The transcript below is from the video “Boxing and Bruce Lee: The Five Ways of Attack” by Wylie’s Art and Science of Boxing.

Wylie’s Art and Science of Boxing:

Bruce Lee was one of the first martial artists to offer a cohesive structural approach to individual combat. After extensive research, Lee made use of ideologies of fighting which had been employed by fencers through the ages, making them applicable to the modern day, empty-hand combatant. The result was ‘The Five Ways of Attack’, a universal set of principles designed to give clarity to the chaotic nature of fighting, and in particular, attacking. ‘The Five Ways of Attack’ are: Single Direct Attack, Attack by Combination, Attack by Immobilization, Progressive Indirect Attack and Attack by Drawing. Let us now explore each ‘Way of Attack’, one by one, with some help from today’s pugilist elite.

Wylie’s Art and Science of Boxing:

‘Single Direct Attack (S.D.A.)’

The objective of a single direct attack is to reach the target via the most direct route. Because S.D.A. requires the combatant to bridge the gap completely in a single move, and without a preparatory feint, this kind of attack necessitates a keen judgement of distance and a fine appreciation of timing. Usually, though not exclusively, single direct attacks are employed with the lead hand, which is most often the nearest weapon to the target.

Wylie’s Art and Science of Boxing:

In boxing, one of the most effective methods of S.D.A. is to combine a jab with a defensive maneuver, such as a slip or parry, and time it just right so as to land an attack while simultaneously evading or checking the opponent’s. This form of attack often has a discouraging effect on an opponent. Like Andre Ward, Gennady Golovkin also takes precautions against his opponent’s jab when throwing his own. But instead of bending at the waist and taking his head offline, Golovkin’s modus operandi is to extend his rear hand out into a checking position, allowing him to both neutralize the opposition’s jab and establish his own.

Wylie’s Art and Science of Boxing:

‘Attack by Combination (A.B.C.)’

A combination is a series of punches thrown at multiple targets. They generally follow a natural sequence and are thrown in a way that promotes body mechanics, maximizes positioning, and minimizes target exposure. Essentially, the job of a boxer is to throw punches. No decent boxer, however, throws punches without rhyme or reason. Like a snooker player who simultaneously pots a ball and sets up his next shot, the purpose of each punch within a designated combination is to exploit openings and set up the one to follow. When it comes to combinations, simplicity often works best. Here, Hopkins throws a jab, not with the intention to connect, but instead to momentarily blind his opponent from the right hand about to follow. Pacquiao’s jab forces Rios to narrow his gloves and creates an opening for a hook around the guard. By doubling up on punches, even simple combinations can become widely varied.

Wylie’s Art and Science of Boxing:

When one considers the basic punch sequences, and then takes into account all the possible ranges, rhythms, depths, angles and targets, the continuum of possibilities becomes almost endless. Hooks to the body often force an opponent to lower his guard and create openings upstairs. Uppercuts are the perfect preamble for hooks when thrown in tandem. The best combination punchers center their attack around the opponent’s reactions and on the resulting openings. Note here how Golovkin varies his contact levels: the uppercuts are little more than brushing throw-away punches designed to occupy the opponent’s guard, conceal footwork, and create an angle for a debilitating left hook to the body. Watch here how a master combination puncher like Marquez adjusts his feet in order to maintain balance and regulate punching leverage.

Wylie’s Art and Science of Boxing:

‘Hand Immobilization Attack (H.I.A.)’

Most associate H.I.A. with Wing Chun, but in layman’s terms, the meaning of H.I.A. is simply to control parts of the opponent’s body so that his ability to evade, block or punch is nullified. Against opponents with a tight guard, or who refuse to open up, a boxer might have to force openings. One such method is to slap down the opponent’s gloves to create a small window of opportunity through which to land an effective punch. After closing the gap, H.I.A. also serves as a most rewarding close-range system for follow-up attacks. Controlling the opponent’s head and limbs is an extremely effective tactic in any combat sport.

