Standing Pull Back Strangle Defense
0
Standard Pull Back·Trillo Jiujitsu Academy·Added by Admin
Trillo Jiujitsu Academy 18400 NW 75 Place #122 Miami, Florida 33015 786-294-0447 trilloacademy.com https://www.facebook.…
Standard Pull Back
Genusスタンダードプルバック(Sutandādo Puru Bakku)
TransliterationTranslation: standard pull back
Overview
The Standard Pull Back executes the fundamental pull-back defence by shifting the weight to the rear foot while bending the upper body backward from the waist, pulling the chin and head just out of range of the incoming strike. [1] The movement must be minimal — just enough to make the strike miss — so the fighter can quickly shift the weight forward for a counter-attack. [1],[2] The standard pull back keeps the eyes on the opponent and the hands up, allowing the fighter to read the next attack and respond immediately. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The pull back creates distance from incoming strikes by leaning the upper body backward while keeping the feet planted, allowing for immediate counter-attacks as the attacker over-extends. [1] The technique is most effective at the end of the opponent's range, where a small backward lean is sufficient to make the punch miss. [2]
Lineage
The standard pull-back is the fundamental lean-back defence. [1]
Competition Record
Roy Jones Jr. frequently employed the pull-back as a signature defensive technique during his career, using his extraordinary reflexes to lean away from punches and counter, contributing to his 49 wins across four weight divisions. [1]
Images
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
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
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 fall short
Videos
1 video
Learn This Technique
No instructional courses yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest a course.
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
✓From fighting stance, shift weight to the rear foot by bending the rear knee slightly and leaning the torso back
✓The front foot stays planted but light — your weight is 70-80% on the back foot during the pull
✓Lean back just enough that the opponent's punch misses your chin by 2-3 inches — no more
✓Keep your eyes on the opponent and your hands at chin level throughout
✓As soon as the punch passes, explosively return forward: shift weight to the front foot and fire a counter
✓The counter should be automatic: pull-back, return cross or pull-back, return jab are the most common combinations
✓Drill against a partner's jab: pull back, let it miss, immediately return with a straight punch
Common Mistakes
!Leaning back from the waist instead of shifting weight to the rear foot — the weight shift is what creates the distance
!Over-leaning and losing balance backward — stay within your base; if you can't counter immediately, you've leaned too far
!Pulling back against every punch — it only works against straight punches at mid-range
!Not returning forward — the pull-back without the counter is just retreating
!Pulling back with both feet planted evenly — shift the weight to the rear foot
!Closing the eyes during the lean — you must see the miss to time the counter
!Using the pull-back in the pocket (too close) — you need mid-range distance for the lean to create enough space
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 Mastery (Hatmaker, 2004) [2] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950)
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 Mastery (Hatmaker, 2004) [2] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950)
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
Frequently Asked Questions
When defending a standing pull back strangle, why shouldn't I just pull my elbow down?
Instead of pulling your elbow down, cup your opponent's arm as you step over and drive your hips forward, which gives you better control and positioning for the escape. This hand position prevents them from completing the choke while you work to transition.
How do I use my knee when defending the standing pull back?
Slide your knee in to act as a frame between you and your opponent, which helps you create space and control as you work your escape from the strangle position.
What's a good way to practice the standing pull back defense drill?
Practice slowly without speed and consider using a blindfold during the drill so you can focus on remembering all the steps correctly, since how you train is how you'll respond in a real situation.
How does the Standard Pull Back work?
The Standard Pull Back executes the fundamental pull-back defence by shifting the weight to the rear foot while bending the upper body backward from the waist, pulling the chin and head just out of range of the incoming strike. The movement must be minimal — just enough to make the strike miss — so the fighter can quickly shift the weight forward for a counter-attack.
Where does the Standard Pull Back come from?
The standard pull back is a fundamental defensive technique in boxing, taught as part of the basic head movement curriculum in boxing gyms worldwide. Counter-punching specialists have relied on the pull back as a primary defensive tool throughout boxing history.
Is the Standard 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 Standard Pull Back?
Danger rating 1/10. Low — evasion techniques avoid contact entirely; lowest injury risk of all techniques
How do I set up the Standard Pull Back?
The standard setup chain: Anticipate the Attack → Execute Defence → Recover Stance → Counter or Disengage.
How do I defend against the Standard 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 Standard 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 Standard Pull Back in competition?
Roy Jones Jr. frequently employed the pull-back as a signature defensive technique during his career, using his extraordinary reflexes to lean away from punches and counter, contributing to his 49 wins across four weight divisions.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Pull Back?
Top errors to watch for: Leaning back from the waist instead of shifting weight to the rear foot — the weight shift is what creates the distance / Over-leaning and losing balance backward — stay within your base; if you can't counter immediately, you've leaned too… / Pulling back against every punch — it only works against straight punches at mid-range / Not returning forward — the pull-back without the counter is just retreating.
What are other names for the Standard Pull Back?
The Standard Pull Back is also known as Sutandādo Puru Bakku, Lean Away, Rear Shift, Weight Pull.