12 Tips For Improving Your Boxing Stance

So you think boxers just stand there and punch, right? Wrong.

A good fighting stance gives maximum mobility while offering protection to the vital areas.

1. Relax

   Don’t be nervous and tense. Be loose, supple, and relaxed. Conserve your energy. Many fights are won by the man who can keep going longer. So, don’t burn off energy in nervous tension.

2. Feet in the proper positions

   Never get your feet crossed, proper balance is critical to being able to deliver punches or to subtly shift your body so your opponent misses. During training, think about your footwork first; without good footwork, nothing else will work right.

3. Knees slightly bent

   Never lock the knees. If your knees are locked, the only way you can move is by flexing your ankles. But when the knees are slightly flexed, the entire leg is involved in stepping. Mobility demands loose knees.

4. Hips and shoulders parallel to the ground

   Keep the hips and shoulders level. If they’re not level, your center of gravity will be skewed off to one side, making it difficult to move fluidly and quickly.

   Obviously, if you’re slipping a punch or otherwise engaged in the execution of a technique, your shoulders might momentarily be tilted. But when you’re in your basic fighting stance, keep them level.

5. Bend slightly at the waist

   To avoid getting hit, bend slightly forward at the waist. You’ll still have maximum power on your punches, but your range will be greater and you’ll have a safety margin so you can pull back slightly when your opponent tries to hit you.

6. Power hand back

   Unless you have a very good reason not to do so, keep your strong side to the rear. This gives you maximum distance to generate and deliver a power shot.

   There are some boxers who switch it up and fight ambidextrously, but this is usually seen as a sign of desperation rather than sound strategy.

7. Chin down

   Keep your chin down, tucked against the top of your chest. There is never any reason to lift your chin up when you are in the boxing ring. It’s your most vulnerable spot, so protect it at all times.

8. Look from the top of your eyes

   Learn how to watch your opponent from the top of your eyes. Never lift your chin up to see what’s going on. You have to get in the habit of looking out from just under your brows.

9. Lead hand guards in front

   Your lead hand should be up and out in front, approximately level with the eyes. The farther out you carry your lead hand, the quicker you’ll be able to jab your opponent. If you carry it low, your jab will have more power but it will be slower.

10. Rear hand guards the chin

    Your rear hand must be in place to guard your chin. It guard the side of your chin when your opponent throws a hook, and it moves in front to block your opponent’s straight punches.

11. Elbows in

    The elbows guard your sides. There’s no reason to carry them out, away from the body. Always keep them tucked in for safety and to ensure power on your punches.

What’s your favorite footwork tip? We need a 12th tip, so share your advice in the comments section below!

Tagged as: boxing

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