Today is Boxing For Beginners episode 3. If you haven’t yet and need to catch up, here are the links to Boxing For Beginners episode 1 (basic punches) and Boxing For Beginners Episode 2 (footwork).
Today’s episode is about punching combinations. The first set of combinations in episode 1 was a 1,2,3, which is a left jab, right cross, and then a left hook.
And, of course, if you’re left-handed, just reverse things. Today, we’ll work on a variation of those movements that will help you score some points and maybe also cause some serious damage.
Boxing For Beginners: You Gotta Keep This In Mind
Now, we’re boxing. You gotta understand that it is like a chess game. Boxing is not just fighting. You must strive to stay really calm, and your chances of prevailing will be higher.
When you’re in the ring, you can’t be mad. You can’t be going in there thinking that you want to kill the other guy because that won’t work. The calmer and more calculated guys typically are the ones who win the fights.
Sure, there are times when you gotta unleash that aggression and rage, and typically that’s when you see that your opponent is showing signs of being tired of being hurt or being intimidated. If you see that, then you wanna go for the kill. But, even then, you gotta be careful and smart about it.
A lot of times, it’s about finding the right moment. If you see some fights, you’ll see that fighters throw some punches that don’t seem to hurt at all, especially with their jabs. That’s because they’re trying to measure their opponents.
They’re trying to get into that right distance so that their power shots cause the maximum amount of damage. This is not about hitting the other guy nonstop but about hitting him with the right shots at the right moment.
So, today I’ll show you some combinations that will give you the tools to do precisely that: measure your opponent or get him to open up some space so that you’re able to properly land a power punch and shake him up. Alright, let’s get into it.
Today’s Combo: 1,3,2
So in episode 1, we worked on a 1,2,3 combination. And, I emphasized how you should move your body to land the 3 successfully. Now, we’ll do things a little bit differently. We’re gonna throw the 3, but you’re not gonna put everything into it.
We’re gonna throw what’s called a check hook. It’s really fast, and it’s not really meant to hurt your opponent, although it could depending on what kind of snap you get on it. But it’s a punch that is meant to score points while it sets you up to really hurt him with your 2.
It’s a quick way to land a shot and score some points while you keep your opponent’s mind preoccupied, expecting a power shot that may or may not come.
So for this, you’re gonna throw the 3 off of the 1, which isn’t the normal thing to do, but it can be very effective, and it looks good to the judges. Then, you’ll throw your 2.
Notice how I’m setting up the combo with my jab while I rock back and forth. This is because you never want to give your opponent a steady target. You always wanna be at an angle and moving, and you also wanna throw your punches from different looks because this will make it harder for your opponent to anticipate your shots.
Variations Of This Same Combo
Once you get the gist of it, you can start throwing different variations of this combo. See some of them below and try them out for yourself.
Why This Combo Is So Effective
Listen, we all know that boxing is like chess, and in chess, you gotta think ahead before making your moves. That’s how the best players do it, and that’s how the best boxers also do it.
This combo is really effective because the natural shot that comes after a 2 should be a 3. This is because your body is already cocked to throw the shot. People know this, and they will likely be expecting it.
So, if instead, you throw the not so obvious shot, in this case, the 3 after the 1, odds are your opponent will take it. Mind you, the 3 might not hurt as much, but it may be enough to make your opponent vulnerable to really hurt him with your 2 after you throw that 3, you know what I mean?
Go try this today and let m know how it goes in the comments.