Using the Turning Shoulder Roll

Corney’s Corner
step by step boxing advice
Tips from former BBBofC British Super-Middleweight & WBF World Middleweight Champion – Cornelius Carr

The shoulder roll – Using the shoulder to protect the chin is a great little move to add to your technique library. Simply, tuck your chin into your shoulder, turn your body slightly (clockwise if you are right handed) and bring your shoulder up to cover – all the while using your solid stance to lean back slightly out of range.

Checklist for the ‘Boxing Shoulder Roll’

Tuck your chin tight into your shoulder.
Turn your body slightly into the punch.
Bring your shoulder up to catch the punch.
Lean back taking yourself out of range.
Catch the punch with your glove .
If the opponent is in close range don’t catch the punch cover up your face in case of their left hook

The shoulder roll is a great platform to start landing some hard punches, let the rotating and leaning movement generate power for your counters. The obvious counter would be to come back with a straight cross, but another great shot from here can be the right uppercut (for orthodox stance). To throw the uppercut, perform the shoulder roll as above, but bend your knees whilst leaning back, then drive back up with the uppercut.

I like my students to use this technique during pad work sessions. It is a great way to simulate on-coming punches and really helps them build power in their counters. As with all boxing techniques getting used to different ranges and drilling the movements into your muscle memory are key to actually being able to use them in a fighting context. There is no time to think when the leather is flying in the ring, so all your movements and counters need to become second nature!

Using the Turning Shoulder Roll – Coach Cornelius Carr