Learning the fundamentals of boxing is very important. Every day in training, you should strive to master the basic techniques and how to use them effectively.
But boxing isn’t just about precision and technical execution. In fact, there’s more than a handful of interesting tricks and techniques that you can add to your game that will benefit you greatly — things they don’t teach in a beginner class.
These tricks will help you in specific situations, allowing you to gain an advantage in any fight. More often than not, your opponents will not expect them, producing some fantastic results.
We’ve come up with a list of some interesting boxing tricks for you to work on and try the next time you’re in the gym.
Want to take your game to the next level? Here are five boxing tricks to add to your repertoire.
1) Use Lateral Movement To Create Angles
Boxing is a sport that heavily emphasises motion to create openings, and one way to do that is to use your lateral movement to remain a step ahead of your opponents.
While it’s tempting to just stand in the pocket and exchange blows, it’s vital for those just starting out to develop an awareness of the space around them. If you ever get in a phone booth situation where you and your opponent are in tight close quarters, creating angles is the best way to gain an advantage. This means moving out to the side using footwork, circling away from an opponent’s power shots, and setting up your combinations.
From there, a quick hook to the body or a short uppercut can momentarily sting your opponent, which will then allow you to follow up for a quick 1-2.
Creating angles is a great way to be a step ahead of your opponent, while also maintaining distance for whatever counter they may throw.
2) Utilise The Jab And Jab Feint To Set Up Shots
The jab is hands down the most fundamental punch in boxing. It’s the punch that’s often used to set up other punches. Learning how to utilise the jab to the best of your ability should be your primary focus as a beginner boxer.
The jab is the most basic punch to have in your repertoire. It’s fast, sometimes powerful, disruptive, and incredibly versatile. Though it is not known to deal the most damage, the jab is essential in setting up shots in a multitude of situations.
The jab feint, on the other hand, is also a very effective tool to elicit a reaction from your opponent. Feinting with the jab causes opponents to drop the guard, in turn creating openings for you to capitalise on.
In addition, learning how to use the jab to manage distance is also recommended.
Jab and jab often. It’s the key to a good offence. The moment you abandon the jab, your activity drops and you become very predictable.
3) Block Your Opponent’s Vision With Light Punches
Boxing will always be a nuanced game of strategies. Nothing is ever straightforward, and as a fighter, you have to expect the unexpected. Furthermore, it’s always better to be a smart fighter than to be a marauding savage.
Many beginner fighters tend to employ the high guard, because it gives a false sense of security, so much so that they become overly reliant on it. When faced with an opponent who employs the high guard, don’t fall into the trap of trying to break that guard with power shots.
In fact, you don’t need to throw power shots all the time. Instead, try peppering your opponent with light shots to the high guard to keep him focused on that particular area. And in an instant, switch it up by digging a hook to the body.
Your opponent will be so concerned about blocking your light punches with the high guard, that he will momentarily leave the body wide open.
It’s quite frustrating if your opponent doesn’t engage and keeps his guard so high up that your punches can’t seem to find the target. Instead of blowing all your energy with powerful combinations, maintain a constant stream of light punches to misdirect your opponent.
4) Pull The Guard Down To Force An Opponent Off Balance
Another option is to literally take your glove, wrap it around your opponent’s glove in the high guard and sort of yank on it. Pull your opponent’s guard down by force. This will either create an opening in the high guard so you can capitalise, or knock an opponent off balance, which leaves him even more vulnerable.
This is a tactic your opponent will likely not expect, giving you the element of surprise. It’s also a tactic that is rarely ever trained for.
Remember, boxing isn’t just about sound and polished technique. At the root of it all, boxing is still very much a fight. And some of the most advanced techniques and strategies require you to perform unorthodox manoeuvres.
Pulling the guard down by force is just one way to change things up in a fight and signal to your opponent that you know more than just the basics.
5) Frustrate Aggressive Opponents With Dirty Boxing
It can be very daunting to fight against very aggressive and powerful opponents. The key to dealing with aggressive fighters is by frustrating them.
This could mean making them miss with your elusive defense, and then making them pay. But it could also mean using a variety of dirty boxing techniques to throw them off their game.
Tools such as the clinch, forearm guards, and shoulder pushes are all very frustrating to deal with and could potentially break your opponent’s rhythm, or frustrate him to the point that it starts to affect him mentally.
As an opponent charges forward looking to attack, tie them up in the clinch and connect with some short shots to the head and body from that position. They don’t do much damage but are very pesky and annoying.
You can push off slightly with your forearms to create distance, and then come around with some sharp counters. Using your shoulders to knock an opponent off balance is also a sly trick to use, especially near the ropes and corners.
Dirty boxing, when used correctly, is a good tool to gain the upper hand.
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