Boxing Basics

Boxing is a core skill which every good fighter should have.

Here are some ideas on how to organize your knowledge of "the sweet science"

Basic attacks

jab (high, low) - lead hand probing shot; bread and butter of boxing

cross (high, low) - rear "power" hand

hook (lead hand, rear hand) - circular shot parallel to the floor. Can be high (head) or low (body)

uppercut (lead hand, rear hand) - tight upward shot perpendicular to the floor.

Basic Blocks

cover - elbow up and hand to ear - like brushing your hair

catch - use rear hand palm/fingers to swat down jab

cuff - use closest hand in a circular motion against cuff of opponent's glove

dodge/slip - bend knees/turn head to evade to inside (near other hand) or outside (away from other hand)

roll - move glove down to ribs, dip head and use shoulder to take shot

cross glove - use opposite side glove to smack down attack

forearm - put foream/elbow tightly against your ribs to protect against low shots

bob and weave - bend knees and dip under the shot. DO NOT lean forward

pull - shift weight to 70% back foot and lean your upper body away from the shot - RETURN IMMEDIATELY

Most common attacks and their blocks

attack block

jab - catch/cuff/pull/dodge

cross - cover/dodge/roll

hook - cover/pull/cross glove/bob and weave, forearm (if low)

uppercut - cover/pull/cross glove, forearm (if low)

Long Distance Attacks (can return long distance counter or close in)

- jab

- cross

* long distance in boxing is actually "middle distance" which extends to kicking range (long distance) or contracts to short distance

Short Distance Attacks (usually returned with short distance counters)

- hook

- uppercut

* short distance expands to long distance or contracts into clinch distance (elbows/knees/headbutt) or grappling/wrestling

Key Footwork Concepts - plant feet everytime you hit; don't hit when moving

triangle stepping - move 45 degrees away from incoming shots (esp hook/cross) to dissipate attack power

triangle punching power - triangle between both feet and puch impact point to generate max power

45 degree principle - slip and evade to step out 45 degrees to opponent's back pocket

V-step - bob and weave should bend knees and be a "V" shape down and back up

See you in the ring!