Boxing Tips #13 Using the Uppercut
This week I am showing a great little technique to bring your opponent onto your uppercut. You start off with a double jab to get your opponent engaged and as they move towards you, rather than move back (step away) keep your feet grounded and lean back in your stance, when they are in range, keep your left hand guarding your face and bring the uppercut straight up through their guard towards their chin. Don’t worry if you miss or hit taget, you can always follow this straight away with a left hook – keep up the training, cheers Corney.
Boxing Tips #12 Hook Fist Position Horizontal/Vertical
This is a question I get asked time and time again. What position should I have my fist when hooking, horizontal or vertical? The straight answer is, it’s completely up to you, there is no right or wrong way, it’s about how comfortable it feels when you throw your hook. There have been great boxers who have used both ways. I prefer the vertical fist option as I feel I can get more power into the punch, but when you’re starting make sure you try both ways and see what suits you. Keep up the training – cheers Corney.
Boxing Tips #11 Short & Long Hook
Back to the basics this week, with a quick explaination of the long and short hook. Its a great idea to practice these on the punch bag, not only does this help to lock the punches into your muscle memory but it also lets you build up speed and power in your technique.
Boxing Tips #10 Parrying and Counter
First off, apologies for me calling a jab a cross in this video, I’m fine fighting in front of the camera, but not so good talking sometimes :-). The parry and counter is something every boxer should be utilising and could be considered as a bread and butter technique in boxing. I teach all my novices this technique before they even start sparring, as I am a great believer in a good defence. Learning it and putting it into practise early on in your training means later on in the game this will be a natural part of your boxing artillery
Boxing Tips #9 Punching in the Clinch
If you don’t train being in the clinch, when it happens it can feel quite alien and it’s quite normal for novices to panic. This can lead to them trying to use their strength to break free, which is not good for conservation of energy. First and foremost, you should train the clinch during your boxing sessions. You want to feel relaxed and confortable. Next, a good thing to try (as I explain in the video) is to get at least 1 hand free and start punching. They don’t have to be hard punches, just keep them busy, gain points and irritate by tap, tap, tapping away.
Boxing Tips #8 Increasing Speed & Snap
We had a great question from Andrew Gamboa regarding creating snap in your punches. “when I use the heavy bag my punches digress to slugging with a slow return. What specific training can I do to make my punches “pop?”. My answer would be to train your speed. When faced with a punch bag it is very easy to get into the habbit of hitting it as hard as you can all of the time. The trick is to vary your bag training for power, speed and endurance. To up your speed, an easy routine to use is 20 seconds hitting as fast as you can, and then 20 seconds rest and so on. Another great way is to use weights when punching (1 to 2kg) 20 secs fast punching with the weights, 20 secs punching without the weights and then 20 secs rest. Both these routines will help incease your speed, which in turn will increase power and snap. When bag training it is also good to visualise your opponent and pick your power shots, tap 4 or 5 punches in, then bang hit with a couple of power shots and go back to tapping – make sure you are moving all the time, move around the bag and in and out creating space then closing in. Thanks again for the question Andrew and I hope this has helped – Cheers Corney
Boxing Tips #7 About The Mouth Guard
If you are planning on sparring, it is important that you invest in a mouth guard / gum shield. Not only will this keep your teeth in tact, it also stops your teeth from cutting the inside of your mouth. The standard heat up and mould gum shields you find in sports shops are fine for occasional light sparring, but for heavier sparring or for actual fights you really need to purchase a purpose made mouth guard from your dentist. It is always good to train with your mouth guard in when you first receive it, so you can get used to breathing with it in before sparring with it.
Boxing Tips #6 Don’t Parry Too Far
Parrying is a fantastic defensive technique to have in your boxing arsenal, but it needs to be done right. The parry should be a small movement that taps your opponents jab or cross off course. All too often I see beginners using big movements to push their opponents punches away, not only does this open yourself up as a target, it also restricts your countering ability with the parrying hand. Practise makes perfect, so grab a training partner and go through the parry until you get confident in using small movements and then add this to your sparring.
Boxing Tips #5 Keep Your Chin Down
This weeks tip is pretty self explanatory, but you would be amazed at how often I see, not just beginners, but competent fighters fall into this trap. Sometimes when the red mist builds and tempers flare, fighters can try harder to retaliate – this in turn can lead to loss of form and composure and they can find their chin popping up. So remember to relax, stay calm and keep that chin down!!
Boxing Tips #4 The Sneak Punch
This weeks tip of the week is all about the sneak punch. I love this technique hence this site being named the same. It is an unorthodox technique that I have used to great effect throughout my career. Also called a screw shot, it sneaks in past the guard and knocks your opponents head back ready for a power punch. Make sure you add it to your shadow boxing and bag/padwork and give it a go in sparring, you will be surprised how effective it is!!
Boxing Tips #3 Boxing Footwear
Not sure about the right sort of footwear for boxing?? In this quick tip video I give a quick explaination on what shoes to wear and why. The last thing you want to do is damage yourself in training!
Boxing Tips #2 The Sit Down
This week, It’s all about the sitdown, to perform this, just get into your normal stance and bend your legs slighly. It’s a great move to try in sparring and you will be amazed how many punches you can make your opponent miss, but just using this technique – why not give it a go!
Boxing Tips #1 The Boxing Slip
This week, I’m talking about the slip, how to execute it and using the slip to counter your opponents. Keeping your head moving is essential in boxing, after all a moving target is much harder to hit than a stationary one. Remember, if you make your opponent miss, you must MAKE THEM PAY, by getting your counter in!!