The Priority of Defense: The Defend and Counter Flow

The Defend and Counter Flow

Our priority in defense is to:

1. To prevent damage/advancement of position 

2. To set up an attack (Counter)

To clarify: If a fighter uses an opponent’s attack purely as an attack opportunity, they are not worried about preventing damage, and are not using the process below (at least at the tactical level). “Damage” might also be “Points” in many contexts.

This goes hand-in-hand with our previous Concept article Priority of Attack

It’s also worth mentioning that a fighter’s Risk Management can also be analyzed within these processes.

A “Safe” fighter (often thought of as the conservative “Out-fighter” in Boxing) will choose to end an exchange, where a Counter-fighter would see the failed attack as an opportunity to press an advantage. The high-risk “Brawler” type will attack regardless of whether they took damage or gave up points in the exchange.

Here are a couple examples of applications of the above defense flow we might see across sports:

Boxing:

Boxer A: Attacks with a Jab

Boxer B (avoids damage): Slips jab

Boxer A: Attacks with a Cross

Boxer B (counters): Parries and attacks the body with a straight

“El Intocable” Nicolino Locche slipping a slurry of jabs and an uppercut.

Wrestling:

Wrestler A: Shoots and attempts a single leg takedown

Wrestler B (avoids positional advancement): Sprawls, stopping A’s forward drive, they both reset

Wrestler A: Attempts another shoots, and is able to elevate the leg

Wrestler B (counters): Back flips and immediately reshoots

BJJ:

Stephan Kesting and Rob Biernacki showing the most infamous and groaniest of submissions.

Jiujiteiro A: Attempting to finish a Rear Naked Choke

Jiujiteiro B (avoids submission): 2-on-1 one of the arms, and brings it over his head

Jiujiteiro A: Attempting to finish a Rear Naked Choke, with ankles crossed

Jiujiteiro B (counters): lol