My coach has me now focus on turning my body before punching to correct my 'arm punching'. He has me do this with every punch except the jab. Turning the body creating torque and the arm following the turn of the body instead of leading the turn. I'm trying to correct this by focusing on pulling the opposite shoulder back. For example, for the right cross, I focus on a violent pull of the left (lead) shoulder backward. For the left hook, I try a sharp twist/pull of the back shoulder. But it seems like the movements should be more focused from the ground up. With either my feet or hips. Any suggestions? Any ideas to put in my head to help me lead with my body???
Foot, then hips, then shoulder & arm. It helps to exaggerate it and practice it slowly like your coach might be instructing.
Just think of a punch as a twist. I found it helpful to focus on turning the upper inside of my thighs, that way your torso and arms follow naturally. I would forget that stuff with pulling your shoulders back, by focusing anywhere on your upper body you're gonna keep arm punching. Focus on your legs because that's where a punch starts, when you punch with your legs your torso and arms twist out and extend naturally.
Also I don't like it when people say twist your hips, your hips can't twist, your legs twist your hips. It's like when people say move your head, you can't move your head independantly. Is it only boxing that has common technique advice like this? It's counterproductive to give advice like that because it makes no sense, it's focusing on the end result and not what makes it happen.
You do realise this is a boxing training forum don't you? If we only listened to our coaches in fitness and sports it would make this forum entirely pointless. There's nothing wrong with hearing other's opinions.
Not everyone teaching is always the best. I have been given some downright ROTTEN teaching in the past.
My coach spends limited time with me. I trust what he says, but sometimes it clicks better when it's explained differently. Some forum members can use an analogy or describe a visual differently and it just clicks. I think anybody who has been coached in some type of athletics understands this. Good advice Lefty, thanks.
Try practicing pivoting and turning without punching. Let your muscles memorize the twisting action of the feet, hips, and core........Then add the punch.
You need to sit your weight down like you're sitting on an imaginary barr stool. This bends your knees, which allows your hips to rotate, which allows you to get max effect when punching. Your coach is right, though. The non-punching side whips the punching side around. When you throw discus, you yank the non-throwing arm in at the last moment. It kind of launches your other arm and adds snap to the throw. When I punch (particularly with a hook) I kind of jerk the muscles in the other side of my back at the last second. Kind of transfers snap into my punch I believe. Though from watching myself punch I can be a bit of a slapper. But a hard slapper anyway lol
Try from the hips ending up in the shoulder in a steadily building motion? I think twisting the shoulder might be a worse tell than just arm punching and not do much good for adding power. That is one many people battle with, myself included. Good luck. :thumbsup History has shown, there are some pretty decent arm punchers out there. :hey
I talked to another experienced guy today about my problem, and he mentioned similar to some of the answers I received. He said I need to bend my knees more to facilitate the rotation of the body (like what Killsomething said). He told me a key he uses is he tries to push his foot down really hard as he piviots, almost like he's trying to screw it into the ground. He said it's vital to keep your arms loose until just before the point of impact. I dont know about that, but found it interesting.
I don't know how much that will help with 'curing arm punching' but that's a good thing to do becuase it will make your punches have more snap to them, and you won't burn up extra energy that you would if you constantly have your arms/hands clenched tight.
Yes that's absolutely vital to keep your arms loose, any tension in your arms before the point of impact will reduce your power, shorten your punch and kill your coordination. Your arms really have very little to do with punching. Your arms are just whips that you're aiming, it's all in the legs.
