Stick to the basics when tired

Stick to the basics when tired: how to do it

1. When you feel tired, first check that your feet haven't stopped. Keep moving, even if the movement is small.
2. Check that your hands haven't dropped, and bring your guard back to your chin.
3. Check that you aren't holding your breath, and get back the rhythm of breathing out with your punches.

Stick to the basics when tired: key points

• You get hit if your hands stop and you get hit if your feet stop. So even when tired, choose to keep moving.
• Focus is part of your stamina. Knowing that focus slips most easily when you're tired, go back to the basics.
• When you're tired, the three things to check are footwork, guard and breathing.

Stick to the basics when tired: common mistakes

• Getting tired and planting your feet. You stay in front of the opponent and take punches in bunches.
• Letting your guard drop when it gets hard. Your face opens up and even light punches land.
• Holding your breath to grit it out. Your body tightens up and you can move even less.

Stick to the basics when tired: how to practice

• Late in a round of shadowboxing, move while checking your footwork, guard and breathing one at a time.
• When you start to tire from working the heavy bag, keep punching while moving your feet and bringing your guard back.

Related techniques

• Keep moving with small steps
  Small steps
• Bring your hands back under your chin
  Back to guard
• Keep breathing at close range
  Breathe
• Keep your left hand up
  Left hand up
• Don't plant your feet in long combinations
  Keep feet moving