Nerdcore Boxing

This is one of the more important boxing tips regarding the heavy bag. Beginners almost always do this incorrectly.

First, 3 practical points on punching and getting punched:

1. In a good round of boxing you’ll probably only land 30% of your punches. So get used to missing.
2. Even if you land, “answering back” or hitting back, is so ingrained in boxers that you should always expect a punch to come right after yours.
3. Your defenses are strongest when your arms are retracted, your hands up and elbows in, i.e. when you are in your boxing stance.

What does this all mean? It means that after extending a punch you need to retract it as fast as you threw it. When it’s extended, you’re open. Rapidly returning to your stance between each punch is important.

Now when you hit the heavy bag, the punch has landed on initial impact. The initial impact causes the bag to rapidly sink inward and go “whap!” This generally does not cause the bag to swing. What most often causes it to swing is continuing to carry your fist and weight forward, or “pushing the bag” after the impact. This is wrong.

I’m not saying the bag should never ever swing, but if it swings a lot, then you’re pushing it.

While you’re busy “pushing the bag” you should have been rapidly retracting your punch. Getting into this habit makes you slow, leaves you open and teaches you to excessively extend your balance. Keep your punches crisp.

Stay tuned for more boxing tips!

Trackback URI | Comments RSS