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Learn How to Box – Punching

Read on and there are video links galore at the bottom of the page…

Punching is what everyone automatically associates with boxing, and why wouldn’t you?  After all, punching is what ultimately delivers victory.  The absence of punching will not only lead to a rather dull boxing encounter, it may also lead to one or both boxers being disqualified for not being proactive.  In short, to learn how to box we really do need to throw punches and throw them well.

In the broadest terms, we can group punches into 3 areas:

  • Straights
  • Hooks
  • Uppercuts

There are some variations, but in general terms these are the types of punches, or ‘shots’ as they are more commonly referred to, that are thrown in a boxing match.

So, we have 3 types of shot.  We can then state that these shots are thrown at different ranges.  Again, we can identify 3 ‘ranges’ in which shots are thrown:

  • Short range
  • Mid range
  • Long range

If you haven’t already, check out the article on ‘Range in Boxing’ which covers in some detail the concept of short, mid and long range and some other useful stuff as well.

A simple statement we can now make is that straight punches will always be thrown at long range, whilst hooks and uppercuts can be thrown at any of these ranges.

Finally, we can deliver our shots to the opponent’s head or the opponent’s body, with either our left or right hand.  If you are an orthodox, the left hand is also described as your ‘lead hand’ and your right hand as the ‘back hand’.  The opposite is true in reverse if you are a southpaw boxer. So, we can see that there are lots and lots of variations that are possible.

Below are links to each of the shots covered on the myboxingcoach site.  If you are interested and want to learn how to box properly, jump straight in and have a look around.  Leave comments or questions on the relevant article and I’ll post a reply.

Straight Shots:

The Boxing Jab

The Right Cross (Straight Backhand)

Hook Shots:

Left hook/Lead hand hook at long range

Left hook/Lead hand hook at mid range

Left hook/Lead hand hook at short range

Right hook/Back hand hook at long range

Right hook/Back hand hook at mid range

Right hook/Back hand hook at short range

Uppercut Shots:

Left uppercut/Lead hand uppercut at long range

Left uppercut/Lead hand uppercut at mid range

Left uppercut/Lead hand uppercut at short range

Right uppercut/Back hand uppercut at long range

Right uppercut/Back hand uppercut at mid range

Right uppercut/Back hand uppercut at short range