Last updated: May 25, 2026
Quick Definition
A parry is a defensive technique in which a fighter deflects an incoming strike with a small redirecting motion of the hand or arm, making it miss while leaving the defender in range to counter.
What is a parry?
The word comes from fencing, where it has described a deflection of an opponent’s blade since the 17th century. The Online Etymology Dictionary traces it to the French parez! (the imperative of parer, “to ward off”), which in turn comes from the Latin parāre, “to prepare.” Combat sports borrowed both the term and the idea.
In MMA, parrying applies to any incoming strike that travels in a straight line toward the defender: most often jabs and crosses, but also push kicks (teeps) and other linear attacks. A parry has one purpose: to redirect a strike past its target with the minimum movement needed. Parrying differs from blocking, which absorbs force through the guard, and from slipping, which moves the defender’s head off the line of attack. A small hand motion takes the strike a few inches off line, and the opponent’s own momentum carries it past. That economy of movement is what separates a parry from other defenses, and why versions of it show up in boxing and Muay Thai alike, as well as in karate and the other striking arts that have shaped modern MMA.
How parrying works in MMA
To an observer, a parry looks like almost nothing: a flick of the wrist that nudges an incoming jab off line, or a small tap on the inside of an opponent’s forearm. The strike continues on a slightly altered path and misses the defender’s head or body. The defender, having moved only their hand, stays balanced and within counter-striking range.
The mechanics rely on two ideas. First, redirecting a strike requires far less force than stopping it; a few pounds of pressure at the right angle is enough to take a punch off course. Second, the deflection must happen at the right moment. Too early and the opponent retracts and resets; too late and the strike has already landed. That timing requirement is why parrying is considered a more advanced defense than blocking. It carries higher reward and higher risk depending on accuracy.
In MMA specifically, four-ounce gloves change the picture compared with boxing’s larger gloves. Strikes travel faster, hands often hang lower, and a parry that catches a glove rather than the wrist can deflect less reliably. Fighters who use parries in MMA tend to apply them sparingly and combine them with head movement and footwork rather than rely on them as a primary defense.
Parry vs. block vs. slip
These three defenses are often mentioned together, and the distinctions matter.
| Defense | What it does | Where it leaves the fighter | Energy cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parry | Redirects the strike off line with a small hand motion | In range, ready to counter immediately | Low |
| Block | Absorbs the strike with the arms or gloves | In range but takes impact through the guard | Medium |
| Slip | Moves the head off the line of attack with an upper-body lean or rotation | Briefly out of position, harder to counter immediately | High |
Most defensive sequences in modern MMA mix all three. A fighter might parry one jab and slip the cross that follows it, with the timing dictating which response fits the moment. Iron Forged Martial Arts ranks parrying between blocking and avoidance. It gives up the use of a limb for the moment of contact, which makes it less ideal than pure evasion, but it tends to break the attacker’s rhythm and creates a clearer counter window than blocking.
Types of parries used in MMA
Most parries take their name from the direction in which the strike is redirected.
| Parry type | Strike used against | What the hand does |
|---|---|---|
| Down parry | Jabs and crosses to the head | Taps the punch downward as it arrives |
| Outside parry | Straight punches to the head | Pushes the punch out, away from the body’s centerline |
| Inside parry | Straight punches | Drives the punch across the centerline |
| Cross parry | Straight punches | Uses the opposite hand to push the punch across the body |
| Teep parry | Push kicks (Muay Thai) | Slaps the incoming foot to the outside |
The shoulder roll, often grouped with parries in MMA articles, is technically a different defense: the fighter rocks back and lets the strike skim past the shoulder. It works against the same straight punches a parry would handle, but uses the body rather than the hand.
When parrying works and when it doesn’t
Parrying rewards good readers of distance and timing, and punishes the rest. The same characteristics that make it efficient, small movement and staying in range, also make it vulnerable to feints. A fighter who reaches for every jab can be drawn out of position by a feinted jab and caught with a real cross or lead hook on the follow-up.
A few principles tend to recur in coaching material. The most consistent: parry on the side the strike is coming from, and never reach for the punch. Used in isolation, parrying becomes predictable. Combined with slips and blocks, it widens the defender’s range of responses in the cage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is parrying in MMA?
Parrying is a defensive technique in which a fighter deflects an incoming strike with a small redirecting hand or arm motion, making it miss while staying in range to counter.
How is parrying different from blocking?
A block absorbs the strike with the arms or gloves and takes some impact through the guard. A parry redirects the strike off line with minimal contact, so no force passes through to the defender.
Can you parry kicks in MMA?
Yes, though it is less common than parrying punches. Straight kicks like the Muay Thai teep can be parried by slapping the incoming foot to the outside; round kicks are usually checked or blocked rather than parried.
Why do MMA fighters parry?
Parrying conserves energy and keeps the fighter in punching range for an immediate counter. It can also disrupt the opponent’s striking rhythm.
Where does the word “parry” come from?
“Parry” entered English in the 17th century from the French parez!, the imperative of parer (“to ward off”), which traces back to the Latin parāre (“to prepare”).
Sources
- Online Etymology Dictionary. “Parry.” etymonline.com. Accessed May 2026.
- Collins English Dictionary. “Parry.” collinsdictionary.com. Accessed May 2026.
- Wikipedia. “Parry (fencing).” en.wikipedia.org. Accessed May 2026.
- Evolve Daily. “Here Is Why You Should Learn To Parry In Boxing.” evolve-mma.com. Accessed May 2026.
- Evolve University. “5 Basic Parry and Counter Combinations for Muay Thai.” evolve-university.com. Accessed May 2026.
- Northwest Fighting Arts. “MMA Techniques: The Parry.” nwfighting.com. Accessed May 2026.
- Iron Forged Martial Arts. “The Ultimate Defense: Blocking vs. Parrying vs. Avoidance.” ironforgedmartialarts.com. Accessed May 2026.
Related MMA Terms
MMA Glossary
Explore 200+ MMA terms, techniques, and definitions.