Boxing Training Articles
Basic punches
From your boxing stance, the jab is delivered with the hand of the foot which is forward. The jab is your most important punch. Spend hours and hours and hours and hours perfecting it. This punch alone can win you a fight because it delivers a lot of damage if done correctly and does not leave you exposed for a counter-strike. The jab is your favourite punch, do you understand? Yes at first it's your weakest hand, but soon it will become a powerful weapon!
To deliver From your boxer's stance, the jab is delivered with the hand of the foot which is forward. You throw your lead hand toward the target in a straight line from your chin. As your arm straightens and nears the target you begin to rotate it 1/4 to a half notch inward (so palm is heading down) and begin to clench your fist. Your fist should be fully clenched at the moment of impact and then you must bring your arm back to your guard just as quickly as it shot out. All of your punches are snapping motions. Accelerate out, SNAP, accelerate back. You can get a little more power in your jab by twisting your torso slightly and throwing your hip forward as your arm goes out. This punch is an arm punch, so there should be little to no re-distribution of weight. Most of the time you will deliver the jab while stepping forward, so that is what you will want to spend a lot of time practising.
Why the step forward? Well, it closes the distance between you and your target, gives you a little extra forward momentum and the close distance between you and your opponent sets things up for the delivery of your other power punches. You should be able to quickly deliver 2, 3, 4 jabs in a row all with precision and power. By using the jab, you set your opponent up for power punches and it is also used to keep your opponent at bay. If he's coming in too quick a quick, powerful jab to the head is usually enough to stop him and make him think twice about doing it again.
STRAIGHT BACK HAND or TWO in a basic four punch combination. Think ROTATION and EXTENSION!!
This is the punch you are going to love because it feels the most natural and is a power punch because it involves a re-distribution of weight. It is because of this weight redistribution that you must also be careful in how and when you use it. Anytime you redistribute your weight you place yourself in a vulnerable position for the split second your weight is in transfer. If your opponent times it right, you'll pay the price.
To Deliver From the guard position (regular boxer's stance), your back hand goes out towards the target, again, in a straight line from your chin. Unlike the jab though, as the arm goes out your torso turns to the left and you pivot on the ball of your rear foot, moving your weight forward into the punch, push down on your big toe on your back foot. You should feel your back involved in this one. After impact, get your right hand back to the guard and get your boxer's stance back as quickly as possible. Remember accelerate out, SNAP, accelerate back.
When throwing the straight right be careful not to dip your shoulder or wind up, both tell tale signs that it is coming.
LEAD HOOK or THREE in a basic four punch combination. Think hip and elbow together and spin!
The infamous left hook (or right hook...). The hook is an inside power punch and is very tricky to learn to do correctly. It is not a sweeping motion initiated by the arm, but rather a punch which is initiated and delivered by an entire side of your body. Your arm and fist are simply the tips of the sword which make impact. I mentioned it is a power punch which as you probably guessed means there is a weight transfer. Again, be careful as anytime you transfer weight you are unstable for a fraction of a second.
To Deliver From your boxer's stance, to deliver a lead hook, bring your elbow out and up so it is almost parallel to the floor. Once your arm is in place, twist your whole lead side, pivoting on the front lead foot. It is a powerful, quick turn which involves your leg, torso, and finally your arm and fist. Like all punches, your fist is relaxed and tenses up just as impact occurs. When your front lead foot pivots, think of it as if you are swashing something under it. Follow through with your hook, when you twist your body around, go through the target and end up bringing your fist to your chest with your elbow pointing towards the target. Punch line is no further round then your nose. It protects your head as there is probably a lead hook coming at you from your opponent as it is the counter for a left hook.
Remember practise the three ranges, short hook, mid hook, and long range hook.
THE BACK HAND CROSS OR FOUR in a basic four punch combination
Simple this one....It's the same as your second punch, above but goes across your face, easy as that!!!
UPPER-CUTS LEAD and BACK HAND.
Uppercuts are used when you are fighting very close to your opponent (inside fighting). They come from below and are very effective. The initial target for uppercuts is not the chin, but the sternum (right in the centre of the chest). The follow through is what sometimes catches your opponent on the chin, and if hit right, knocks him out.
To Deliver From your boxer's stance, to deliver a lead uppercut, your elbow dips towards your hips, but keep everything tight. At the same time, you rotate your palm in and bend your legs slightly. Then you accelerate to the target pushing up off the floor and bringing your fist to land in the sternum/chest, but don't stop there. Keep your fist moving up hitting the head as a secondary target.
The back hand uppercut is a mirror image of the lead. The power of this punch comes from the legs as you push up. You kind of coil like a snake and then spring into the punch. Your feet, of course, never leave the floor, but it is the kind of feeling you get. And, once again, don't forget to RECOVER quickly. Anytime you forget you are exposing half of yourself to your opponent, not a good thing.
