Hi guys! I have been boxing for a year now and think it's really fun and would like to take the step to compete. But feel nervous about it. I would like to really get good first before I compete. How do you do to maximize your physique, hone your technique and constantly evaluate yourself to get better?
Can't beat hard work and dedication. I boxed during my high school days, ended at 18 wins 5 losses by the time I stopped at 18 (lived in a pretty dead end country town so I joined the navy and haven't stepped foot in a ring competitively in nearly 6 years now.) Hardly the GOAT but I do have a fair bit of experience beating (and getting beat by) other small town country boys. You don't learn to fight by not fighting, and you don't get fitter by not training. The best I could offer if you're already training hard and frequently (I used to do 5 days a week after school for 2-3 hrs) is to tape yourself sparring. Post it on some amateur boxing forums and ask for critique. Listen to your trainer. Run lots, spar lots and hit the bag lots. Get your stamina up before anything else. Follow a proper training routine, don't half ass throw one together for yourself. Idk man, that's about the best you'll get with the info you've given lol
I think you'll get better results here https://www.boxingforum24.com/forums/boxing-training-amateurs.13/
Shadow box a lot. It's the most important exercise a boxer can do. Not for conditioning, but do it for technique. Its a time for you to focus on making your movements crisp, efficient, flow smoothly. Work on your punches and your defensive manuevers and counters. Also make a video of yourself every once in a while and then compare it to how your technique looked in the past, see how you improved. Then make notes of how to improve more, work on that stuff and repeat. You have to be honest with yourself though. Be a critic of yourself. Of course, continue doing the rest of your routine. But you should focus on technique A LOT at the beginning. This way, you won't spend years doing things like hitting the heavy bag and sparring with improper technique... making the bad habbits harder to break.
Thank you for the answer. I am training hard and exactly like you point out, I'm looking for ways to gain that extra edge. Recording myself sparring definitely is a great idea thank you! Do you know of any ways I could improve even more? Like I travel a lot and so I go around to different boxing clubs on occasion and since I'm new, I'm finding that trainers don't pay me that much attention. Of course I have a regiment that I follow from my ordinary one, but I would like to get some 1on1 feedback. How do you feel about doing mitts with a trainer who's able to point out your flaws and points of improvement? Is that worth paying a coach for in your opinion (my only option since I travel a lot)? Are there other ways I could get the same benefits?
Thank you, I will post a question here later. Thank you. I very much like your approach on perfecting my technique. I'm also worried a lot about cementing bad habits since I travel a lot and therefore am training a lot on my own without any one pointing out my mistakes. Do you think it's a good idea to hire help for when I'm on the road?
Shadow boxing does not mimick hitting actual objects or moving ones. Its KATA( martial arts) really for boxers...Heavy bag training beyond sparring is way more useful to adapt to striking someone and also developes power and technique...shadow boxing is just going through the motions where really anyone can look good hitting air and doing basic punches with movement.
you are not going to develope evolving skills( unless you are boxing long and know what you need yourself)without a main trainer that KNOWS you.you are bouncing from training centers i guess if you travel alot...so its basically pointless if you dont have a real trainer that knows you and can evaluate you on a daily basis. hit the Heavy bag and record that look at subtle movements and techniques you think you need. Its the next best thing to a live body if you are training yourself which this sounds like. i train a bit different ,bc i dont train for going long or long rnds bc i train for mostly one strike ending fights for martial arts that i do on a Heavy bag.though i hit it for up to 3 hours sometimes,my style are power shots to mimick quicker fights..so cardio should be your main thing if you are looking to actually compete in a ring,not just sparring. And of Mitts? well you aren't going to be envisioning mitts against a live body,you will be seeing that punching bag that has a closer radius of an actual human! think about it! and beyond that Mitts arent going to mimick the impact of hitting a SOLID person either..... equipment is also VERY important BUY QUALITY gloves to get the best punches and accuracy,going half way here Well why bother then ?when thats what you are doing ...PUNCHING....lol
I disagree a lot. As long as you are familar with hitting a heavy bag, it doesn't matter much. You know how to have your hand tight on impact/how to generate power once you are familiar, so the best way to improve technique is by shadow boxing. Double end bags, speed bags, etc are all good to work on for a few rounds, but seriously I can not use one for a year and hit it just as good. It's not hard to time them. Until your punch technique looks like Rigo, you will still benefit a ton from shadow boxing. Not saying you shouldn't do ANY rounds on the heavy bag. But I think at the beginning of learning boxing, you should be working as smart as possible getting your technique down, so when you practice everything else you don't pick up bad habits.
Shadow boxing is simply hitting air and not a real solid target...simple. speed bags are really only good for tiring the shoulders after or in between routines( if the bag is hung higher)...they do NOT actually produce accuracy or speed...i hit them blind folded to prove this and faster with actual hand speed...they are really great for building up shoulder stamina with minimal speed improvement but it doesnt hurt. you DONT learn Techniue on pads BTW...FALSE. you have a heavy bag as the target itself and hit certain areas...no one holding pads telling you combos happens in a real fight,it is the target itself. Doing pads ( advanced pad work) one would be showing you to hit on the FLY ( NO set combos) just hitting what he gives you if tyou are accurate....i did this with the former Muai Thai champion of the world at LHW...and its miles above what the Common teachings are... HB work is critical for developing proper punch placement bc its SOLID object....Pad work is for eye coordination and hitting a specific point faster but the Hb will develope proper torque and focus on the punch ITSELF.
