Boxing is a complicated martial art, replete with intricate methods and methodologies. Novices make many mistakes in the first few months. However, if you are new to boxing, you can optimize your training by anticipating these mistakes. Boxing is easy to learn but challenging to master. Many beginners establish negative habits that are difficult to break. A common mistake is having one foot behind the other in a boxing stance. This is detrimental because any defensive head movement you make will throw you off balance and impede your backhand (a strike thrown where the back of the hand makes contact with an opponent) Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, evenly dispersing your weight. Your dominant hand determines the foot in front. Typically, the front foot is on the opposite side of the dominant hand. For example, if you are right-handed, you should place your left foot in front. Bend your knees slightly to allow quickly shifting to a defensive maneuver. When most people first learn how to box, they first learn to throw punches. Arm punching is one of the most typical blunders of beginners. Here you generate power primarily with your arms and fist, and there is no proper weight transfer from your base, i.e., legs and lower body. The legs and lower body should provide the power, not the arms. Increase your power by bending your knees slightly, rotating your torso toward the target, and moving energy from the waist to the shoulder to the fist. When you have mastered the method, you will notice a discernible improvement in the power of your punch.

1. Common Boxing Mistakes by Beginners
Dr. Richard Hill

2. Introduction
Boxing is a complicated martial art, replete with intricate methods and
methodologies. Novices make many mistakes in the first few months.
However, if you are new to boxing, you can optimize your training by
anticipating these mistakes.

3. Boxing is easy to learn but challenging to master. Many beginners establish
negative habits that are difficult to break. A common mistake is having one
foot behind the other in a boxing stance. This is detrimental because any
defensive head movement you make will throw you off balance and impede
your backhand (a strike thrown where the back of the hand makes contact
with an opponent)

4. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, evenly dispersing your weight. Your
dominant hand determines the foot in front. Typically, the front foot is on the
opposite side of the dominant hand. For example, if you are right-handed, you
should place your left foot in front. Bend your knees slightly to allow quickly
shifting to a defensive maneuver.

5. When most people first learn how to box, they first learn to throw punches.
Arm punching is one of the most typical blunders of beginners. Here you
generate power primarily with your arms and fist, and there is no proper
weight transfer from your base, i.e., legs and lower body.

6. The legs and lower body should provide the power, not the arms. Increase
your power by bending your knees slightly, rotating your torso toward the
target, and moving energy from the waist to the shoulder to the fist. When you
have mastered the method, you will notice a discernible improvement in the
power of your punch.

7. The hook is the most powerful punch in boxing. However, hooking too widely
can result in you missing your target or, worse, injuring your wrist. Keeping
your wrist aligned with your elbow is essential when connecting with a bag or
an opponent. This position deflects the impact of your strikes from your wrist.

8. With hooks, aim with your first two knuckles to ensure your punch is going in
the right direction and safeguard your wrists. As you swivel on the ball of your
front foot and move your weight to your rear foot, your arm should form a 90-
degree angle with your thumb up. It is the same with your hands and arms
when throwing a rear hook. You will want to pivot your back foot to move your
hips.

9. As a beginner boxer, one mistake you may make is leaving your face
unprotected while releasing a jab. You do this by elevating your head exposing
your chin. Sometimes you may lean forward when launching a straight punch,
allowing your opponent to reach you. If you do not maintain your head straight
but instead tilt them to one side without guarding it with your fist, you invite
your opponent to take a free swing at your face.

10. Learn to throw a jab before moving to a cross. A jab is an overhand strike
delivered with a pronated fist held horizontally with the palm facing the ground
at the moment of impact. While the cross, also known as the straight, is a
powerful punch delivered with one's dominant hand. It is a powerful long-
range strike with knockout potential.