This post is a continuation of Boxing Tips: Sparring Comfortably, Part I.
As I developed in the ring beyond basic defense, some endurance and jab, I recall encountering these stages:
Stage 4: Getting Distance Right
By the time you start to learn to land your jab you’ll have already developed some sense of distance. Next you’ll notice that even though you can find your opponent’s head with the jab your opponent often slips or counters your jabs. If you’re having this next issue it’s because you’re reaching. Reaching refers to starting to throw the punch little too soon during the step forward. If you have this bad habit instead of your jab being a weapon a good boxer will just use this flaw to tee off on you.
Even when your jab develops there is still a lot to learn about distance. I found getting distance right has a lot to do with getting used to contact. When you get closer to your opponent things get dangerous. Yet you need find your range, come forward to land and get out of range.
Stage 5: The Old One-Two
After your jab starts landing regularly it’s time to throw the cross.
Watching a new boxer’s cross is often amusing, it’s kind of a girly pawing punch. But most people go through this stage so don’t be embarrassed. Partly it’s because the boxer is simply afraid to come forward.
Once you start throwing a real man’s cross, you’ll have to get it to land. I found when I first started to develop my cross, hook and uppercuts, I’d telegraph them (meaning signal that I was about to throw). In my case I’d cock it back, or start the punch by raising my elbow. Before my hook I’d pause to shift my weight to the left.
You may telegraph your punch differently. Ask your sparring partners why they can always slip a particular punch, they might be able to help isolate the problem.
Stage 7: Seeing Punches Coming & Slipping
It’s the punch you don’t see that lands clean. If you saw it coming it probably didn’t land cleanly. You need to gain the guts to watch the punch as it flies into your mug. You especially want to watch the big punches. If you close your eyes or turn your head then you’ll have little chance of slipping or rolling it off.
A trainer once said to me, “If you’re going to get hit, you might as well see the punch coming.” Following this advice dramatically improved my defense.
Stage 7: Building Your Arsenal
Learning to regularly and cleanly land more than a jab against a good boxer can take some time. When you can consistently land the jab-cross combo against quality competition you’ve accomplished something. Congratulations! Now the fun really begins.
