[TravellingSoldier]

I just joined a gym myself and here's what I've found..

Doing PHAT (5 lifting days a week) and practising both BJJ and Kickboxing. If anything, do one in the morning and one at night. My shoulders get really tired, really quick from punching the bag. My endurance is down when "rolling" in BJJ but I figure that will improve with time. Really, the endurance will come, but I would avoid doing back to back upper-body and boxing workouts (Ex. 5:00 - 6:30 lifting 7:00 - 8:00 boxing).

Try and do it on your off days and separate upper-body workouts and the boxing by 2 days if possible.

[paulstein]

Thought I would chime in on gloves. I have Reyes gloves that I use as bag gloves which are alright. I also have Winning gloves for sparring. The Winnings are night and day better than the Reyes. I got mine (16oz) for $300 all in from Rakueten which is like a Japanese Amazon. Received them from Japan in NYC inside of 3 days. Definitely worth $130 or so more than Reyes.

I sent the guys at Grant an email to inquire and 16oz gloves from them run close to $500 now.

From what I've learned, the most important thing in boxing is staying loose and being able to relax. With that in mind maybe it's best to fade the weights for a bit.

[WanderingSoul]

Never used Winning, sure they are great, but don't think that you need to buy $400 gloves. Get a solid pair of $100 gloves and you'll be more than fine.

Also, if you're new to boxing, walking into the gym with a $400 pair of gloves will make you stand out, which might not be a good thing come sparring time.

[samsamsam]

(07-08-2014 10:49 PM)RioNomad Wrote:  

Never used Winning, sure they are great, but don't think that you need to buy $400 gloves. Get a solid pair of $100 gloves and you'll be more than fine.

Also, if you're new to boxing, walking into the gym with a $400 pair of gloves will make you stand out, which might not be a good thing come sparring time.

I totally agree and understand, sort of like the new kids with nice sneakers and he gets beat up for them. Just trying to find the best way to protect the hands and wrists. I found these for 100 bucks and they are well reviewed. Winning clones

http://www.ringtocage.com/japanese-style...r-lace-up/

(07-08-2014 09:38 PM)paulstein Wrote:  

From what I've learned, the most important thing in boxing is staying loose and being able to relax.

Yep, learning that too. My trainer can tell when I am too stiff (my face crunches up he says) I am definitely a little tight, trying to do it "right". He says I'll get there just need to train more.

[WanderingSoul]

(07-08-2014 07:56 PM)TravellingSoldier Wrote:  

I just joined a gym myself and here's what I've found..

Doing PHAT (5 lifting days a week) and practising both BJJ and Kickboxing. If anything, do one in the morning and one at night. My shoulders get really tired, really quick from punching the bag. My endurance is down when "rolling" in BJJ but I figure that will improve with time. Really, the endurance will come, but I would avoid doing back to back upper-body and boxing workouts (Ex. 5:00 - 6:30 lifting 7:00 - 8:00 boxing).

Try and do it on your off days and separate upper-body workouts and the boxing by 2 days if possible.

How long have you been lifting seriously for? Why did you decide to go with PHAT?

[redbeard]

I'm looking to join a gym soon. I have no boxing experience. What are some easy tells that I'm walking into a PC McGym? I want to make sure I'm not duped into a shitty gym.

[the chef]

look at the majority of the people working out.... if the majority of the people are housewives wearing lulu lemon and white collar cubicle stiffs it's probably a clear indicator that you're in a phony gym.

also, make sure there's a good population of the gym that actually fights and the trainers have actually produced champions.

generally speaking, you want the gym that's in the bad part of town. the one that has no AC, where you can walk around shirtless, and the one where there's spit buckets at the bottom of the rings. you want a boxing gym that is gritty, tough and full of street folk.

[Kieran]

While I agree that the above things will help find a real gym, just finding a good gym isn't enough because they won't necessarily give you their best. Generally, if you're not going to fight for the gym, then you will probably be the trainer's bottom priority after the fighters and the kids, and might just be seen as a way to make money. On the other hand, white collar gyms often have some excellent trainers if you're prepared to pay for it, and one to one training can be an efficient way to learn quickly. Either way, if you want the best training, you usually have to pay in some way. Showing a good work ethic and being consistent will help too.

[Kieran]

Also, watch as much boxing as you can. Watch everything from instructional videos (there are some Cuban ones on youtube, I think I posted one on the overhand right in the boxing thread, that show good technique), to videos of fighters training, to fight footage. You can learn loads by watching videos and copying what you see.

