| 1. |
When
throwing a knee, point your toes. This stops your foot getting caught up
on legs and knees, also enabling a better push off from the ground and
angles the knee for a strike.
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| 2. |
Try
standing up rather than sitting between rounds. Lean back into the corner
to take the weight, therefore keeping your lungs unrestricted, and you
don’t have to heave yourself to your feet for the next round! Provides
ease of access over the ropes for your corner to deal with cuts too!
|
| 3. |
Lift
your toes up when leg kicking – raises the tendon on the front of the
shin to give more protection to the shin bone. Also helps with distancing
– a couple of kicks where you catch your feet and you’ll soon know
where your shins are!
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| 4. |
Give
yourself only one aim for each round of sparring in training, ie. only
work on one thing at a time. Examples of this are footwork, or to work the
jab, or set your opponent up for a combination, or work defence….this
list goes on! This enables you to focus on the specific task.
|
| 5. |
Shift
your weight onto your back foot to give the appearance of being further
away than you actually are – makes it quicker to get to the target and
still keep your feet on the ground.
|
| 6. |
Shift
your weight onto the front foot to give the appearance of being closer
than you are, enabling you to quickly lean back to evade, still having the
feet planted for a solid counter.
|
| 7. |
Try
not to swing your arms too much on hooks and uppercuts – allow body
rotation through the hips to maximise movement behind the strike while
still keeping tight with the guard.
|
| 8. |
Having
trouble due to blinking when something comes towards your eyes during a
fight? Try shadowboxing into a shower, looking into the water droplets.
You’ll soon learn to stare and not be distracted.
|
| 9. |
If
your elbows keep lifting up when you throw straight punches, throw
hundreds of punches with your shoulder, fist and elbow on a wall –
you’ll soon knock your elbow and stop lifting it!
|
| 10. |
Don’t
drink alcohol if you’ve had a heavy head shot or are suffering from
bruising – alcohol thins the blood and can make the injuries far worse.
|
| 11. |
Step
forward when the ref says “fight”. Your opponent will either step
forward himself and engage, or side step or retreat. If he engages,
you’re ready to strike/counter, if not, you are now controlling the
ring.
|
| 12. |
Try
fighting a larger opponent from the outside of his guard – looping in
overhand rights for example, as a big fella rarely expects an attack from
a little fella from this angle.
|
| 13. |
Try
sending feints from small movements, minimising action for maximum
reaction. Think popping your hips, twitching your hands, lifting your feet
quickly, weight shifts, and foot positions. Make the movements small and
fast.
|
| 14. |
Keep
both feet on the ground when punching for maximum power.
|
| 15. |
Thai
boxers should learn from points fighters – learn how to chamber and pump
out fast, accurate kicks, and to switch between kicks in the chamber, ie.
side, round and hook kicks without putting your feet down.
|
| 16. |
Points
fighters should learn from Thai boxers – learn how to use the hips to
maximum effect for power, and learn how to use the shin to strike.
|
| 17. |
Try
to attack at 45 degree angles, running through and past your opponent
rather than straight at them, maximising your chances of hitting without
being hit.
|
| 18. |
Watch
the breathing – know when you are safe. You’ll never be hit by an
opponent who is breathing in!
|
| 19. |
Be
careful where you look! Don’t look at the target you’re about to try
and strike, know where it is, and strike it through experience. Don’t
let your eyes sell your attack to your opponent.
|
| 20. |
Realise
body mechanics. Your head sits on your body which sits on your legs. If
you know where one of the three is, you know where the other two are!
(Unless your opponent is already knocked out!) You don’t need to see a
target to know where it is.
|
| 21. |
Learn
how to train using plyometrics. Fastest, most effective way to explosive
power and strength for fighting.
|
| 22. |
Don’t
over train – try having an easy session to follow a hard one. Doing two
or more hard sessions in a row can lead to injury.
|
| 23. |
Don’t
over train – give yourself rest days. A good rule of thumb is one day
off training is good, two acceptable, three is bad. Don’t be afraid of
doing light recovery sessions to move the blood around without tiring you
further.
|
| 24. |
Don’t
trade with a stronger opponent. Move and hit with accuracy. Use good
ringcraft. Counter. Stop his attacks with your own before he can bring the
power into play. If caught back onto the ropes, letting them support you
and take the force out of punches. Keep a good guard!!
|
| 25. |
Fight
your fight! Get your opponent to fight to your pace, your strategy, and
not the other way round!
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