Machine Gun punches versus slow tempo infrequent punching.

      I used to do Muay Thai before switching over to boxing, and I noticed a key difference which makes boxing training style generally a more superior style for me.

  Bruce Lee once mentioned in his book The Tao of Jeet Kune Do that

"The leg is a powerful weapon, but the man who 

can punch better will be the one who will win. "

 I personally agree with this notion, simply because boxing requires such a high volume of punches that the fighter will develop his striking skills far more rapidly than a fighter who is concerned with more limbs ( knees elbows, kicks etc)

   

   In this article I am not concerned with which style is superior, because every style has is limitations and advantages. . I am bringing your attention to the production of punches in each session. In a Muay Thai session, unless your coach is very boxing minded, you will spend a 75% of your time on kicks, knees and elbows.w

 To become an expert with your fists and to walk in the foot steps of boxing gods, then you must spend the majority on producing punches every training session. 

 

At the end of the day, you got to ask yourself, how any punches did you throw today, because you cannot wish for it for it more than you work for it. 

 

LEFT HOOK, or LEAD HOOK

 This punch is a sneaker damager, because when it is thrown correctly the opponent won't see it coming. We all know that the unexpected hits make the knock out. Since this movement leaves a fighter vulnerable, like most offensive movement, it is important that it is timed correctly. Another thing I will add to this blog is something that will make this for left hook different most convention styles of left hook.

  If you have read the previous posts I have emphasized mobility and staying low, while having the legs fully leveraged. I emphasize this because it allow with explosive and sudden movement, and in this case, the left hook needs sudden movement to destroy target.

There are several movements that need to happen simultaneously for this technique.

 After the initial set up, whether its a jab or a feint you look for the moment that you sense is the right moment between the heart beats.  The timing could be right be opponent is leaning back and dropping his hands or retracting his arms from a previous punch. It is important in practice to know long it takes fro you to execute your technique and recover so you can time this left hook on time.

  Now the starting position where you in the midst of combat, as this punch is never thrown without other supportive actions alike previous jabs or evasive movement. There is a wind up of the hips, a simultaneous lunge where your hip will drop and pivot with the back foot pushing and opening violently and snapping the shoulder and the elbow cross in front of your face, and if you timed it light it should land. You must punch with your entire body, Even it is a short quick and explosive movement, this punch like other punches is not just the arms strength as most beginners mistakenly perceive.


 A great resource I have found is Sugarboxing.com which has great 3D illustrations that help with understanding the movement for the more visual learners.

These movements have to be done in simultaneously with the addition of the swing left hook.

check out this clip below, very useful in showing the left leaping hook by Mike Tyson.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcKlucR73f0

Right straight

 The right straight punch can transfer a tremendous amount of power, mostly due to the positioning of the shoulder over the rear leg. When I teach this movement I always emphasize the rear foot's contact with the ground. The amount of force initially pushed into the ground will dictate how much force will go forward through the punch.

 The falling front step, as with the jab will initiate the power, as the power will transfer from the legs to the upper body the torso must twist into the punch like a door slamming.

 This is best explained visually.

 In the pictures above, Mike starts his combination with a jab, which should noted as typically the right hand is not a leading punch, rather it is a follow up punch.  More importantly, you can see clearly in the first photo how his foot is so planted to push into the ground to generate the force for the right hand. In the second and through you can see the rotation and the snap of his should to explode into his target. Again I want to emphasize the snapping motion of the punch(which I wrote more about in another article), it is not a push, nor will the punch be powered by simple rotation.

 In the last photo, Mike demonstrates this punch with the rear pivoting and pushing into the ground until the punch is fully thrown, this is an important point and must be practiced ceaselessly.


 The moment immediately after impact should also be considered, as you are very vulnerable to counter attack. The followup punch after the right hand is typically a left hook; however, it can be any other punch by the left hand. Some fighters even throw the right straight in the doubles to disrupt the opponents counter punches.


 This punch is like the heavy artillery of boxing, however it does require a set up or at least a perfectly timed opportunity. This punch can leave you vulnerable. This punch follows the line of power very well, and that is why it is so strong. I will explain the line of power in a another article.

