12 Tenets of Boxing
Train all of these to be a complete boxer.
1. Stance - Before you punch, you need to learn how to position yourself into a boxing stance. It's unnatural at first, so time must be spent to understand the balance, stability and mobility needed to defend efficiently and strike effectively. Different stances are utilized depending on your style and physiology. Learn to distribute your weight to transfer momentum which is the energy that powers most of the movements in the sweet science.
2. Footwork- Shuffling, backpedaling, advancing and retreating. You need to be able to move all ways to optimize your position, which sets up your punches and keeps you out of range of your opponent. Being able to get in and out of striking range to manage your distance is a fundamental aspect of boxing. Lateral movement will set up angles where you are in position to strike and your opponent is not. Footwork should be practiced every session. Here is a basic drill to learn how to develop rhythm with the in and out and shuffling needed to move around an opponent.
3. Jab - The most important punch in boxing with offensive and defensive purposes. This is the first to arrive and last to leave. The jab is thrown more than any other punch and it is the basis of all your striking. It should be the first punch you learn and you should be determined to master its variation and intensity. Being able to move forward, back and laterally with your jab helps you optimize it's many uses.
4. Defense - Protect yourself at all times using blocking, slipping and footwork to deflect and evade punches. Dodging every punch is extremely difficult and taxing so being able to shield yourself using gloves, forearms and shoulders is important when you exchange punches. Good defense is key for longevity and sets up your offense. Hit and don't get hit is the name of the game.
5. Head Movement- Punches will come for our vulnerable head so we must be able to dodge punches. We don't want our face to loiter right in the
"crosshairs" of our opponent's strikes. Getting different looks allows you to strike from multiple angles in relation to your opponent. A moving target is harder to hit than a still one. Balance as you bob and weave is needed if you wish to counter with precise shots. Practicing head movement drills like these give you the coordination and muscle memory needed to move when punches come at you.
6. Combinations- Run punches together in flurries to create windows and overwhelm your opponent. It can be easier for your opponent to learn your timing when you only throw one punch. You can be countered, so running multiple punches together like a chord of notes, makes you timing more unpredictable. Varying up the speed and volume of punches is important to change the pace of the fight. You should practice and perfect some of the base combinations in training with volume of repetitions to develop the muscle memory of throwing these flurries.
7. Rhythm - Boxing is like a dance of violence, so learning how to be the one leading takes a keen understanding of rhythm. Learning to control the chaos of boxing and find a flow of the fight allows you to dictate the pace. Having the finesse of movement to capitalize on the small windows you have to strike your opponent. Timing beats speed, so you don't always need to be fastest to hit and not get hit. Rather you succeed in capitalizing on every opportunity you see present itself. Like Bruce Lee said, "Be like water my friend".
8. Conditioning - A high level of physical fitness is required to endure the rigors of fighting. Many aspects of athleticism are needed from agility, a strong aerobic base, high anaerobic capacity and so on. There are many different outlooks on how to conditioning a fighter for boxing, depending on your fight style and body composition. Roadwork/running is one of the tried and true ways boxers conditioned their legs and lungs to move around the ring for three minutes at a time. Calisthenics has been the usual method of strengthening the body since boxers don't want to put on mass which can slow them. A boxer want to feel strong at his "fighting" weight. Weight training is only beneficial if used properly to develop power and strength-endurance and not for hypertrophy. You want to know what purpose each exercise is for and how it translates to better boxing.
9. Technique- Technique is our strength in boxing. Practicing good form and fighting in a style that align with your body type, athletic gifts and temperment. Styles can vary from aggresive brawler, slick counter-puncher, tactician, stance-switcher and so on. You first learn to maximize your strengths and fortify your weaknesses later. Having your own style makes you unique because you want to be the best version of yourself and learn from others. You must be able to adapt to other styles and be versatile. Don't be a one-trick pony.
10. Ring Generalship - Having control over the distance and position of the fight are key in determining who is leading and who is following This makes your timing more effective and being able to stay in the center of the ring shows dominance. Body language is important in boxing, and showing a tired and defeated fighter makes you portray the one losing. Not just what you do matters, but how you do it. Learn not to wear your emotions out there and be a hard fighter to read. Are you the leader or the follower?
11. Discipline - One of the hardest parts of boxing. Fortifying the resilience, focus and composure to deal with the pressure of boxing is developed in your preparation. Living a clean life, dedicated to your training and cutting out the things that pull you away from being a better boxer is the challenge most people have trouble with. Showing up day-in and day-out is the sacrifice a fighter makes that clashes with the lives of most. Choosing to have the lifestyle of a fighter may leave you feeling misunderstood by those around you and staying dedicated to the process of being a fighter is what builds the character and endurance needed to pursue this as well as the other aspects of the sport like staying on weight. Its better to stay ready than get ready.
12. Respect- The more you respect the craft of boxing, the more you get from it. If this is something you choose to do then you want to put your mind, body and soul into it. You want to throw every punch with bad intentions and treat every punch thrown at you like it could knock you out. Respecting everyone you face, and ultimately respecting yourself ties directly into discipline and living up to what it means to be a boxer. To maintain proper sportsmanship and respect your opponent's well-being to have a proper career and a strong character in and out of the ring. Having the discipline to endure a sport which very few can handle is a constant process of self-evaluation and growth. Learning how to balance life and boxing can be a rocky road maintaining the respect of self and others is what differentiates a professional from an amateur.