5 Tips for Improving Boxing Footwork

Footwork drills develop fluid movement around the boxing ring, maintaining a position to attack, evading an opponent’s punches and dictating the pace of the fight. Correct foot movement assists in maintaining balance and stability when both attacking and defending with effective speed and power. A boxer needs to move quickly into an opponent’s space, score with a punch or combination of punches and then move out of range.

Basic footwork drills:

  • Advancing (moving forward)
  • Retreating (moving backward)
  • Lateral Movement (moving left and right)
  • Pivoting

Read More: 5_Tips_for_Improving_Boxing_Footwork_-_FIGHTMAG

 

5 Tips for Improving Boxing Footwork

Footwork drills develop fluid movement around the boxing ring, maintaining a position to attack, evading an opponent’s punches and dictating the pace of the fight. Correct foot movement assists in maintaining balance and stability when both attacking and defending with effective speed and power. A boxer needs to move quickly into an opponent’s space, score with a punch or combination of punches and then move out of range.

Basic footwork drills:

  • Advancing (moving forward)
  • Retreating (moving backward)
  • Lateral Movement (moving left and right)
  • Pivoting

Read More: 5_Tips_for_Improving_Boxing_Footwork_-_FIGHTMAG

 

5 Tips how to improve your boxing combos skills

A series of punches thrown nonstop in succession without break in between is commonly known as a combination.

Being a boxing coach watching many rounds of sparring and bouts, I notice boxers place emphasis on scoring with single power punches to knockout an opponent. This is fine if an opponent offers little resistance and is easily hit. But if an opponent had decent ring skills, this would will fatigue a boxer over several rounds becoming vulnerable to counterattacks, resulting from being off balance, and out of position eventually losing the bout.

Read more: 5_Tips_how_to_improve_your_boxing_combos_skills_-_FIGHTMAG

Boxrite: Successful boxing tactics against Southpaw opponent

Here I will be discussing proven tactics used when sparring or competing against a southpaw boxer. This is a frequent question I get asked at Boxrite. Below are pointers that are not only applicable for boxing but combat sports in general when against a left handed opponent.

Read More:Boxrite__Successful_boxing_tactics_against_Southpaw_opponent_-_FIGHTMAG

 

 

5 Tips to Improve & Strengthen Left Hook

The left or lead hook is an effective punch every fighter should master, a well-timed hook can have a devastating effect on an opponent. The hook travels a short distance from the start point to the target, making it difficult to defend against. The power is generated from the hip rotating in the direction of the hook transferring the bodyweight from the lead to rear foot. In this blog I will refer to this punch as lead hook because Southpaw stance boxers lead with the right hand.

It takes many hours of training in the gym in developing the hook, initially focus mitt training with the coach to learn correct technique and body mechanics, then undertaking set partner drills including defences against a hook. Punching bag training improves timing and gauging range as the bag sways in different directions, the boxer will use correct footwork to manoeuvre into position and strike the bag with either single lead hooks or combination punches that include the lead hook.

Read More:5_Tips_to_Improve___Strengthen_Left_Hook_-_FIGHTMAG

 

7 Benefits of Floor to Ceiling Ball Training in Boxing

The floor to ceiling ball, also known as the double-end bag, is an air-filled ball suspended by elastic cords from the floor and ceiling. Varying in shape and size depending on the boxer’s intended training objectives:

  • The larger size ball is suited for beginners, being easier to punch at due to the larger and slower target as the cords are not tight.
  • The smaller ball will move faster, difficult target to hit due to the size and speed from the tightened cords. This ball is suitable for experienced boxers training to improve speed and accuracy when punching.
  • Floor to ceiling balls vary in shape such as the peanut shaped or connected top and bottom balls offering head and body targets.
  • Tear drop shaped floor to ceiling balls allow the boxer to focus on angled punches such as hooks and uppercuts.

The tension of the cords effect the movement speed after being struck, if the cord tension is tight the ball will be rebound faster than the cord being slack making the ball move slower.

Read More: 7_Benefits_of_Floor_to_Ceiling_Ball_Training_in_Boxing_-_FIGHTMAG

 

5 Tips for Dealing with Ring Performance Anxiety

Recently, I received correspondence from a young boxer. He is having difficulty applying the skills developed in the gym to sparring and competition, due to excessive nerves and anxiety prior to stepping into the ring.

This feeling of anxiety is caused by adrenaline being produced in the body by the adrenal glands. It plays an important role in the fight-or-flight response from perceived threats by increasing blood flow to muscles, maximizing output of the heart, pupil dilation response, and spike in blood sugar level.

This energy or adrenaline rush heightens our state of alertness along with improving reaction time to either escape from a threat or fight back. The downside effects are that the body is being fatigued and lethargic accompanied with a feeling of nausea when this rush wears off.

The following steps can assist overcoming anxiety before sparring sessions and competition. This takes time depending on the boxer’s ability, development of skillset and demonstrated self-confidence.

Read More: 5_Tips_to_Overcome_Performance_Anxiety_in_Boxing_-_FIGHTMAG

3 Types of Boxing Sparring for Developing Fighters

Sparring is important in the preparation for a competitive boxer in gaining confidence to apply technical and tactical skills in a controlled, supervised environment.

Prior to a session many rounds would have been spent on focus mitts training with the coach, developing offensive and defensive skills. It is practical in bringing a sense of realism to training, and assess the boxer’s ability to perform set offensive and defensive tasks under pressure, and identify any problem areas that need correcting.

There are 3 types of sparring:

1. Technical
2. Conditional
3. Open (Full Contact)

The type is determined by the coach, depending on the training program phase and ability of the boxer. Use a mouthguard (gum shield) and wear heavier well-padded gloves up to 16oz in weight. Headgear is worn when undertaking conditional sparring, in order to get used to the bulky, tight fitting and restrictive feel of the equipment.

1. Technical

Technical sparring are pre-set partner drills supervised by the coach, training objective is developing technique and improving reaction time not endurance or punching power.

For example: The first boxer will commence the drill with a jab, the second boxer will defend and counter jab. This training will perfect technique without pressure and develop the boxer in reading an oncoming punch without panicking.

Read More: 3_Types_of_boxing_sparring_for_developing_fighters_-_FIGHTMAG

 

 

6 Tips How to Improve Infighting Skills

To dominate your opponent effectively from the inside position is better known as ‘infighting’. This will not influence the judges’ scoring a round. This demonstrates the boxer’s ability of fighting at long range for a taller rangy style boxer, and medium to close range for a shorter boxer.

Infighting is effective when boxers are of similar height and shorter height. To take the inside position a boxer must either:

  • Set up an attack to close the distance with opponent using similar combinations such as jab, cross and hook to head or body to gain the inside position.
  • Make opponent punch using tactics such as the feint to draw the opponent to attack then slip opponent’s punch and target their midsection with short Hooks and Uppercuts, switching their attack to the head.

Read More: 6_Tips_how_to_improve_infighting_skills_-_FIGHTMAG

 

6 Common Styles of Boxers

A boxer’s individual style has evolved from technical skills continually practiced in the gym along with physical and psychological attributes. Physical attributes include height, build and reach and psychological can be aggressive or defensive in nature when competing. Commonly encountered…

Read More: 6_Common_Styles_of_Boxers_-_FIGHTMAG