Peek-a-boo Jab and the Falling step

 I typically focus on attacking first because in the over all scheme of boxing hitting the target is very important. Although, footwork is an essential factor that makes or break a boxer, and I will discuss that in great detail in the next post. 

      On a side note, to accurately hit your target, the eyes need to be engaged in perceiving an opening, before a shot is fired. The eyes are essential in fighting, in other words punching blindly will only waste energy and leave you vulnerable. To look at what you about to hit, directs your energy through that target. 

 When it comes to the offensive movements, the basic punches are the jab, cross, hook, and the uppercut.  However, when you consider the angles and distances, these punches can transform into countless different forms. The literally transform into the mechanical movement that is needed in that instant. With enough practice, coordination and the ability to hit effectively from all angles can be achieved.

   To keep it simple, it is essential to master the basic forms of punches without the added angles and movements. But keep in mind that they are really principle punches and you are not bound by them. 

 The Jab needs no introduction, as it is the punch in boxing. However, in the peek-a-boo style, you are squared up with the opponent; thus. the amount of power it can generate is significant. In most styles, the lead arm rests more forward which is less effective for power but great for feinting or faking. I think in this style there are few wasted movements, every punch is meant to hurt.  This punch must be practiced without cease, as its refinement is only achieved through proper repetition. 

   The movement starts from the ground, with the rear foot pushing forward into the ground causing a force to travel of the leg into the hip which will cause a " falling front step"(explained in great detail by Jack Dempsey in his fantastic book CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTING). This with torque the upper body to twist and here the shoulder snaps and an the arms explodes forward in a stabbing motion towards its target, while the wrist is twisting into a thumbs down position. This may seem like a lot of points to remember, but with practice it all becomes muscle memory and can be preformed subconsciously. 

  A professional boxer will know exactly what a proper jab will feel like when delivered properly but he does not need to think of the steps involved. Again with practice, this is accomplished. 

From the Ground up!

 When I was in the army, I really appreciated moving close to the ground to avoid detection. I felt close to the earth, and yet since my legs were in a loaded position I could explode into any direction. Peek-a-boo style boxing moves the same way, it also needs the ability to move explosively in any direction.

In this picture Mike tyson squats down before exploding forward. 

 This style of fighting is very demanding and athletic because of this reason. It is rewarding with explosiveness, power, balance, and rapid defensive maneuvers. Different styles might have you standing up more, like muay thai, because there is practical point for that as well, such as dealing with kicks and knees. 

A lowered Stance has more stability and explosiveness, increasing the power of punches by using more force  of the leg muscles.

Mike tyson clearly shows the power transfer here, and even in Muay thai the lowered stance can be used to generate more power during rushes. 

Stance is best taught in person, but essential the weight is divided 50/50 between legs and the hips in this style square up with the opponent. Similar to sprint position only difference being that your hands are in a defensive posture, protecting the chin and ribs.

 I will post videos soon. 

The Foundation of a Fighter

       Since this is the first post, I will discuss the foundation of a fighter, his heart. This subject alone is a worth a million words, but I will only write about the necessary aspects. There are very few chances for a person to really see what they are made of in the average life. But when those moments arrive people will se who they really are.

      A heart is like a home, who lives in there will dictate what kind of a fighter your will become. If fear lives in your heart then you cannot fight, or at least you cannot fight well. There is no shame in experiencing fear;however, there needs be discipline to act despite the fear in order to be effective. A coward will experience fear and freeze or avoid the confrontation, while the courageous one will continue to fight while feeling the same fear as the coward. The sensation of fear, can be overwhelming for the inexperienced but like new sensations, they become less intense over time.

 Furthermore, there needs to be acceptance that pain, hard work, and sacrifice will be common part of this game. The pain I am referring to is not of injuries but rather of the wear of the tear that is necessary  to break down and rebuild a man into fighter. The inner world of the fighter is far more important that than his external abilities and limits. This is because without courage, no movement is authentic and the fighter is less effective.

 The only drill or practice with getting connected with your heart, is meditation. In that, you have to feel everything and not listen to the mind which is always looking for death around the corner. If you can listen to your heart, you may see something that will surprise you. As a fighter, or even a warrior, being in tune with the music of your heart is the only way you can win that belt or take that hill.

Moving on now, but I will come back to this topic later on.