Aug 22 2007
Boxing Tips: Speed vs. Power
Speed over power is one of the best boxing tips my trainers ever gave me. Everybody wants the spectacular knockout, but the guy who’s trying to just land big punches often comes up empty.
I myself used to spend lots of time banging on banging the bag, focusing on power punches. But I noticed that when sparring against good boxers I couldn’t land power punches routinely.
I remember one day while on the heavybag I heard a trainer that was watching me say, “he doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.” The trainer proceeded to lecture me and I was very smart to listen. He said I should be focusing on lots of fast punches and keeping my feet under me (i.e. maintain balance and pushing off the ground with each punch).
Following this critique I started watching boxers in the gym and my eyes opened! All the beginners were concentrating on focused power punches, the experienced boxers were usually putting together rapid punches while maintaining good balance. I went to YouTube and watched training videos of pro boxers I admire — they too trained just as my trainer had advised.
Two weeks after I made this adjustment to my training I went from a fairly one dimensional boxer to a guy that could land my full arsenal of punches and put together 4, 5 and 6 punch combos. Where as before I rarely landed power punches (I was too slow to the punch), from that point forward I landed them frequently.
I consider this one of the more important boxing tips my trainers ever gave me.
I do try to work on the speed more so than power. I feel I do lack power but as you say, if I don’t connect, it does not matter how powerful the punches are.
I’d like to invite your constructive comments[1]
http://myboxingblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/wednesday-training.html
[1] Please, if you can provide suggestions as to what I should fix…
Yo, Nerd of Steel!
Hey, where are you, man? I hope all is going well for you and your ankle is healing well.
I have some good stuff to post at my blog; I’ll get that up there later today or tomorrow. But I miss your blog, too. I hope you’ll be back soon.
All the best to you,
Steve
PS I introduced Marc at My Boxing Blog to your blog. He’s a good guy and is now linking to you. He’s got a good site. Have a look at it:
http://myboxingblog.blogspot.com
Marc’s an IT professional and, like yours truly did some years ago, is pursuing his law degree in the evenings. As such, I would like to nominate him as a Nerdcore Warrior. Thanks.
Keep punching, friend, and I hope to see some updates here soon. Enjoy the Labor Day Weekend!
SDI
Yo, Nerd of Steel!
Hey, where are you, man? I hope all is going well for you and your ankle is healing well.
I have some good stuff to post at my blog; I’ll get that up there later today or tomorrow. But I miss your blog, too. I hope you’ll be back soon.
All the best to you,
Steve
PS I introduced Marc at My Boxing Blog to your blog. He’s a good guy and is now linking to you. He’s got a good site. Have a look at it:
http://myboxingblog.blogspot.com
Marc’s an IT professional and, like yours truly did some years ago, is pursuing his law degree in the evenings. As such, I would like to nominate him as a Nerdcore Warrior. Thanks.
Keep punching, friend, and I hope to see some updates here soon. Enjoy the Labor Day Weekend!
SDI
Hey Steve,
Thanks for all the encouragement. Blogging like training does require a certain work ethic…
Ankle is improving still. I’m easing back into training this week and beginning physical therapy.
I’ll check out Marc’s blog.
-Nerd of Steel
Good man. Take it easy, for sure; you don’t want to injure it further. Let us know how the PT is going. You can feel free to e-mail me, too.