Fundamentals
Throw even when you're not set
Throw anyway
As you train more, you can pick up a habit of not punching unless your stance and timing are set. In real exchanges, the perfect shape rarely comes. The idea is to throw anyway even when you're off balance and build up the experience of landing from there. It's for people who care so much about form that they've stopped throwing punches.
| Type | Fundamentals |
|---|---|
| Guard | Written for orthodox (left foot forward) |
Throw even when you're not set: how to do it
- Even if you feel you're not in a good position to punch, throw if you're in range.
- Remember whether the punch landed and what position it landed from.
- Add the positions you landed from to the moments you'll punch from next time, so your hands come out in more situations.
Throw even when you're not set: key points
- If you wait only for moments when your stance and timing are perfect, you stop making the decision to punch at all.
- Throw even when you're off balance, and build experience landing. Without the experience of throwing and landing, your hands won't come out in that situation next time.
Throw even when you're not set: common mistakes
- Waiting and waiting until your form is set. Chances to punch hardly ever come and you finish without throwing much.
- Giving up on punching from a bad position after missing once. Experience of landing doesn't build up and the situations where your hands come out don't increase.
Throw even when you're not set: how to practice
- In shadowboxing, throw punches with your feet together or your body tilted. Check that your hands still come out from shapes that aren't set.
- Moving around the heavy bag, throw a punch before your stance is set. Remember the positions where you felt it land.
Related techniques
Left and right are written for orthodox (left foot forward). If you're southpaw, swap left and right as you read. How to read the notation
This is Japanese-style boxing: techniques as taught at a boxing gym in Japan. American or Mexican coaches may teach some of them differently.