Many fighters seem to get stuck after learning the basics. You’ve perfected your form months ago and still for some reason can’t hit the intermediate level. If you’re still feeling like a beginner at your gym, then you are most likely failing at a basic skill. Only after you’ve mastered these absolute basic skills will you EVER be able to move on to more advanced techniques successfully.
3. Many fighters seem to get stuck after learning
the basics. You’ve perfected your form months
ago and still for some reason can’t hit the
intermediate level. If you’re still feeling like a
beginner at your gym, then you are most likely
failing at a basic skill. Only after you’ve mastered
these absolute basic skills will you EVER be able
to move on to more advanced techniques
successfully.
4. 1. Relax
Being relaxed saves energy and allows you to
punch harder. Your muscles must be calm and
fluid, allowing the energy to flow throughout
your entire body as you throw the punch. Being
tense stops the energy from flowing and
prevents you from throwing your best punch.
Find power through relaxation.
• Relaxing is the ONLY way to exert powerful
force repeatedly without getting tired.
5. 2. Aim
Keep your eyes on your opponent. Don’t look
past him, don’t look down. When you throw a
punch, make sure you look at the target. You
should be careful not to look so intensely at a
target before you throw since this telegraphs the
punch. Never look at the body when you throw
down (this also telegraphs), keep your eyes on
your opponent’s head and shoulders.
6. 3. Exhale on every punch
Always breathe out on every punch. Make a
small breath; don’t exhale all of the air in one
punch. As you throw combinations, you will let
out spurts of air with each punch. The shorter
and more explosive the exhalation, the better.
Compact explosive breathing will result in
compact explosive punches.
7. 4. Timed impact
Hit with the force of your body all at once.
When you exhale, your entire body moves and
“hits” simultaneously. From head to toe,
everything moves all at once. The foot pivots,
the hips turn, the shoulders rotate, the arms
extend, and the fist tightens.
8. 5. Keep your balance
Always be aware of your balance. Don’t push
into your opponents; exert power by finding
contact with the ground. Don’t lean your head
past your knees. The best way to develop
balance is to practice your punches with
shadowboxing, not the heavy bag.
9. 6. Cover with the opposite hand
When you punch with one hand, protect
yourself with the other hand. The hand that’s
not punching should always be defending.
Defend with the glove covering the chin and the
elbow protecting the body.
10. 7. Recover
Recover the punching arm quickly to cover the
vulnerability you created while punching. Be
careful, however, not to retract too quickly or
your punching power will suffer. This mistake is
known as “pulling your punches”. Training will
help you sense the right time to retract your fist.
