Getting into the ring to begin your boxing career can start during your teenage years. It is often best to learn the sport early on because you can develop great habits in the ring when you train under the eye of an attentive trainer. Young boxers have to get themselves in excellent condition if they are going to be able to attack and defend themselves in the ring.
Conditioning
The first aspect a teenager has to work at before getting into the ring is conditioning. In order to box without putting yourself in a position where you are likely to get hurt, you must work on getting in top shape. It may be easier for young people to get in good shape than older people because they recover quickly, but intense work needs to be done to get there. Road work is the first pre-requisite, and that usually includes running three to four miles at a time three or four times per week. Hitting the speed bag, lifting weights and doing ab crunches are also essential when it comes to getting shape for boxing.
Footwork
Teen boxers have to learn footwork before they get into the ring against an opponent. This means building up the leg muscles so you can move quickly to throw a punch and also avoid one. Two of the top exercises to improve footwork include jumping rope and shadow boxing. Jumping rope will improve your quickness and coordination. Shadow boxing will get you used to the specific movements in boxing. You will have to shuffle your feet quickly to advance into an opening and then retreat when your opponent is on the attack. These movements have to become instinctive to the teen boxer.
Punching Combinations
Throwing punches in combinations is essential for a teenage boxer. It's not enough to throw one punch and retreat and throw another punch and retreat. You have to throw punches in combinations and do so from a variety of angles. This is done by hitting the speed bag, the floor-to-ceiling bag and working with your trainer. The speed bag is suspended at eye level and will allow you to throw a series of left jabs and right-hand punches at a fast rhythm.
The floor-to-ceiling bag is about the size of a volleyball and hangs on a long elastic band. When you hit it, it rebounds in an unpredictable manner and helps a fighter improve his reactions. When in the ring with the trainer, he will wear target gloves that allows him to absorb punches without pain. He will move those target gloves and that will help the fighter learn to throw punches accurately.
Heavy Bag Training
One of the most shocking aspects for a young person who gets into the ring for the first time is learning how to throw a hard punch with consistency. It's not just about using your fists, arms and shoulders. A power punch is thrown with the force of your entire body. Start the punch in your legs and use the power in your hips, glutes, lower back and core muscles in addition to your arms. Hit the bag for two to three minutes in an effort to improve punching power.
Sparring
This is the big test before a young fighter goes into the ring in an actual bout. A teen boxer may train very well, get in great shape and learn how to throw punches. However, to do this in the ring against a live opponent is a test in itself. The fighter must find his courage and spar at least two to three rounds every day in the two weeks leading up to the fight in order to help the fighter get used to throwing hard punches and learning how to avoid them.
Posted in: Boxing