This guide will show you the complete list of boxing tips.
Ready to unlock the keys to becoming a better boxer?
Let’s jump into it!
Train With a Partner in Order to Help You Improve More Quickly and Learn New Techniques
Training with a partner is an important part of improving your boxing skills. Having someone to practice with you can help you learn new techniques and refine existing ones more quickly as they can provide valuable feedback on your performance.
It’s also a great way to build up your fitness level while having fun. When practicing with a partner, be sure to switch up the drills often so that you don’t get stuck doing the same thing over and over.
This will help keep things interesting and challenging while still working towards your goals.
Always Warm Up Before Each Session to Prevent Injury and Keep Your Muscles Loose
Before every boxing session, it is critical to do a proper warm up. Warming up helps reduce the risk of injury and keeps your muscles loose and flexible.
Start by doing some light cardio like jogging or skipping rope to get your heart rate up. Then, move on to dynamic stretches such as leg swings and arm circles to further increase circulation and prepare your body for more intense movements.
Finally, finish off with some light shadow boxing drills so that your muscles are ready for sparring or bag work.
Taking the time to properly warm up before each session will not only help prevent injury but also give you greater endurance and flexibility during training.
Throw Light, Yet Sharp Punches
One of the biggest mistakes most beginners make is throwing everything into their punches.
Whether they’re sparring, hitting the heavy bag, or speed bagging it, they simply want to throw full power at all times.
Unfortunately, this is not the way to go as it will cause you to wear yourself out much faster. But…
Throwing punches with power is something you will need to do at certain times during a fight.
To do this, you can throw power punches towards the end of the bout, at the end of a combination, or when you are certain your opponent has been stunned.
In order to throw power punches effectively, you’ll want to make sure you’re using the right techniques which you find later on in this guide.
Shorter Combos (If New to Boxing)
Combos are effective, fancy, and look good, and when people are new to boxing, it can be tempting to want to load them up. But here’s the kicker:
Less is more…
Why?
Because when you’re a beginner, you’ll want to focus, and only focus, on perfecting the basic combinations.
Then when you are throwing your punches correctly you can then start adding in more complex combos.
A simple three to four-punch combos will be enough.
It is much better to take the time to perfect a short combo, rather than performing badly with longer combos.
Stay Properly Hydrated
You probably already know this, but boxing is one of the most physically taxing sports on the list.
It doesn’t matter if you are hitting the heavy bag, sparring, or working on footwork, you’ll be burning energy and working off a lot of calories.
But even if you aren’t working up a sweat… you’ll still be burning your hydration sources.
In fact, many people can become dehydrated without even knowing it!
They won’t feel thirsty, tired, worn down, or anything until it hits them and… when it does hit, they’ll likely need to take multiple rest days to recover.
So, even if you aren’t going full speed, make sure you are taking the time to get some water and electrolytes as required.
Always Take The Opportunity To Learn
Whether you are at home with free time or find yourself in the gym with free time, you should use that time to learn, learn, and learn some more.
Learn as much as you possibly can about boxing. Film yourself and show it to your coach then ask him/her for their critical advice on how to improve.
This will help you determine where your weaknesses are and how to better perfect your boxing techniques.
Listen to the legend Kobe Bryant on how he did this:
R.I.P Kobe
Always be as critical with yourself as possible and never be satisfied.
As Bill Gates says: “Success is a lousy teacher, it teachers smart people into thinking they can’t loose” .
Watch others while at the gym, pay close attention to their techniques and
movement, and replicate their actions.
When at home, take the time to watch videos and read guides like this one.
Moving on…
Develop Proper Breathing
Boxing might seem like a sport based around footwork, striking, strength, and speed, but it is much more than that.
Sure, all of these areas make up a great fighter, but without proper breathing, you simply can’t be as good.
When you watch a boxer in range, you’ll notice they make hissing or grunting noises when throwing shots and taking shots.
The reason why boxers do this is because we will be able to conserve the amount of air in our lungs and therefore be able to keep fighting without running out of breath.
