6 Boxing Basics That'll Make You Feel Like a Total Badass
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Boxing may look intimidating, but it doesn’t have to feel that way. Arming yourself with a few basic moves before your first boxing class or training session will set you up for success in the ring.
“At any level, it’s always beneficial to brush up on the fundamentals,” says Tatiana Firpo, group fitness instructor at EverybodyFights.
“Plus, it’s fun! When you learn correct technique and train to understand boxing, there are endless possibilities of progress, and it’s a great feeling of accomplishment,” she says.
Before you get started, brush up on your stance and breathing technique then master the 6 basic moves below.
Boxing stance
Start standing with feet shoulder-width apart.
If you’re right-handed, take one step back with your right foot. Left-handers, do the opposite. The lead toe should be in line with the rear heel.
Turn lead shoulder to opponent or bag. Bend knees slightly for agility.
This stagger stance helps you maintain balance. It also allows you to use your hips for power when throwing a punch.
In a real match, this stance also makes you a smaller target for your opponent, giving them less area to connect a hit. To protect your face, tuck chin and place gloves up to cheekbones.
Boxing Breath
Inhale to prepare for a punch. As you throw, exhale fast through your mouth (versus your nose) with a closed jaw. This should sound like a hiss.
In a real match, you could risk breaking the jaw if your mouth is open and you take a hit to the chin. The purpose of this sharp exhale is to engage the core and connect the punch to your body.
This breath work helps with both timing and power. Even if you’d never end up in a real fight, you’ll still look and sound like a pro.
Basic boxing moves
1. Jab
Start in boxing stance. As fast as possible, extend front arm straight out as you step forward with front foot. Your front hand and front foot should connect simultaneously.
Pull glove back to face as fast as possible to reset. The jab, usually referred to as “1,” is your quickest punch and uses the least amount of energy.
2. Cross
3. Hook
4. Uppercut
5. Slip
6. Duck
Boxing may look intimidating, but it doesn’t have to feel that way. Arming yourself with a few basic moves before your first boxing class or training session will set you up for success in the ring.
“At any level, it’s always beneficial to brush up on the fundamentals,” says Tatiana Firpo, group fitness instructor at EverybodyFights.
“Plus, it’s fun! When you learn correct technique and train to understand boxing, there are endless possibilities of progress, and it’s a great feeling of accomplishment,” she says.
Before you get started, brush up on your stance and breathing technique then master the 6 basic moves below.
Boxing stance
Start standing with feet shoulder-width apart.
If you’re right-handed, take one step back with your right foot. Left-handers, do the opposite. The lead toe should be in line with the rear heel.
Turn lead shoulder to opponent or bag. Bend knees slightly for agility.
This stagger stance helps you maintain balance. It also allows you to use your hips for power when throwing a punch.
In a real match, this stance also makes you a smaller target for your opponent, giving them less area to connect a hit. To protect your face, tuck chin and place gloves up to cheekbones.
Boxing Breath
Inhale to prepare for a punch. As you throw, exhale fast through your mouth (versus your nose) with a closed jaw. This should sound like a hiss.
In a real match, you could risk breaking the jaw if your mouth is open and you take a hit to the chin. The purpose of this sharp exhale is to engage the core and connect the punch to your body.
This breath work helps with both timing and power. Even if you’d never end up in a real fight, you’ll still look and sound like a pro.
Basic boxing moves
1. Jab
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Start in boxing stance. As fast as possible, extend front arm straight out as you step forward with front foot. Your front hand and front foot should connect simultaneously.
Pull glove back to face as fast as possible to reset. The jab, usually referred to as “1,” is your quickest punch and uses the least amount of energy.
2. Cross
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Start in a boxing stance. Step front foot forward as you rotate at the hips, pivot rear foot forward, and extend rear arm straight out. Don’t cock arm back. Also remember to keep weight evenly distributed through both legs.