[Katatonic]

The first trainer I had would spend the first week showing you the absolute basics of stance, footwork, slipping, and punching. The first day of the second week involved you sparring one of the more seasoned fighters in the gym. You would get your ass beat, and even if you didn't go down or quit, you would still be embarrassed at being spun or just badly outclassed. Those who showed back up after that beating would get respect and the full attention of the trainers. That type of gym is for people who want to fight competitively.

[samsamsam]

Just wondering if anyone had a good tip on how to stay relaxed while boxing. I know when I tense up my punches slow. I searched around the internet a bit and found this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMA6FT4noe0.

But I don't think my balance is off too much.

I just find myself tensing the upper body a lot. Part of it is maybe I am thinking about what I need to do vs being in the moment.

Any suggestions? Could be I just need more practice.

Thanks.

[Katatonic]

(07-14-2014 11:30 PM)samsamsam Wrote:  

Just wondering if anyone had a good tip on how to stay relaxed while boxing. I know when I tense up my punches slow. I searched around the internet a bit and found this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMA6FT4noe0.

But I don't think my balance is off too much.

I just find myself tensing the upper body a lot. Part of it is maybe I am thinking about what I need to do vs being in the moment.

Any suggestions? Could be I just need more practice.

Thanks.

It is an easily correctable problem and one you can implement with shadow boxing and bag work. Never clinch your fists until you're throwing a punch. With you hands loose it is very difficult for the rest of your body to be tense. It won't take long at all to make that a habit.

My fists close right before contact with a jab, three quarters of the way through a cross and hook, and the beginning of the upswing of an uppercut. I don't believe you have to do the same, just find what's comfortable for you.

[Kieran]

(07-14-2014 11:30 PM)samsamsam Wrote:  

Just wondering if anyone had a good tip on how to stay relaxed while boxing. I know when I tense up my punches slow. I searched around the internet a bit and found this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMA6FT4noe0.

But I don't think my balance is off too much.

I just find myself tensing the upper body a lot. Part of it is maybe I am thinking about what I need to do vs being in the moment.

Any suggestions? Could be I just need more practice.

Thanks.

You're right that it's not about balance. Beginners being told to relax is so common, but I hardly ever see coaches explain what they mean. From what I've seen, usually the problem is that they are trying to muscle the punch, instead of letting it pop / snap out from the shoulder. You don't need to focus on being completely relaxed, but rather focus on letting the correct movement occur freely at the shoulder.

It's difficult to describe with words, so maybe these videos will help...

Watch Gamboa shadow boxing from 3.55 in this video, and pay close attention to the movement at the shoulder, this is what your form should look like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmfXaQ8qBww

It should be easy to see what I mean on the jabs and straight punches in the video above, but it might be a bit harder on the hooks and uppers because of his clothing. With hooks and uppers, the body moves before the shoulder and arm, causing a bit of a stretch, and then the shoulder pops as the punch snaps out (you can see a bit of a jump at the shoulder as this takes place). This actually happens with straight punches too but it's more subtle. You can see an example clearly by watching Rigondeaux at 4.55 in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpbmUIQrC6E

With hooks the movement at the shoulder is similar to the uppercut, in that there is a stretch and then a pop at the shoulder. However, obviously it occurs at a different angle, and so the shoulder ends out in front covering the chin, more like on a straight punch. You can see the movement clearly from Mayweather in this video at 3.04, 3.10 (best example), and 3.21: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQJ9ZEd99Nw

The poster above also made a good suggestion about not clenching the fists, although I'd add advise not to do what some fighters do, which is to completely relax the hands until impact, as this will likely lead to hand injuries. Instead you can kind of half form a fist, but just don't clench it tightly.

I hope that helps

[Kieran]

Forgot to mention, a good drill for developing a feel for this is to shoe-shine while shadow boxing. See Mayweather at 1.41 - 1.47 in this video for an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB2_kiwcfWg

[rlongo924]

I wouldn't lift more than twice a week if you want to box. Lifting for boxers isn't good, it makes you heavy and it slows you down a ton and really hampers your Conditioning. But if you're just doing boxing for fitness purposes, then lift as much as your body will let you.

[rlongo924]

And as others have said, boxing is all about being relaxed. Tension is the enemy and it makes you tired. Gotta relax the shoulders, and have a little fun and swag throwing your punches. Don't think so much, just let the punches go.

[Giovonny]

(07-14-2014 11:30 PM)samsamsam Wrote:  

Just wondering if anyone had a good tip on how to stay relaxed while boxing.

When you say "boxing", do you mean an actual boxing match, sparring, or just hitting bags???

If you are just hitting bags, I recommend sparring. Sparring takes your mind off of technique. You don't have the luxury to think about your footwork, relaxation level, hand position, etc.

