I'm 25 years old. Started boxing this June. I'm being yelled by my trainer for a month now for not throwing punches correctly. By the words of his, I was not doing it correctly previously also but he was not yelling at me since I was newbie but now that 4 months are gone and I'm still not throwing my punches hence the yelling.. My questions is, how long dose it take, on a average, for a beginner to come close to a throw a decent punch. I know it depends on the amount of training and also on the individual level but on a average? Today, I felt like he has lost his faith in me and I'm so much worried :-( It irks me.. Plz help, guys........
It has been my experience, in 20 odd years of trying to teach boxing, that everybody gets stuck someplace. Be it footwork, slipping punches, the left hook, whatever, everybody gets stuck someplace. Maybe it justs takes awhile to get past that point, maybe they never get it right and have to compensate for it, but everybody gets stuck. Here's the question he should be asking of himself: why can't I teach this guy to punch properly? The same method doesn't necessarily work for every fighter, so you have to be creative sometimes. What problems are you having? Is it every punch you are throwing incorrectly, or just some of them?
Thanks for the reply guys.. Much Thanks greynotsoold for the time!! Basically, both left jab and right hand power punch.. While sparring he never complains. He he holds the pad for me and that's when he finishes me with words.. As far as I understand, 1. I seem to not throw the punch fully, full hand extension, I mean 2. Hyperactive while throwing the punches, not steady, too much movement 3. Not thinking 4. No power in them, my knuckles don't sit in the pad properly My trainer is a nice guys basically, and he never gives up on his fighters.. At least that is what I think but when I feel that he lost faith in me I feel as if I lost everything in boxing.. I don't know anyone else other than him nor can I go anywhere.. I'm getting de-motivated because of this.. I train 6 days a week, spar 6 days a week and I train hard and I'm willing to learn and then this happens now and then and I'm loosing my mind..
Also wanted to mention that this happens only when I do the pads.. While shadow boxing or while sparring he has never complained my punches and in fact he says my punches are fine when I shadow box..
A lot of times a boxer will get in such a hurry to throw a combination- a jab/right hand, for example- that he forgets to throw the punches, if that makes sense. Also, when you don't extend that jab all the way out it tends to smother the right hand; the distance gets screwed up and you don't get a full turn of the shoulders. I would suggest getting in front of a mirrorand throwing your jab...very very slowly. Concentrate on the mechanics, piece by piece, and make sure you are doing it correctly. Then gradually build up speed. Do the same thing with the right hand. Then work them together. But not as a combination. Throw a jab, slowly, then a right hand, slowly. Gradually build up speed but don't lose the identity of two separate punches- a jab and a right hand. Give each one its due and throw it properly. Last, when you are hitting the pads, don't get worked up and in a hurry. Take your time and throw a jab, then a right hand, in succession. Building fluidity in combinations takes time and you've only been at this 4 months. As you start working in hooks and uppercuts, the temptation is to hurry the punches but that will get you crossed up. Take your time and throw one punch, then the other, learn how they chain together, and don't get in a hurry until you are comfortable.
Before I forget...I'll bet that what you are doing is getting the jab part way out, then throwing the right before you get it back. You can break that habit in the mirror, as I described above. Just take your time and throw each punch for itself.
Pretty spot on advice what you're getting from everyone to be honest. My problem was leaning. Leaning over the front foot thus making me off balance straight away. To stop this I used to shadow box after my run (when my coach isn't shouting at me telling ne to atop being lazy) and I could go nice and slow and concentrate on my movement. I practised my front foot springing further forward when I come in to throw, slowly at first then speeding up. After a few weeks it became easier to the point I didn't have to say in my head "front foot forward" it started happening and I was throwing correctly too, then concentrated on other little details such as; back foot pivoting, hips thrown into te punch, full arm extensions etc. All it is is practise. My balance was my down fall so I got taught the technique and how to correct what I was doing wrong, then practised like hell. Hope this helps.
Thanks greynotsoold and bam-bam.. !! My only concern, for now, is when throwing them at a slow pace I should do it correctly which going to be the fundamental upon which I'm going to speed up. Let me try guys.. I also have to avoid being hyperactive. This is something I know myself but not able to relaize when I'm in the spot. >>the distance gets screwed up and you don't get a full turn of the shoulders. >>I'll bet that what you are doing is getting the jab part way out, then throwing the right before you get it back. Exactly. I need to unlearn this thing even before I beging to learn the correct way..
