Judo power phase - the pull @ Grapplefit
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Pull Back·Grapplefit
The pull power complex this time - featuring gi rows, predator band snapdowns, rowing planks with gi sleeve, and the fav…
Pull Back
SubFamilyプルバック(Puru Bakku)
TransliterationTranslation: pull back
Overview
The Pull Back subfamily covers the defensive technique where the fighter leans the upper body backward, pulling the head out of range of an incoming strike by shifting the weight to the rear foot. [1] The pull back is a range-based head movement defence that uses the distance created by leaning backward to make strikes fall short. [1],[2] While effective for avoiding individual strikes, the pull back temporarily compromises balance by shifting the weight rearward, making it important to recover quickly or transition to a counter. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The pull-back leans the upper body backward to let strikes fall short. [1]
Lineage
The pull-back is a fundamental boxing head movement. [1]
Competition Record
Used in boxing and MMA competition. [1]
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Moving the head off the centre line to avoid an incoming strike without retreating
Joints Involved — Cervical spine (lateral flexion), knees (level change for bob and weave), hips (rotation for counter position)
Force Vector — Lateral or downward — the head moves just enough to make the strike miss while maintaining counter-striking distance
Counter-attack Advantage — Slipping loads the rear hand or lead hook for an immediate counter — defensive movement becomes offensive positioning
Position & Entry
From fighting stance — Move the head laterally (slip) or vertically (bob-and-weave) to make the incoming strike miss by inches
As counter-setup — Slip the punch and immediately counter — the defensive movement loads the counter strike
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
1
Low1/10
Evasion techniques avoid contact entirely; lowest injury risk of all techniques
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Unified MMA — Legal defensive technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFWBC/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 2024PDFKyokushin — Legal {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— WT — Legal
WT Competition Rules 2024PDF— WAKO — Legal
WAKO Competition RulesPDFK-1/GLORY — Legal {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
— IFMA — Legal
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The pull-back (lean-back) shifts your weight to the rear foot and leans the upper body away from a punch — creating distance without stepping backward
✓Shift weight onto the rear foot and lean the torso back approximately 6-8 inches — enough to make the punch fall short
✓The pull-back keeps you in counter range — as soon as the punch misses, shift forward and counter
✓The pull-back is most effective against the jab: lean back, let it miss, then immediately come forward with a counter jab or cross
✓Floyd Mayweather's signature pull-counter is built on this principle: pull-back from the jab, return with a straight right
✓Keep the lead hand ready for a parry and the rear hand ready for a counter during the pull-back
✓The pull-back works at mid-range — too close and you can't create enough distance; too far and you're already out of range
Common Mistakes
!Leaning back too far — this compromises your balance and makes it hard to counter quickly
!Pulling back with weight on the front foot — the weight must shift to the back foot for the lean to work
!Using the pull-back against hooks — hooks curve around the pull-back; this defence is for straight punches
!Staying leaned back — the pull-back is momentary; return to centre and counter immediately
!Dropping the hands during the pull-back — maintain guard throughout the lean
!Pulling back without a counter plan — the pull-back creates a counter window; use it
!Not bending the rear knee — the rear knee bends slightly to absorb the weight shift
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
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] Fighter's Fact Book (Christensen, 2000)
2BookChampionship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950)
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] Fighter's Fact Book (Christensen, 2000)
5CitationChampionship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Boxing: The Complete Guide to Training and Fitness (Hatmaker, 2004)
Community
Athletics
Requires
neck flexibility, knee bend coordination, visual tracking
Favours
shorter stature for easier level changes, strong neck
Key muscles
neck muscles, quadriceps, obliques, calves
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Pull Back work?
The Pull Back subfamily covers the defensive technique where the fighter leans the upper body backward, pulling the head out of range of an incoming strike by shifting the weight to the rear foot. The pull back is a range-based head movement defence that uses the distance created by leaning backward to make strikes fall short.
Where does the Pull Back come from?
The pull back has been a fundamental boxing defence since the sport's early days, used by counter-punchers who lean back to make punches miss, then snap forward with counter-strikes. Muhammad Ali's leaning pull back became one of the most recognisable defensive moves in boxing history.
Is the Pull Back 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 Pull Back?
Danger rating 1/10. Low — evasion techniques avoid contact entirely; lowest injury risk of all techniques
How do I set up the Pull Back?
The standard setup chain: Anticipate the Attack → Execute Defence → Recover Stance → Counter or Disengage.
How do I defend against the Pull Back?
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 Pull Back?
Common variants: Inside slip (moving the head to the inside of the incoming punch); Outside slip (moving the head to the outside of the incoming punch); Bob and weave (ducking under a hook and rising on the other side); Pull-back (leaning the head and torso backward to make the punch fal…).
How effective is the Pull Back in competition?
Used in boxing and MMA competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Pull Back?
Top errors to watch for: Leaning back too far — this compromises your balance and makes it hard to counter quickly / Pulling back with weight on the front foot — the weight must shift to the back foot for the lean to work / Using the pull-back against hooks — hooks curve around the pull-back; this defence is for straight punches / Staying leaned back — the pull-back is momentary; return to centre and counter immediately.
What are other names for the Pull Back?
The Pull Back is also known as Puru Bakku, Lean Back, Fadeaway, Pull Counter Position.