create space for a kick

✓Time the push-off to the opponent's forward momentum — pushing when they step forward amplifies the distance created

✓Drill the push-off to jab: push, step back, fire a jab to keep the distance established

Common Mistakes

!Pushing without stepping back — the step is what creates sustained distance; the push alone is temporary

!Not returning hands to guard after pushing — the recovery is immediate

!Pushing from too far away — you need to be close enough for the push to contact solidly

!Using only arm strength — engage the core and legs to power the push

!Pushing down instead of straight back — push horizontally to create backward distance

!Staying still after the push — move immediately: footwork to maintain the new distance

!Pushing against a set opponent with good base — the push-off works best against a moving opponent

Related Techniques

Counter-Attack — offensive follow-up that capitalizes on successful defence

Counter Techniques

Timing — attack when the defence is recovering or between movements Feint — use deception to create openings in the defensive structure Angle Change — attack from an unexpected angle that the defence does not cover

Setup Chain

1Anticipate the Attack — read the opponent's intention through body cues

2Execute Defence — apply the specific defensive technique with proper timing

3Recover Stance — return to a balanced fighting position immediately

4Counter or Disengage — capitalize on the opening or create safe distance

Sources & References

Primary Source

Boxing (Edwin Haislet, 1940)

1BookBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)

Alias sources — [1] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950) [2] Boxing Mastery (Hatmaker, 2004) [3] MMA Instruction Manual (Ryan & Snowden, 2010)

2BookThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)

Effectiveness sources — [1] Boxing: The Complete Guide to Training and Fitness (Hatmaker, 2004)

3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention

Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities

4CitationBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)

Alias sources — [1] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950) [2] Boxing Mastery (Hatmaker, 2004) [3] MMA Instruction Manual (Ryan & Snowden, 2010)

5CitationThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)

Effectiveness sources — [1] Boxing: The Complete Guide to Training and Fitness (Hatmaker, 2004)

Community

Athletics

Requires

agility, quick directional changes, balance in motion

Favours

light feet, strong calves and ankles

Key muscles

calves, tibialis anterior, quadriceps, hip stabilisers

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Standard Push Off work?

The Standard Push Off executes the fundamental push-off defence where the fighter extends the lead arm against the opponent's shoulder or chest while simultaneously driving backward off the rear foot, creating explosive separation distance. The push hand acts as a frame that prevents the opponent from following while the footwork creates space.

Where does the Standard Push Off come from?

The standard push off has been part of boxing's defensive toolkit for generations, used by out-fighters and counter-punchers to maintain their preferred range. It is a fundamental defensive technique in MMA for managing aggressive opponents.

Is the Standard Push Off legal in competition?

Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive technique; WBC/Boxing: legal — Legal — blocking and evasion are core boxing skills; WKF: legal — Legal — blocking is a fundamental karate skill; Kyokushin: legal — Legal; WT: legal — Legal; WAKO: legal — Legal; K: legal — 1/GLORY — Legal; IFMA: legal — Legal

How dangerous is the Standard Push Off?

Danger rating 1/10. Low — evasion techniques avoid contact entirely; lowest injury risk of all techniques

How do I set up the Standard Push Off?

The standard setup chain: Anticipate the Attack → Execute Defence → Recover Stance → Counter or Disengage.

How do I defend against the Standard Push Off?

Standard counters include: Timing — attack when the defence is recovering or between movements / Feint — use deception to create openings in the defensive structure / Angle Change — attack from an unexpected angle that the defence does not cover.

What are the variants of the Standard Push Off?

Common variants: Standard defence (primary defensive technique from the most common position); Reactive defence (triggered by the opponent's attack, minimal movement for …); Proactive defence (anticipating the attack and positioning to neutralise it …); Counter defence (using the defensive movement to create an immediate count…).

How effective is the Standard Push Off in competition?

Used in boxing competition.

What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Push Off?

Top errors to watch for: Pushing without stepping back — the step is what creates sustained distance; the push alone is temporary / Not returning hands to guard after pushing — the recovery is immediate / Pushing from too far away — you need to be close enough for the push to contact solidly / Using only arm strength — engage the core and legs to power the push.

What are other names for the Standard Push Off?

The Standard Push Off is also known as Sutandādo Pusshu Ofu, Stiff-Arm Push Off, Range Reset, Lead Hand Push.

standard push off sutand do pusshu ofu defence evasion distance management footwork defence push off boxing mma muay thai kickboxing stiff arm push off range reset lead hand push