Written by theHobbyist
Read time: 2 – 3 minutes
More about Timing
If timing in kickboxing is about exploiting or creating an opening, there is one man who I watch that breaks down these moments. He is Demetrious Johnson, a former world champion. Timing can be elusive. It is easy to think about but seemingly difficult to practice. The process and steps to execute a well-timed attack can be explained but sometimes possible only during conversation. Is a perfectly timed counter, pivot, or jab just a guessing game? What sequences must align to find or create an opening?
Mr. Johnson was born in Kentucky, raised in Washington. He has had a successful career in mixed martial arts, and with a background in wrestling, Mr. Johnson reached world champion commendation through grappling and striking. He started his professional debut in 2010 with an amateur record of nine wins and zero losses. Gradually, Mr. Johnson through a lifestyle of training and fighting became the world champion sponsored by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Setting a record for the most consecutive title defense of 11, Demetrious Johnson was traded into the One Championship organization. Here, Mr. Johnson seized the opportunity again to become a world champion under One Championship. Soon after, Demetrious Johnson announced his retirement, fighting for One Championship from 2018 to 2024. Lastly, I would be careless if not to mention Mr. Johnson’s entrance into the ONE Hall of Fame.
So why am I talking about Mr. Demetrious Johnson.
On the social platform, YouTube, Mr. Johnson has a channel branded “Mighty”. Here amongst a category of videos is ‘The Void’ breakdowns. Essentially the videos are of fights in which Mr. Johnson analyzes from a moment-by-moment perspective. Mr. Johnson describes the “void” as the distance. It is the dead space between two fighters. It is the danger zone. It is the empty space a fighter must cross to assert one’s dominance.
I truly believe that these videos are a great resource for anybody wanting to see and understand how fighters at the highest level cross the distance, cross the void. Mr. Mighty says it himself during the fight breakdowns, that the distance is where the fight starts. Currently, the Mighty channel has 185 fight analysis and breakdowns amongst other genres. And though I have not seen the most recent uploads, I will recommend these videos as watching can help understand the flow of fights.
Here are some links to the main YouTube page and the Mighty YouTube channel,
YouTube Link: YouTube
Mighty Channel Link: Mighty – YouTube
There may be some truth to when coaches say, ‘you need to find what works for you.’ Figure it out. Different attributes of our physiology, training, and perception may change the way we approach different situations such as during the stresses of a fight. However, I believe there are some fundamental attributes we can focus on and utilize to help develop our own unique timing to blend into one’s personal style of fighting.
Consider checking out my blog on the concepts of timing here.
Last edited 03/07/2025