Wylie’s Art and Science of Boxing:

This is because a contained or unbalanced opponent soon becomes a predictable and vulnerable one. Regardless of what anyone tells you, holding and hitting is illegal in boxing. But simply by reversing the order (hitting and holding) and using his wrists and forearms to hold the opponent in place instead of an open glove, Floyd Mayweather seems to have masterfully exploited a loophole in the unified rules of boxing, and crafted an avenue that gives him a clear tactical edge over the field. If the opponent’s head or neck is being manipulated, balance is compromised, and movement becomes severely limited.

Wylie’s Art and Science of Boxing:

‘Progressive Indirect Attack (P.I.A.)’

A progressive indirect attack is Bruce Lee’s way of describing the process of entering behind a feint or uncommitted punch. This is typically used against opponents with a strong defense, and who can react effectively to the abruptness of single attacks. The aim of P.I.A. is to gain both time and distance on an opponent, and then score on the subsequent opening created by the opponent’s reaction to the initial feint or false attack. While in H.I.A. a combatant looks to physically remove defensive barriers, those employing P.I.A. seek to manipulate them through deception. Here, Mosley throws a subtle jab feint, and inches his lead foot forward. He then shortens the distance further and changes the line of his attack by targeting the body with a jab. Taking the bait, Mayweather reaches low to parry it and fails to react in time to Mosley’s right hand over the top.

Wylie’s Art and Science of Boxing:

Manny Pacquiao is the embodiment of P.I.A. Mosley reacts to Pacquiao’s feint and is now forced to play catch-up for the remainder of the attack. Pacquiao’s footwork during his deceptive entries may be technically incorrect, but nobody can deny its effectiveness and one could even say, beauty. The right hand to the body sets the table for the left hook to the head, but it was the slow, pawing jab that conditioned Dawson and enabled Ward to suddenly change rhythm and gain a beat of time on his opponent. Hooking off the jab is also a form of P.I.A. Here, as Klitschko feints low, Pulev reaches out to parry what he thinks is a low-line jab, only to be nailed where he is open with a left hook.

Bruce Lee, Tao of Jeet Kune Do:

“The counterattack is not a defensive action but a method of using the opponent’s offense as a means of the successful completion of one’s own attack. The counterattack is an advanced phase of offense…it is the greatest art of fighting, the art of the champion.”

Wylie’s Art and Science of Boxing:

‘Attack by Drawing (A.B.D.)’

A drawing attack lures an opponent into launching an offensive on an apparent opening, but by taking the bait, the opponent in fact creates new openings for attack. A most valuable tactic for a boxer is to provoke the opponent into attacking on his terms. Once the opponent has fully committed, he is often unable to adjust his position and actively respond to the subsequent counterattack. Tactically, an opponent can be lured into coming forward and overcommitting with footwork. An opponent can also be made to lead predictably by enticing him with upper-body movement and feints. Thus, the old axiom that states ‘when in doubt, throw the jab’, can be exploited. A boxer can also structure himself so that the opponent cannot resist attacking in a certain way. With his lead arm down by his side, Hopkins invites an attack to a seemingly unguarded area and counters what he knew was coming by taking a short step back and landing a left hook over the top. By adopting numerous postures and shrewdly manipulating distance, Floyd Mayweather is brilliant at influencing and then taking advantage of the opponent’s choice of tools.

Wylie’s Art and Science of Boxing:

Another A.B.D. variant is to bait the opponent into countering an initial attack, and then countering his counter. Opponents often reply with the exact same technique that’s just been used on them. For instance, when a boxer throws a jab, more often than not, the opponent will respond in kind. Thus, by knowing in advance how the opponent is likely to respond, the task of evading and countering becomes a much simpler one. A.B.D. is far from a one-size-fits-all strategy but fighting in this way does allow a boxer to seize the initiative and thereby dictate the terms of a fight. Here, Hopkins’ subtle step forward (jab feint) elicits a counter jab from his opponent. Because it’s almost a given that Hopkins’ feint will force his opponent to react as desired, he promptly leans back and counters his opponent’s counter with a jab. He then evades his opponent’s subsequent right-hand counter and safely exits after missing with a right hand.