Dempsey roll
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Dempsey Roll is a term coined by the manga and anime series Fighting Spirit (Japanese title - はじめの一歩, Hajime no Ippo) to describe a boxing technique originally used by former Heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey and fictional variations of this technique. The main protagonist of Fighting Spirit, Ippo Makunouchi, uses the Dempsey Roll as his finishing blow and even developed some variations of it. The technique is based on a real boxing technique, though it had never been officially named. Its unofficial name came from the manga. Although highly dramatized in the series, the technique retains its basic principles, strengths and weaknesses.
[edit] Real technique
The actual technique is culled from the aggressive, loping style characteristic to the Heavyweight champion of the 1920s, Jack Dempsey, whom the technique's unofficial name is named after. It is a bobbing, "rolling" move that requires considerable speed and strength of the lower body. It begins with a series of dodging and ducking motions, using the abdomen and legs to turn the upper body. During this stage, the head moves in a near figure-eight pattern. As one speeds up, one moves forward a step at a time. Once approaching the opponent, one pushes with the legs and utilizes momentum created by the rolling motion to throw powerful, smooth punches, often hooks, to the body or head—while still moving back and forth in the figure-eight to keep up the momentum and avoid incoming punches. However, the simple and predictable side-to-side movement makes it vulnerable to well-aimed counterpunches and head-on shoves.
Long after the end of Dempsey's reign over the boxing world, his technique was used to great effect by boxers with similar builds and styles. Most notable of these was "Iron" Mike Tyson, whose short stature allowed him to duck under opponents' punches using the Roll far more easily than a taller boxer would have been able to, and whose enormous punching power resembled that of Dempsey himself.
[edit] Fictional variations
In the course of the Fighting Spirit manga series, the main character Ippo Makunouchi develops variations of this technique to combat the numerous challenges he receives by other boxers that believe they can exploit the Dempsey Roll's weaknesses. In theory, the variations are based on actual boxer principles, but no actual boxer has been known to apply them in an actual fight. The variations include:
- Ippo's KO Pattern - Ippo used two of his best punches to disorient his opponent, and immediately followed with the Dempsey Roll before they could recopperate.
- Dempsey Roll Counter Counter - Knowing that the Dempsey Roll was weak against counters, Ippo added a brief pause to the momentum. By pausing when the opponent was about to counter, he would throw off their timing and restart the rolling motion to counter against the counter punch originally directed towards him.
[edit] Videogame appearances
- The video game Victorious Boxers, based on the manga and anime series Fighting Spirit (Hajime no Ippo), includes the character of Ippo Makunouchi using the Dempsey Roll as a learned finishing move.
- The boxing character of Street Fighter III, Dudley, has a special move called "Rolling Thunder", which is in fact a sped up Dempsey Roll.
- In addition, Steve Fox (a boxing character in the fighting series Tekken) has a move called the "Endless Roll" which is also a variation of the Dempsey Roll.
| Characters: | Ippo Makunouchi • Ichiro Miyata • Mamoru Takamura Takeshi Sendo • Alexander Volg Zangief • Ryo Mashiba |
|---|---|
| Video Games: | Victorious Boxers • Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting Revolution |
| Other: | Dempsey roll |
