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If you are going to take up boxing, you will need to be familiar
with boxing techniques. The more you know about good techniques,
the better able you will be to put them into play.
There are some great online training programs that can teach you boxing. Here is a breakdown of a few of the techniques you should know.
Generally, boxing techniques fall into three catagories: Stance,
Punches and Self-defense. Perfecting these techinques will
improve your workout and give you a winning edge in the ring.
STANCE
The modern boxing stance is what is currently used in
professional boxing and adhears to official boxing rules and
regulations.
A right-handed boxer stands with legs a shoulder-eidth apart with
the right foot a half-step behing the left foot. The left fist is
vertically held at eye level about six inches from the front of
the face with the right (rear) fist held beside the chin with the
elbow tucked against the ribcage which is used to protect the
body. To avoid punches to the jaw (a common cause for knockouts),
the chin is tucked into the chest.
Many boxers tap their cheeks or foreheads with their fists which
is just a remiinder to keep their hands up.
You may also notice boxers "pushing off" with their
feet so they move more effectively.
There are forward and rearward motions in stances. In order to
excecute a forward motion, lift the lead leg and push with the
rear leg. For rearward motion, lift the rear leg and push with
the lead leg. Lateral motion happens with the leg in the
direction of the movement moves first while the opposite leg
provides the force to move the body.
PUNCHES
The next technique you will want to work on is your punch. There
are four basic punches in boxing: the Jab, Cross, Hook and
Uppercut.
The technique descriptions are for a right-handed fighter who
will lead with his left hand whereas a left-handed fighter, or
Southpaw, will lead with his right hand.
JAB
The jab is a straight punch thrown quickly with the
lead hand from the guard position. It is accompanied by a small,
clockwise rotation of the hips and torso at the same time the
fist rotates 90 degrees and becomes horizontal upon impact.
The
lead should is brought up to guard the chin as the punch reaches
full extension and the rear hand remains next to the face in
order to guard the jaw.
Once contact is made with the target, the
lead hand is retracted quickly to resume a guard position in
front of the face.
The instructions may be confusing at first but worth learning as
the jab is the most important punch for a boxer because it leaves
the least space for a counterpunch and it also has the longest
reach of any punch.
Furthermore, the jab does not require a large
weight transfer. It is great not only for offense but for defense
too. A good quick, stiff jab can break a more powerful punch like
an uppercut or a hook.
CROSS
The cross is a powerful straight punch that is thrown with the
rear hand. Originating from the guard position, the rear hand is
thrown from the chin and crosses the body, traveling toward the
target in a straight line as the rear shoulder is moved forward.
The finishing position is just outside the chin. At the same
time, the lead hand is retracted and placed across the face,
protecting the inside of the chin as the torso and hips are
rotated counter-clockwise as the cross is executed.
It is the body rotation and the sudden weight transfer that gives
the cross it's power. A half-step forward can even be added.
The cross is also referred to as a "straight" or a
"right" and just may be the most powerful punch a boxer
can throw.
HOOK
The hook is a semi-circular punch that is thrown with the lead
hand to the side of the target's head. It is executed from
the guard position. The elbow is drawn back with a horizontal
fist with the elbow bent.
Tucked firmly against the jaw, the rear
hand provides protection for the chin. The hips and torso rotate
clockwise while the fist propels clockwise in an arc across the
front of the body, finally connecting with the target. The lead
foot pivots clockwise at the same time, turning the left heel
outwards. Once contact is made, the hook's circling path will
abruptly end and the lead hand is pulled back quickly into the
guard position.
The hook can also take aim at the lower body like the
"Mexican hook to the liver". This is sometimes refered
to as the "rip". The hook can be thrown with the rear
hand as well. Though these maneuvers can be tricky until
mastered, they are well worth investing the time to learn and
perfect.
UPPERCUT
The uppercut is a rising punch that is thrown verically with the
rear hand. The torso shirts a little to the right while in the
guard position and the rear hand drops below the opponent's
chest. The knees are bent slightly. The rear hand thrusts
upwardly with a rising arc motion toward the target's chin or
torso. Simultaneously, the knees push uickly upwards and the hips
and torso rotate counter-clockwise with the rear heel turned
outward like a cross movement. The biggest advantage of the
uppercut is the ability to lift the opponent's body which
sets them off-balance so you can attack.
COMBINATIONS
These various punches can be combined for optimal effective-ness.
Combinations are often called "combos". One of the best
combinations is an uppercut followed by a left hook and of course
there is the "one two" combo that combines the jab and
cross that first blinds the opponent then knocks him out.
DEFENSE
Defense techniques are use in order to block or evade punches.
There five main basic maneuvers a boxer can use: the Slip, Bob
and Weave, Parry/Block, the Cover-Up and the Clinch. There are
three main defensive styles.
THE SLIP
In the slip, the body slightly rotates so that a punch coming in
passes by the head, harmlessly. Just as the punch arrives, the
boxer sharply rotates the hips and shoulders which turns the chin
sideways, avoiding the punch and letting it slip by.
THE BOB AND WEAVE
In the bob and weave, the head moves laterally beneath a punch
that is coming in. As it arrives, the boxer quickly bends his
legs and, at the same time, shifts the body slightly either to
the right or to the left. Then the boxer weaves back to an
upright position once the punch has been evaded and comes back on
either the inside or the outside of the opponent's extended
arm. The fighter can "bob to the outside" which is
outside the opponent's arm or "bob to the inside"
which is inside the arm.
PARRY/BLOCK
Parrying or blocking is done with the use of the boxer's
hands that block or deflect incoming attacks. Just as the punch
arrives, the boxer pops a sharp, lateral, open-handed blow to the
wrist or forearm of the opponent which redirects te punch.
THE COVER-UP
This is the last chance to avoid a strike that is coming in. The
hands are held high to protect the head and chin and the forearms
tucked tightly against the torso to combat a body shot. The boxer
then rotates his hips and attempts to let the blows roll off. The
boxer presses both fists against the front of his face with his
forearms facing out and parellel to avoid punches to his head.
Though this style protects the top of the body, it does little to
protect the lower part.
THE CLINCH
The clinch is when the boxer is in close distance to his opponent
and tries to tie up or hold the opponent's hands so he cannot
throw hooks or uppercuts. The boxer loops both hands around the
outside of the opponent's shoulders and scoops back under the
forearms to clasp the arms against his own body as tightly as
possible. The opponent's arms are thus pinned down and he
cannot punch. Clinching must be done ver quickly as the referee
will quickly call it otherwise.
As far as the three main defensive positions, they are: the
Peek-a-boo, Cross-Armed and the Philly-Shell or Crab. Each have
variations and may be executed higher or lower, adapting to the
individual situation.
PEEK-A-BOO
Peek-a-Boo is where the hands are placed in front of the face
much like a game of peek-a-boo. It provides protection to the
face and even allows for jabbing the opponent's face.
CROSS-ARMED
Cross-armed is when the forearms are place on top of each other
horzontall and are in front of the face with the glove of one of
the arms on top of the elbow of the other arm. It is used to
avoid head damage.
HILLY-SHELL OR CRAB
In this style, the lead arm is placed across the upper part of
the body and the back hand is on the right side of the face. The
lead shoulder is tight against the left side of the face. It is a
popular style for fighters who want to counterpunch but is best
used by those who are very experienced since it is hard to
execute a counterpunch while using this style. It is good to use
when possible because it allows a fighter to slip in punches but
the down side is that when the fighter is still and not rotating,
he is open to be hit.
To learn more aobut boxing techniques visit How To Box.