You are focused on survival and not getting knocked out.

Live fighting and sparring often takes you out of your own mind and grounds you in reality.

With practice and experience, this should help you relax.

At first, you may be tense, this is normal.

Boxing is just like any other intense activity.. If you want to be relaxed doing it, you have to do it constantly so that your body and mind get used to doing it.

If you want to be more relaxed, increase the intensity. With repetition and practice, intense will become normal.

[samsamsam]

Gio,

I am training with a trainer, I haven't started training on my own other than conditioning and lifting.

We do some sparring, heavy bag, speed bag (fuck you speed bag inventor - lol - I am finally getting the hang of it). He pushes me which I appreciate.

But like I said, I am getting the hang of it, but sometimes he'll throw out a number for the combination he wants, and I'll think he said it Latin or something.

I still haven't bought gloves yet (just referring to an earlier question), we just wrap some athletic tape around the wraps and I learned that I need to fully rotate the the wrist, I was stopping when my wrists were parallel to the ground. So my hands/wrists are better.

But I need to work on shoulder conditioning, somehow it always wears out first and the being tense isn't helping.

[Giovonny]

(07-15-2014 12:04 PM)samsamsam Wrote:  

being tense isn't helping.

Sounds like you just need more repetition and practice.

Being tense is normal, for a beginner.

ALSO, DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE!!!

And, again, do more live sparring.

Live sparring is 100000x more intense than hitting bags. It will increase your comfort level 100000x faster.

[AntiTrace]

going to start next week but I have one question: boxing or kickboxing?

There's a boxing gym a few blocks from my place.

A martial arts place that does kickboxing within a couple minutes driving distance.

Here's the age old question everyone asks about martial arts: Which one would be better in a street/bar fight?

[the chef]

to build on what gio said, when you're doing your road work, skipping rope, shadow boxing, etc. always remember to be taking long slow deep breaths through your nose.... really keeps yourself loose and fluid and helps with the gassing out. gets the mind right.

this is why i'm a big fan of doing yoga at least twice a week to compliment the boxing.

[LeBeau]

(07-17-2014 01:35 PM)AntiTrace Wrote:  

going to start next week but I have one question: boxing or kickboxing?

There's a boxing gym a few blocks from my place.

A martial arts place that does kickboxing within a couple minutes driving distance.

Here's the age old question everyone asks about martial arts: Which one would be better in a street/bar fight?

Think about all the fights you've seen in real life and on videos of real life situations.

How often is a kick the determining factor?

You'd be much better served learning how to box, not only to punch, but to avoid getting punched.

Also, I'm assuming since you only have so much time, there's something to be said for specialization.

Focus on building a decent boxing foundation, then you could always move to kickboxing after, rather then trying to learn both punches and kicks at the same time.

[samsamsam]

First of all, just want to thank everyone who gave me their tips and suggestions. Just started week 5. Seriously going to have to pull the trigger on gloves soon, tired of my wraps getting immediately soaked by the sweat of guy who used the gloves right before me

Today was probably my best day not only for performance, but the feeling afterwards. The shit that was bugging me lately just couldn't find it's way in. I think the exhaustion, the buzz, the high whatever you wanna call it wouldn't let me go to a bad place. For a couple of hours I was good, I gave my mind a break, a badly needed one. So thanks once again to the guys on the forum, to these threads that inspired me to take it seriously and to train.

I was looking around for some film shorts (thinking about making a short) not about anything specific, and stumbled across this. Just wanted to share it. Just shows you don't need all the best equipment, just a vision and commitment to make something of quality.

[Vroom]

(07-18-2014 12:32 AM)LeBeau Wrote:  

(07-17-2014 01:35 PM)AntiTrace Wrote:  

going to start next week but I have one question: boxing or kickboxing?

There's a boxing gym a few blocks from my place.

A martial arts place that does kickboxing within a couple minutes driving distance.

Here's the age old question everyone asks about martial arts: Which one would be better in a street/bar fight?

Think about all the fights you've seen in real life and on videos of real life situations.

How often is a kick the determining factor?

You'd be much better served learning how to box, not only to punch, but to avoid getting punched.

Also, I'm assuming since you only have so much time, there's something to be said for specialization.

Focus on building a decent boxing foundation, then you could always move to kickboxing after, rather then trying to learn both punches and kicks at the same time.

Sometimes, but nowhere near as often as it's a knee or elbow, which is where the real value of kickboxing lies. Don't get many of those in boxing.

[redbeard]

threads like this one make me love this forum. such good advice and solid attitudes from everyone.