Box

Punches

JAB: The Jab is the MOST IMPORTANT PUNCH in a Boxers arsenal. If there is one punch that a Boxer could win a fight with by using that punch alone, it is the jab. When using the jab , the Boxer needs to have his
Jab
knees bent and chin down. The jab must come directly from the 'ready' position. Make sure you twist your arm in a cork - screw like motion just before impact. That is what will give you the SNAP you will need for a good punch. Try and feel your shoulder being thrust into the punch. Imagine a towel when you were a kid at the Pool and you used to 'whip it' at your friends ! The jab is just like that towel :)

HOOK : In my opinion, Felix Trinidad has one of the best hooks ever. He executes it with precision and speed that is among the best in the history of the game. Many fighters tend to really' load up' with their hooks, but the short, fast and direct hook that Trinidad
Hook
throws unquestionably gets the most effective results. In my opinion, the best time to throw the hook is when it follows your right cross ( as in the traditional combination of jab, right hand, left hook ). Throwing the right hand will and SHOULD put you in perfect position to let the left hook go.

STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND : When you throw your straight right, it should generally come right after the left jab is thrown. The punch , as with all punches , should not be telegraphed. The right hand should come from your face, right
Cross
by your chin where your right hand should be when you are in your ' ready stance'. It should be thrown directly from your face to your opponents face. The quickest and most direct way to get from one point to the next is in a straight line. I try to imagine that when I throw my jab , that my jab has traveled down a corridor. When you bring your jab back and let the right hand go it should travel down that same ' corridor'. I think Thomas 'The Hitman' Hearns is a very good example of someone who throws a very well executed right hand.

UPPERCUT : The uppercut is one of the most dangerous punches in Boxing. When thrown as a part of a multi-punch combination it can have very good effect. Not many fighters consistently throw uppercuts so, because of that, most fighters do
Uppercut
not practice avoiding them very often. The punch is good when thrown at a variety of times, but I think after throwing a good left jab it is good to follow up with the right uppercut. The uppercut should usually be thrown during the course of 'in-fighting' , when you are close to your opponent. Throwing the uppercut from too far away leaves you in a position to be countered much more easily. Throwing the left jab sets up the uppercut very well. You should throw the uppercut in a way that allows you, upon completion of the punch, to be in a position to follow with a left hook afterwards. Mike Tyson is someone , among others, that has a very effective uppercut

COMBINATIONS : My own personal theory of combination punching is this - A Boxer should be able to , theoretically, throw a thousand punches in succession without losing balance. The reason being is that every single punch in a Boxers arsenal , when thrown properly, should leave the Boxer in a position where he can and will be able to throw another punch. For example, when you throw a left jab you should automatically be in a position to throw a straight right. When you finish with the right hand, you be in a position to throw a left hook, etc etc. If you throw a right hand, or any other punch , and you are off balance and NOT in a position to throw another punch afterwards and you find that you have to re-plant your foot to throw another punch then you DID NOT throw that punch properly. Roy Jones, Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather are three Boxers that have the ability to throw very good Combinations.

TO SUM UP ' PUNCHING' : The game of Boxing requires that you be able to move well, slip punches, keep your hands up, be tough , etc etc. BUT the main thing , above all else , to win a fight you must THROW PUNCHES. In my opinion you should start by learning how to throw the left jab ( or right jab if you are a Southpaw). It is Human Nature to want to get started by throwing hooks and crosses and other ' Big punches' . But if you are serious about becoming a ' real Boxer' and want to develop real skills that will maybe take you to a higher level then you MUST concentrate on perfecting your left jab first. Even if it takes you MONTHS to do, you must have your coaches work with you on your jab until you can win rounds with ONLY that punch if need be.

BREATHING : The MAIN THING to remember when you are Boxing is to breathe through your NOSE and not your mouth. When you open your mouth too much and try to Breathe like that, it leaves you more susceptible to having your jaw injured. Be relaxed in there and you will not get as tired as you will if you are tight and nervous.

CIRCLING YOUR OPPONENT : In my opinion, a Boxer must be able to ' Box' and ' Fight'. If an opponent wants to be ' rough' with you, then you need to be able to 'box' so that you can neutralize his offense. If he wants to Box you, then you need to have the aggression and the skills to take him out of his Boxing mode. You should never stand directly in front of your opponent for more than a few seconds at a time. You should constantly be in a position where you can circle to the left or right every few seconds so that you do not give your opponent the chance to ' set up' . The longer you stay in one spot, the easier it is for your opponent to size you up and get off good punches on you.

Training : I recommend that a Boxer train Monday - Friday and take it easy on the weekend. The only thing you may need to do each weekend is keep up on your push-ups , sit-ups and jogging. During the week, it is usual for Boxers
to be in the Gym each day for about two hours. Each day of training should include Stretching, exercises , shadow-Boxing, skipping rope, punching the heavy bag and , on some days, sparring with other Boxers. Each Coach has his
or her methods of coaching you, but ALL Boxers should be in the Gym as often as they can during the week. Repetition is the KEY in becoming a good fighter. All your punches and footwork, etc. must be practiced very often and with great desire to perfect them.

Nutrition : Nutrition is EXTREMELY important to a Boxer. Each person differs in some cases but I can tell you to get the most out of your conditioning it would benefit a serious Boxer to avoid the following : Fried Foods, Butter, Soda, Cakes and Cookies, Ice Cream , Candy , Syrups and Dressing and most foods that contain a lot of Fat and are high in calories. Water, even more so that Gatorade, is the best fluid to take in. Steaks and Chicken with the majority of the fat cut off and cooked either by Broiling or Baking are very good. The key is to eat enough so that you can still be strong. NEVER FORGET , even when you are trying to cut weight, that without eating enough food you cannot be at peak strength. If you are forced to not eat for more than a day just so you can make weight for a match then you should more than likely not be Boxing at that weight. Try and stay away from fatty foods, Sugary food and JUNK FOOD. Drink a lot of Water and / or Gatorade ( at least a Gallon a day)