Pull your fist back to face as quickly as possible to reset. The cross, usually referred to as “2” is your power punch, since you can throw your whole body into it.
Start in a boxing stance. Step front foot forward as you rotate at the hips, pivot rear foot forward, and extend rear arm straight out. Don’t cock arm back. Also remember to keep weight evenly distributed through both legs.
Pull your fist back to face as quickly as possible to reset. The cross, usually referred to as “2” is your power punch, since you can throw your whole body into it.
3. Hook
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Start in a boxing stance. Lift your front elbow to be parallel with the floor, like you’re stirring a pot. Pivot on front foot to turn knee and roll hip over for more power. Rotate everything at the same time to connect.
Keep arm at a 90-degree bend and don’t extend through the punch. Repeat on the opposite side for rear hook. The hook — lead is “3” and rear is “4” — is a short range punch, so always keep opposite hand up to your face to guard.
Start in a boxing stance. Lift your front elbow to be parallel with the floor, like you’re stirring a pot. Pivot on front foot to turn knee and roll hip over for more power. Rotate everything at the same time to connect.
Keep arm at a 90-degree bend and don’t extend through the punch. Repeat on the opposite side for rear hook. The hook — lead is “3” and rear is “4” — is a short range punch, so always keep opposite hand up to your face to guard.
4. Uppercut
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Start in boxing stance. On lead side, drop shoulder (like a side crunch) and load legs by bending at the knees slightly.
Keep your arm bent and throw a punch from the ground up as you turn your hip and pivot your foot. Don’t curl your arm. The power won’t come from biceps; it comes from the legs. Pull fist back to face as quickly as possible to reset.
Like the hook, the uppercut — lead is “5,” rear is “6” — is a short-range shot, so don’t reach for it and end up with your knuckles in the air Mortal Combat-style. Keep the opposite fist at your face for protection.
Basic defensive boxing techniques
Start in boxing stance. On lead side, drop shoulder (like a side crunch) and load legs by bending at the knees slightly.
Keep your arm bent and throw a punch from the ground up as you turn your hip and pivot your foot. Don’t curl your arm. The power won’t come from biceps; it comes from the legs. Pull fist back to face as quickly as possible to reset.
Like the hook, the uppercut — lead is “5,” rear is “6” — is a short-range shot, so don’t reach for it and end up with your knuckles in the air Mortal Combat-style. Keep the opposite fist at your face for protection.
Basic defensive boxing techniques
5. Slip
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Start in boxing stance with fists up to guard. If opponent throws toward your right side, rotate from waist to left, drop left shoulder, bend knees, and crunch to left to slip outside the line of opponent’s shot.
Repeat on right side if opponent throws to left. Slipping is a defensive boxing technique and puts you in a position to counter as you rise back up to starting stance.
Start in boxing stance with fists up to guard. If opponent throws toward your right side, rotate from waist to left, drop left shoulder, bend knees, and crunch to left to slip outside the line of opponent’s shot.
Repeat on right side if opponent throws to left. Slipping is a defensive boxing technique and puts you in a position to counter as you rise back up to starting stance.
6. Duck
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Start in boxing stance. As opponent throws a shot (like a hook), send hips back and bend knees (like a squat), then shift your body weight from one leg to the other as you rise back up.
Like slipping, ducking is a defensive technique. Unlike slipping, you’re ducking under the shot and rising up on the other side to throw a counter.
Special thanks to Gotham Gym NYC and our model, Tatiana Firpo, for demo-ing the boxing moves.
Start in boxing stance. As opponent throws a shot (like a hook), send hips back and bend knees (like a squat), then shift your body weight from one leg to the other as you rise back up.
Like slipping, ducking is a defensive technique. Unlike slipping, you’re ducking under the shot and rising up on the other side to throw a counter.
Special thanks to Gotham Gym NYC and our model, Tatiana Firpo, for demo-ing the boxing moves.
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