Participating in the "sweet science" doesn't have to be all work and no play. Although preparing for a bout in the ring will require its fair share of gut checks and simple drive, you also can benefit from competitive games against yourself or classmates. By adding this element of fun, a coach or trainer can push you even further than you would have thought possible.
Sparring
Competitive sparring is a core part of boxing practice and one that many boxers look to most of all. Because it comes as close to a real bout as you can get without actually being in one, sparring works all the attributes you need to succeed in boxing. On the other hand, this intense drill can get out of control between competitive fighters. You should never spar without the supervision of a coach, or at least an experienced third party who's comfortable separating two fighters and telling them to cool down.
45-Degree Drill
Use a 40 to 50 lb. punching bag and gloves to play this game, timed against other boxers or to beat your personal best time. To play, set the bag at a 45-degree angle to the floor and ceiling. When time starts, release the bag and try to keep it at that angle using only punches and punching combination. If the bag falls below 45 degrees, your time is up. Because the bag will rotate and roll, this drill works your footwork as well as your punching skills.
In and Out
Footwork, timing and smoothness are the hallmarks of this game. Set up by having fighters form a loose circle around a 100-lb. heavy punching bag. The coach starts play by calling one boxer's name. That boxer shuffles up to the bag and begins working it with punching combinations. After a while, the coach will call another boxer's name. That boxer will shuffle in to replace the original fighter. The goal is to make the transition so smoothly that somebody only listening to the pattern of punches wouldn't realize the fighters had swapped.
By the Numbers
Begin this drill, which works accuracy, timing and muscle memory, by reviewing a set of punching combinations each given a different number. When play begins, a coach or fellow player calls out numbers at random. Fighters playing the game must execute the correct punching combination in the air, on focus mitts or on a bag. Fighters who hesitate or make a mistake are out -- consigned to the sidelines or to a conditioning task like jumping rope. The last fighter standing takes the role of leader for the next round.
Posted in: Boxing