Boxing Mastery (eBook)

1 The training continuum There is a ton of information in these pages. If you are an experienced fighter, feel free to jump in anywhere. I recommend the novice start at the beginning and work through the end of the book. No matter your skill level, I recommend you take each technique or tactic and work it through the following training continuum to ensure that the information is deeply seated into your nervous system. Mirror training I know it is tempting to take a new idea and run immediately to the heavy bag or get in front of anopponent, but the most important piece of equipment you can own is a full-length mirror. The mirror is absolutely the best tool for self-correction. By working before a mirror, you provide your own feedback about your movement, technique and guard. Is as tight, fluid and powerful as need be? Work everything in front of the mirror - footwork,offense, defense and upper body movement. Keep this fact in mind: If it ain't right in front of the mirror, it ain't gonna be right anywhere else. Equipment training After you've honed your tools in front of the mirror, it is time to apply them to solid targets.Take the selected technique or tactic and apply it to the training apparatus that will best accomplish the desired result. In other words, select the device that will provide the most realistic feedback for that particular tool. In broad strokes, (there are exceptions) use the heavy bag for working power, the double-end bag for timing and accuracy, the maize bag for defense, slip-sticks forupper-body mobility and so on. With this information in mind, choose wisely. Partner/coach drills This vital step in the continuum allows you to stand before a live opponent who is either gloved up himself or outfitted with focus mitts. At this point in the game you are not sparring yet, but working the designated tool or tactic in isolation, preferably in real time. Counterpunching drills This is a complex aspect of the continuum that requires much forethought. It is an absolutely vital step in moving the fighter from being only a puncher into a boxer. Situation and isolation sparring Here you finally work with an opponent, but you are not slinging leather with abandon.You and your partner agree on ground rules that limit the usual boxing game in order to emphasize the tool or tactic to be drilled. For example, to improve your clinching skills, you may have your partner spar an inside fight while you attempt to muffle his attack and clinch as he attempts to stave off your clinch. Once the fight moves to the outside, you agree to bring the fight back to the inside range. Sparring Now all bets are off. You and your opponent are each trying to hone individual games while trying to best each other. It's the ultimate goal of the boxing game, but I cannot stress enough the necessity of moving through the previous five steps before considering the sixth step. 2 Stancesand guards It's not readily apparent, but there are varieties of stances in boxing. Each stance is or was designed to emphasize a particular offensive or defensivepoint or to make the most of a particular fighter's build. In this section,we will introduce six guards. Ideally, you will select the stance that feels best for you and work from there. I recommend a nodding familiarity with variations of your primary guard so that you can be...