Covering Up - Boxing & Martial Arts Defensive Technique

This page provides details on the boxing & martial arts technique known as "Covering Up". It is used to block strikes to the head and upper body. This defensive technique involves a martial artist raising both arms high to protect their head. In turn, the martial artist will tuck their chin and press their elbows against their waist in order to protect against body shots.

Covering up should be combined with movement (i.e. trunk rotation) in order to avoid a strike, block a strike and/or to reduce the power of an incoming attacker's blow. However, covering up is often used as a last resort when trapped against the ropes in boxing and the boxer is trying to survive an onslaught of incoming punches.