Sam Ness

«PEEK-A-BOO: BOXING
COMBINATIONS»
The peek-a-boo boxing style was developed by legendary trainer Cus
D’Amato. This style of boxing is well known for its lightning-fast and often
knockout combinations. Cas D’Amato has developed an effective method of
teaching combinational boxing. The boxing combinations built by Cas D’Amato
are based on the natural biomechanics of the boxer's movements, technique and
tactics of peek-a-boo and took into account the psychological reflexes of the
opponent.
This method brings the boxing combinations to automaticity of execution and
technical perfection and allowed the students of Cas D’Amato to become world
boxing champions.
This book reveals principles of construction and method of training boxing
combinations. The book also includes the signature boxing combinations of peek-
a-boo.

Copyright © 2021 Sam Ness

Author: S. Ness
ISBN: 9798715345349
Imprint: Independently published

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission
in writing from the copyright owner.
PEEK-A-BOO: BOXING COMBINATIONS

INTRODUCTION................................................................................................3

CONSTRUCTION OF BOXING COMBINATIONS...............................5

TACTICAL SCHEME OF BLOWS..............................................................11

COMBINATIONS OF LONG RANGE........................................................20

COMBINATIONS OF CLOSE RANGE....................................................118

BASIC COMBINATIONS................................................................................123
THREE-BLOW COMBINATIONS..................................................................169
MULTI-BLOWS COMBINATIONS................................................................217

COMPLEX BOXING COMBINATIONS..................................................240

COMPLEX COMBINATIONS BY SHIFTING TO THE LEFT......................241

COMPLEX COMBINATIONS BY SHIFTING TO THE RIGHT...................252
COMPLEX COMBINATIONS BY SHIFTING TO THE RIGHT
(the second option).............................................................................................269
COMPLEX COMBINATIONS BY SHIFTING WITH BOBBING AND
WEAVING.........................................................................................................287
COMPLEX COMBINATIONS BY SHIFTING WITH BOBBING AND
WEAVING (the second option).........................................................................296

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PEEK-A-BOO: BOXING COMBINATIONS

SECTION 2
TACTICAL
SCHEME
OF BLOWS

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PEEK-A-BOO: BOXING COMBINATIONS

TACTICAL SCHEME OF BLOWS

Willie bag
Peek-a-boo style is combinational boxing. Each combination is a series of
punches on different, preliminarily determined body zones. Punches were
delivered in the special apparatus – wall punch bag. Each zone of the bag was
marked with a number and indicated a certain part of the opponent's body and
assumed a certain blow.

Such training apparatus was named “Willie” because this system was used at
Jose Torrez’s training for the world champion fight against Willie Pastrano.
Cus D’Amato was telling certain numbers and a boxer threw out the punch
combination. Later Cus D’Amato’s voice was recorded on a tape recorder and the
main punch combinations were listed. A boxer listened to a tape recorder and shot
punching combinations. D’Amato stood aside, looked attentively and sometimes
gave necessary instructions about the punching technique.
Currently, the work with "Willie" is popularized by Teddy Atlas.

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PEEK-A-BOO: BOXING COMBINATIONS

Number system of blows

For training combinations, Cus D’Amato used the special numeration system.
Each number represents the following blows:
 1 — the left hook to the jaw

 2 — the right straight or the right hook

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PEEK-A-BOO: BOXING COMBINATIONS

 3 — the left uppercut

 4 — the right uppercut

 5 — the left hook to the body

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PEEK-A-BOO: BOXING COMBINATIONS

 6 — the right hook to the body

 7 — the jab to the head

 8 — the jab to the body or the right straight

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PEEK-A-BOO: BOXING COMBINATIONS

These are possible blows because the numbers indicate only zones, but a blow
to the zone could be different. For example, you can hit zone 2 with a right hook,
right straight or right cross. The quantity of combinations to "Willie" is
innumerable!
Based on the fact that different types of blows can be hit to the same number
zone, and also taking into account the fact that in peek-a-boo blows are preceded
by defense maneuvers, additional words can be used to specify the digital
combinations.
For example, "seven - slip left", means that after a jab the boxer slips to the
left. Or "left slip – one" means that the left hook to the head is applied after the left
slip. Or "bob and weave - two" means that the boxer ducks shifting the body
weight to the left and lands the right hook to the head. A boxer or trainer can use
any additional short word designations to describe combinations.
What is the basis for selecting these zones? On the one hand, in the dynamics
of the fight when the boxer delivers his own blows he opens these zones. This
creates opportunities for a counterattack. On the other hand, these zones are also
the most vulnerable areas of the boxer, hitting which leads to knockdowns and
knockouts. Based on this, the zones that are most frequently opened and leads to
knockouts have been numbered.

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PEEK-A-BOO: BOXING COMBINATIONS

The method of training

Working with “Willie bag” should start with simple one and two-blow
combinations to gradually get used to throwing different punches. Then gradually
increase the number of punches, adding one at a time. In the end, you should be
able to respond to 6-8 numbers at lightning speed. The break between
combinations of blows should be 3-5 seconds. Every day a boxer works at least 5
rounds against “Willie”. The trainee should react as sharply as possible and
strongly shoot blows to the necessary zones.
When practicing numeric combinations, try to throw them easy and freely at
the initial stage. Do not accelerate the speed and increase the power. At this stage,
muscle memory develops, the biomechanics of movement is realized and the
technique of punching is improved. Achieve a steady skill first, so that these
combinations become natural for you. As you master the combination, you can
increase the speed and strength of the blows.
Be sure to remember that every attacking action ends with defense. Therefore,
after the combinations, perform defensive maneuvers - slips, weaves, squats, bobs
and weaves.

Developing qualities and abilities of a boxer

The main purpose of the combinations is to train the body and mind to put
together sequences of technical actions learned by the fighter.
The result of working on the numbering system is the development of many
boxing qualities - speed, coordination, power, stamina, automatism.
Punching reflex. Gradually, the brain remembers the boxing combinations
and brings them to the automatism of execution. This leads to the fact that in a
fight, the brain does not think about what combination to apply. The boxer simply
sees an opportunity to punch and automatically throws a series of punches. So, this
exercise will develop your "punching reflex" - delivering various series of blows
like a machine gun, lightning-fast response to the opponent's actions.

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PEEK-A-BOO: BOXING COMBINATIONS

Speed. The consequence of automatism is the speed of execution. The boxer

does not waste time thinking about the boxing combination. This usually takes
microseconds. The automatism of execution saves these microseconds and allows
getting ahead of the adversary. Reflex throwing of punches is always faster than a
conscious deliberate application of a punching combination.
The technique of execution. Regular repeated performance of the same
punching combinations leads to the improvement of the technique of separate
blows and punching combinations. Muscles, tendons, and joints are trained. Motor
skills of the body are developed. As a result, the boxer throws punches most
optimally from the biomechanics point of view.
The force of the blow. The punching reflex makes the blows explosive and
impulsive. And speed is known to increase the force of a blow. The force is also
affected by the technique of execution. Therefore, in general, the boxer ultimately
trains the power of the blow. He becomes able to deliver not just one strong blow,
but all the blows in a punching combination. This method is one of the ways to
develop the knockout force of the blow.
Stamina. A boxer throws out such a large number of blows per round, which
is not delivered in the ring in any fight. After a couple of months of sparring with
"Willie", you will throw combinations at a furious pace, at different angles, in

large quantity and with phenomenal speed.

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