Being able to hold your breath as a fighter is paramount and it’s why you see many elites hold their breath both during and in between workouts.
Let’s now turn to something you must rehearse over and over and over again:
Master Your Boxing Stance
A proper boxing stance is one where you have both great balance and agility.
There are two main stances in boxing: orthodox and southpaw.
If you are comfortable training in both boxing stances, you can switch between orthodox and southpaw to gain a great edge on your competition. The best fighter to learn this skill from is probably Tyson Fury:
Your stance will provide you with the best defence so you can avoid getting hit too often.
With a little practice, you’ll develop reflexes that help you swat away punches coming towards you but we learn by doing, so… the best way to get a great boxing stance is by practising in the gym with a coach.
You’ll also need to practice:
Jab, Jab, Jab
There are various attacking techniques to enjoy including jabs, crosses, hooks, uppercuts, and overhands, but…
What’s the most important punch in your arsenal?
By learning how to use the jab, you’ll be able to keep your opponent at bay. You can control the distance and keep your opponent away from you and effectively time your quick combinations.
Jabbing for a boxer is like a walking stick for an old man: you won’t be able to do much without it.
Drill Attacking and Defending Techniques
Boxing consists of attacking and defending techniques. “Hit and not be hit” is the old saying and to do both you need both attacking and defending skill.
Firstly, you’ll want to take advantage of your footwork.
You need to learn how to move around the ring so you can quickly evade your opponent’s blows and strike at the perfect angle.
We are going to write articles about both of these in the future so that you can dominate in both areas. For now, keep researching online and keep asking your boxing coach like you’ve already been doing.
Faint and Move
Next, you’ll want to learn faints. This is an essential boxing technique because it’ll give you an edge over your opponent.
You need to be very deceptive. You need to make your opponent think you’re throwing a punch when you’re not.
This will make them flinch. Then, you’ll have time to move in and hit your opponent with a few thudding blows.
You need to be deceptive so you can catch your opponent off-guard. If you’re able to do that, you’ll be able to hit him with multiple shots before he has time to react.
Hook and Cover
Stepping into any boxing ring you will know that your opponent is going to throw a lot of hooks so… how do you get ready for that?
Move with your hands up!
By using a high cover defence and rolling with the punches, you’ll be able to shield yourself from heavy blows.
A perfect example?
Watch Mike Tyson move:
By raising your arm and defending your face, you’ll be able to deflect these blows and let them land on your arms and shoulders.
Quick tip: When training next, after every combo you throw, move both your feet and that head of yours as though you’re pretending to avoid a fighter’s punches.
Shoulder Roll
Using the shoulder roll is a great way to avoid your opponent’s punches and set up powerful counters.
This primarily helps you avoid jabs but it can work for other punches as well. For instance:
You can use the shoulder roll to avoid some hooks and uppercuts. How does it work?
When you’re in your defensive stance, your opponent may be able to touch you with a jab.
So, you’ll want to keep your chin down and your shoulder up. You’ll lean back a bit so you can avoid the punch.
Watch how this technique helps Floyd Mayweather (the populariser of the technique) evade punches quickly and conveniently:
How can you do this?
Drill, rehearse, repeat… Drill, rehearse, repeat
Duck and Counter
Finally, you’ll want to take advantage of the duck and counter technique.
This is one of the best techniques for getting in close and hitting your opponent in the stomach.
When your opponent tries to jab you in the face, you’ll want to duck under that punch and land your own into his ribs as he moves towards you.
It takes time to learn this technique but it’ll prove to be very helpful in the ring.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve found some useful tips in this post and…
While these tips are vital for your success as a boxer, the most important thing you must have to learn the sport of boxing (and something you probably already have) is:
The right mindset.
“What you put into boxing is what you get out of it” ~ Mo Farah.
Eating the right food, not skipping a training session, and scheduling rest days consistently takes both discipline and sacrifice but… the reward is always worth it.
Now I’d like to turn it over to you:
What was your favourite tip from today?
Are you going to take action on it?
We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
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