I posted a clip on IG hitting my heavy bag, and a lot of you guys showed up in the comments asking me to show some routines and give some pointers for boxing. So I decided to create a series for beginners who are interested in getting into boxing, whether it is for fighting for real or for getting some cardio in.
This series will give you enough pointers and advice so that you don’t just hop in going hard in an uncoordinated way, looking stupid. I see it all the time, and it is painful to watch. Anyhow, Imma teach you the fundamentals, just the basics, and over time I’ll add some more advanced stuff. For you advance guys out there, THIS IS NOT FOR YOU.
Why do I like boxing so much?
I got started when I was a little kid all the way until I was 25 years old. It’s a very demanding sport both physically and mentally—you gotta think really quick. It’s like a physical form of chess though with higher stakes because if you lose focus, you’ll get your teeth knocked out of your mouth.
Boxing gets you thinking and keeps you thinking, and to me, life is a little more interesting with that danger element. So Imma show you guys a little bit of the basics. It’ll be short and sweet:
The Jab or The 1
This is the most essential punch, and it usually has two functions: to set something up or to measure your opponent (it can also annoy your opponent). This means you’re either throwing it to prepare a power shot or that you’re looking to see if you’re far enough from your opponent for your power punch to cause maximum damage.
First off, if you’re a right-handed fighter, you’ll lead with your left arm and your left foot. If you’re a left-handed fighter, you’ll lead with your right hand and your right foot. Your front foot will be pointing forward, and your back foot will be at an angle.
Your footwork is crucial. Make sure you’re not standing too straight—bend your front knee a little bit (we call this soft knee). Your back foot is gonna be on the ball of your foot so that you can move around quickly. Remember, the power of your punches comes from your hips and legs—notice how I move both my legs and my hips as I throw the punch.
As you throw your jab, you want to rotate your arm while maintaining your other arm a little higher (in case you want to counter if you need to). Keep in mind your punch will hurt more if it hits at full extension, so make sure to watch out for how far you are from your opponent.
If you’re setting up a power punch, keep in mind it’s all about timing. In fighting and in combat sports in general, if your timing is right, you can defeat faster and stronger opponents.
That’s because what hurts a fighter is the element of surprise. If you anticipate a shot coming, you can prepare to absorb it. But if you don’t expect it, your brain kind of shuts down and you’ll get hurt.
Why is my other hand so low?
I fight this way because I can see a lot better, and I have a pretty good defense. When you fight with your hands up, you can’t see as well. Also, if you fight like that, chances are you will take a lot of punches. I rather get away from the punch so that I can counterpunch.
More confident fighters tend to have their hands a little lower. I keep my hands low. You can try keeping them low or high. In certain fights, sometimes you do both. It comes down to what works for you.
Combinations: 1-2
This is the basics—it’s a classic. You can knock people out like this, and It also looks good when you land it. Check out how I do it. Look at the rhythm and speed. You can double or even triple with the jab.
Again, remember that with your jab, you’re looking to find the right distance and timing to throw your power punch—you ain’t really looking to hurt your opponent. In this case, we’re throwing power punch two.
Combinations: 1-2-3
You wanna have an arsenal of power punches, so here’s one more combination for you. This power punch comes naturally after two, that’s why it’s called three. It also happens to be my favorite power punch: a left hook.
My left hook is my bread and butter. I’ve put a lot of people asleep with it. Even if you don’t knock somebody out with your left hook, it’s going to move them way out the way. Let’s get into it.
First off, keep in mind this shot is thrown with your entire body—that’s why it can be so powerful. To throw it, you slightly step in, bend down your forward leg (that’s where your power is going to come from), you cock it, and you throw your punch. Watch me.
You can also be pretty far away from your opponent and still hit him with your left hook. Notice how I step in, bend down the right amount, and then throw the punch. Now notice the difference when I throw the punch from a striking distance.
When I‘m closer to my opponent, as I bend down to prepare the shot, I must keep my other arm up to protect myself. Once I’m ready to throw it, I throw the punch with my entire body (see how everything moves in sync).
Notice how I’m not even going at full speed though I’m producing a lot of power. This is why this shot can cause a lot of damage when thrown the right way with the right timing.
Combining Combinations For Training
Get started with this short routine next time:
- Throw five 1’s (five jabs) from different angles (you don’t want to get used to always throwing the exact same punch).
- Then, follow it up with five 1-2’s
- And, finalize it with throwing five 1-2-3’s
Remember these fundamentals and practice them. If you don’t have a heavy bag, practice in the mirror shadow boxing, it’s just as important, and it is great cardio. Once you’re done here, you can move to lesson 2 clicking here.
Let me know if you ave any q’s in the comments below!