When it comes to punching, boxers are hard to beat. Different combat sports focus on different aspects of fighting. Wrestlers focus on pins and takedowns, kickboxers learn to use their fists and their feet, but boxers rely solely on their hands. Students of the sweet science have just two weapons to use, so they have learned more tricks and ways to punch than almost any other martial artists around.
Boxing
Boxing can trace its roots to the ancient Greeks, when it featured as a sport in the original Olympic games. It transitioned from bare-knuckle fighting to a gloved art with the introduction of the Queensberry rules. As the sport began to modernize, so too did the techniques employed. Boxers can call on hundreds of years of tradition, all relentlessly tested in competition so that only the most successful techniques are still widely used.
Fundamentals
The truth is, top boxers do not rely on a wide variety of different punches. Instead, the secret to quality boxing lies in mastery of the basics. To paraphrase the great Bruce Lee, you should fear the man who practices one punch ten thousand times, rather than the man who practices ten thousand punches once each. Constantly practicing and refining your punches is the best way to develop power, efficiency and accuracy. There is a saying that world championships can be won with a good jab and cross, the real bread-and-butter punch in boxing.
Mechanics
The secret to good punching lies in body mechanics. Arm punching, or attempting to use only the muscles in your arms and shoulder to generate power, is less efficient and more tiring than using your entire body to generate power. From an orthodox boxing stance, standing with your left leg forward, you should focus on driving your punch from the floor. For the jab and cross, you need to push off from the ball of your right foot to generate momentum and ensure that you get your full body weight behind your punches. When throwing hooks and uppercuts, you should again drive through your feet, focusing on rotating your hips to generate power.
Relaxation
Prior to defending his welterweight title in the Ultimate Fighting Championship against Josh Koscheck, UFC champion Georges St-Pierre spent time working with legendary boxing coach Freddie Roach. Roach spent time refining St-Pierre's technique, focusing on relaxation while throwing the technique in order to maximize power. According to Roach, the secret to fast and powerful punching lies in keeping your body relaxed up to the point of contact. Trying to move fast with your muscles tense is like trying to drive a car with the brakes on. Practice delivering your strikes-with-relaxation by shadow boxing and drilling your shots on a punch bag.
References
- "Striking Thoughts"; Bruce Lee; 2002
- "Boxing Mastery"; Mark Hatmaker; 2004
- Ross Enamait: Boxing Coach
- "UFC Countdown: St-Pierre vs Koscheck"; Zuffa; 2010
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