boxing
fight stance
orthodox stance leads with the left foot forward, with jabs coming from the left hand and crosses from the right hand. southpaw stance leads with the right foot forward, with jabs coming from the right hand and crosses from the left hand.
take caution to avoid crossing feet as much as possible. keep knees slightly bent and take quick, shuffle-like steps. heels slightly off the ground, and keep weight evenly distributed between both feet (not weighing down on one foot or the other).
hands must stay up at all times to defend incoming blows. more on defense in striking defense.
callout moves
| # callout | corresponding striking move |
|---|---|
| 1 | jab (left orthodox, right southpaw) |
| 2 | 1st cross (right orthodox, left southpaw) |
| 3 | 1st hook (left orthodox, right southpaw) |
| 4 | 2nd cross (right orthodox, left southpaw) |
| 5 | 2nd hook (left orthodox, right southpaw) |
| # callout | corresponding footwork movement |
|---|---|
| 1 | forward (2 steps) |
| 2 | backward (2 steps) |
| 3 | left (2 steps) |
| 4 | right (2 steps) |
| 5 | pivot on lead foot 90º clockwise |
| 6 | pivot on lead foot 90º counterclockwise |
| 7 | pivot on rear foot backwards (switch stance) |
| 8 | pivot back into lead foot backwards (switch stance) |
| 9 | switch stance out of lead (orthodox → southpaw, southpaw → orthodox) |
| 10 | reverse stance into lead (opposite of 7) |
drills
the following are drills that are done in groups (specified by *) or can be done solo.
footwork cycles
refer to the footwork movement table in callout moves. practice movement while in full fight stance. call out numbers sequentially or out of order and complete as quickly as possible minding form and accuracy.
strike ladder
refer to the striking move table in callout moves for corresponding values. perform strikes in a row following a ladder-like training patterns. see below:
1
1 2
1 2 3
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4 5
1
1 2… etc.
1-5 listed in example, but it can be shortened (1-4) for simplicity or extended (1-6+) to accommodate for moves such as uppercuts, body shots, etc.
incorporate footwork between blows when possible, especially when finishing a ladder set.
1-2s
practice straight shots (jabs and crosses) one after the other, maintaining pace and form, for a set amount of time. can be done as final exercise after other drills. aim for high velocity while still maintaining form and defensive positioning of hands.
move-countermove*
perform a strike on your partner, then immediately move into defensive stance to block the same move from your partner. can perform one move at a time or multiple. examples are jab-counterjab, cross-countercross, etc.