There’s a quick mantra I tell myself when I’m training: ‘head, hands, feet’. I repeat this to myself during my workouts from time to time to remind myself that I should be moving at least one of these three things at all times, ideally I should have two or three in motion. You’d be surprised how many good boxers don’t adhere to this and have limited their potential.
For example, ‘head’ and ‘feet’ mean that you are dodging blows and moving to create angles. ‘Hands’ and ‘head’ mean that you are slipping while throwing punches. ‘Head, hands feet’ means that you are striking while moving with your feet and dodging your opponent’s blows. Either way, the specific grouping is not important, what is important is that your training and boxing be dynamic! Constant movement, ‘head, hands, feet’. This is how you fight to be superior, and this is how you train to win.
When you look at your boxing combinations, the stakes are high: rhythm, footwork, head movement, angles, feints, setup, punches, counters, speed, conditioning, and situation; there’s a lot more involved than just hitting. Hitting is the fun part, it’s easy. Getting to your opponent safely, hitting and then getting out of harm’s way is the hard part, he’s not going to take it lightly that you’re going to knock him out.
Below are the stages of a real boxing combination, all your combinations in the gym and in the ring should have elements of each part, train with these components in mind and don’t deviate from them.
1) Opening rate. There is rhythm in boxing, it’s not a dance rhythm, it’s a series of broken sections of rhythms that are fast, medium and slow. Your footwork, head movement and speed set the pace for each attack. When you are facing your opponent, you are expressing your rhythm, faking it, moving in and out quickly (pendulum steps), bobbing your head back and forth, posing, circling your hands or keeping them tucked under your chin. Before you throw any punches, you want to eliminate the possibility that your opponent will be able to time your tackle. Before you throw, fake your head, fake your jab, go in and out then back in, circle your opponent left and right, etc. The last thing you want to do is stand still and go right in, even advanced boxers tend to fall back on this.
2) Blows. Most combinations start with the jab and I recommend it 80% of the time, the trick is not to throw the same jab over and over again in the same way. Head slide to the left then jab, slide to the right then jab, jab to the lower chest then to the head, jab to your opponent’s jab hand then to the chin, throw a left jab backhand and then pass with the right hand. Mix the power of your jab from a snap to a thrust. Read your opponent and mix it up.
3) Launch your party. Most boxers rely on a set of combinations that work for them and I advise this, you need to have ‘go to’ combos that your mind will think of in the heat of battle. Believe it or not, the simplest combinations can work on the toughest of fighters. In all my boxing I have had more success with this combination than any other: jab, jab, straight right, left hook. It’s not fancy, but it works. However, this combo alone is not good enough, you need a lot more.
You need to understand that combinations are not just a series of hits, there may be quick pauses before you restart your attack. For example, jab, straight right, head slide right, straight right, left hook. In this combo I apply the pressure, then take a quick rest by swiping my head to the right, in this rest I can take an extra step forward and avoid any counter attacks from my opponent, then I resume my attack. It’s all about pacing again, you have to learn how to throw a quick combo, move your head or step into a new angle and then restart the round. The biggest problem beginner and intermediate boxers have is that they only throw one series of punches at a time. Once you learn how to throw a combo, move your head and feet, and reset everything in a flurry, your boxing will reach new heights.
4) Step back and move to an angle or step to the side. Once you’ve finished your combo, it’s essential that you don’t just stand there, you need to get out of harm’s way and this should be a part of all of your combos in the gym. If you don’t practice this way, you’ll be an easy target when it comes time for the fight. The only reason to stay after his combo is if you know you are a better inside fighter and intend to stay there. After expending energy on your combo you will need a short cooldown period of a second or two, this is your opponent’s best time to attack you and the time you need to let him know you won’t get caught easily. Once your combo is ready, head out. If you do back up, be sure to immediately step to the side, not back up directly and stay there.
