The first punch a boxer will learn is the Jab. The jab is your “Bread and butter” punch and should be practiced over and over again.

The Jab can be used to keep your opponent at a distance and to score points at long range or medium range, not only scoring points and discouraging your opponents from moving in but it also sets him up for a powerful right cross.

Most Trainers will tell their fighters to “Fight from behind the jab”.

Start in a boxer’s stance, both fists relaxed and palms facing each other, your right hand closest to your chin and your left hand approx 4 inches in front, (opposite for southpaws).

The jab is thrown with the leading hand in a straight line towards your target and it comes back in a straight line to your chin. As the jab leaves the guard, the fist gradually clenches, rotates a quarter notch (palm facing downwards) and is fully clenched just before impact.

DO NOT make the common mistake of dropping your right hand when you throw the jab because you will leave an opening for a left hook counter.

The jab is the busiest punch in boxing, although not considered to be a power punch, it can cause a lot of damage over the course of a bout.

A boxer can learn to “Stiffen” his jab by turning his hips with the punch and stepping in as it is delivered.

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Punching – Where just individual punches are used on there own and in combinations

Defense – Where just blocks, slipping, bobbing and weaving is used.

Boxing – Punching and defense combined.

Kicking – Where just kicks are used, including low kicks to thigh area and sweeps.

Kickboxing – All of the above.

Thai boxing – All of the above plus knees, elbows and stop hits.

Close quarter combat – Staying within one meter of a wall and using whatever strikes are possible without moving away from the wall (mainly just knees and elbows, although hooks, uppercuts and close strikes are possible, depending on distance). Shadow defense must not be forgotten here.

MMA – All of the above, plus sprawls, simulated throws and take downs (also rolls and ground fighting drills can be incorporated here)

Karate – Where street orientated strikes and defense are used. Elbows, knees, low blows, low kicks.

As you can see i practice a wide variety of shadow training, which are specific to martial artists. There are probably more and I welcome your comments. Its best to do about 60-80% of your shadow work at a speed which is not your fastest so as it does not become sloppy. When practising, always keep an eye on your guard, correct body movement (turning hips on punches etc) and pace yourself. It is also recommended that occasionally you work at your highest speed. For a good workout do each type of shadow fighting for 2-3 minutes taking a 30 second break between each one, and try and work each phase at least twice!

Markos

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FIGHTING AND TRAINING METHODS FOR THE REALISTIC MARTIAL ARTIST

You want to get in shape. Yet, you hate going to public health clubs. You want to build your own home gym. What will you need and where do you start?

First, you need to think about your exercise objectives? Do you want a cardio workout? Do you like lifting weights? Do you bore easily with the same exercise routines? These are some of the questions you need to be asking yourself.

The perfect home gym should have the equipment and the space where you can do a variety of different types of exercise. Your body needs some cardio (aerobic) exercise as well as some resistance and strength training exercise.

Here are a few items you should have when building a basic home gym:

* A comfortable mat. You need this to do some of your stretching and yes even some abdominal type work.

* Dumbbells ranging in sizes, elastic toning bands, ankle weights. These all are good for strength and resistance training (as well as building muscle definition).

* A bicycle for your aerobic needs. You may even want one that will give you an additional upper body workout in the form of rowing type bars.

* A treadmill. You know they say that walking is the best form of exercise we can do.

* A DVD player for you to play exercises DVD’s. You can find many challenging DVD’s from yoga, dancing, and even boxing type formats to keep you from getting bored.

* Stability Ball (especially useful with some of the yoga workouts)

* A mirror to watch your movements. This can be beneficial to insure that you are using the equipment correctly and that you are performing each series of movements correctly. Hopefully, this will also motivate you to keep proper balance and form.

Of course, what you purchase for your ultimate home gym will also depend on how much space you have. Not everyone will have the space for both a treadmill and a stationary bike. Yet, some people may have an abundance of space that will even cater to full sized gym equipment such as a Bow Flex or a weight bench with accompanying weight bar and weights.

Then there is the cost issue to consider. The actual exercise machines such as the treadmills, stationary bikes and the full size machines can cost a bit of money. Do you really have it to spare? Is it really worth the cost? Will you actually use the equipment or will it soon collect dust. Be honest about these things.

Items such as stability balls, exercise bands, exercise DVD’s, etc are beneficial in helping one to get in shape. Yet, these items are not expensive. Should these be more of the type of items you should consider buying for your home gym? Should you at least start with some of these less expensive items to see how long your commitment will last?

A home gym is definitely a way in which many people can get into better shape. It is convenient and a lot of people feel more confident by exercising in private. If this is the way in which you think you can get into better shape, then begin thinking about what your own needs are to make your own perfect home gym today.

Jeffrey Meier at Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.thearticlehome.com blog offers even more detailed information on a wide variety of topics.

Note: Work your way up. When you feel badly light- headed, stand up straight and breath deeply.

THE TORNADO WORKOUT

1. 1 round: shadow boxing

2 15 push ups, 15 leap ups, 15 jumping jacks

3. 1 round: shadow boxing

4. 15 jumping jacks, 15 leap ups, 15 push ups

5. 1 round: shadow boxing

6. 1 round: jumping rope

7. 15 knee in push ups, 15 jumping lunges, 15 burpees

8. 1 round: jumping rope

9. 15 burpees, 15 jumping lunges, 15 knee in push ups

10. 1 round: jumping rope

11. 1 round: Power shadow boxing

12. AB work 30 EACH: crunches, side crunches, other side, hip raises, leg raises, flutters, scissors, bicycle, push and pull.

Keep your rest times less. That is how you develop to eliminate the dizziness. This workout will increase your stamina tremendously and will keep you in shape for boxing and other activities! It is quick and intense. And just a reminder, there is no substitute to hard work!

Do you want more information and tips? Request your copy of the exclusive Train Like a Boxer Strategy Report (a $299 value, yours for FREE): How to Achieve a Leaner and Stronger Body with Limited Time, Space and Equipment at lawrence@trainlikeaboxer.com TODAY!!!

Lawrence Ragos is the founding director of Motivation Sports LLC (http://www.trainlikeaboxer.com). A Michigan based training company providing cutting edge boxing, fitness and self- defense programs. For more information, you may check his blogspot at http://boxingwithlawrence.blogspot.com

Today there are specific boxing training techniques that a fighter can use to train each part of his or her game. One of the areas that most aspiring fighters need help with is their conditioning and stamina. Without it, you can struggle at the worst and most inopportune times, and with it, you will be able to rise above the competition and stay in great shape.

When you’re looking at boxing training techniques specifically for stamina and conditioning, obviously you’ll be looking for ways to improve how many rounds you can fight and train for, and how hard you can train during each one. This doesn’t mean you have to go run ten miles every day however. There are many other techniques and strategies that you can use while training for boxing.

One of these is to incorporate a circuit training workout into your routine. A circuit training workout will move you quickly in between different exercises and machines without pause, as you work nonstop at each station. It works out your entire body, builds strength and will help to increase your stamina by getting your body used to working at full speed for extended periods of time.

Another one of the boxing training techniques you can use to improve stamina and conditioning is to buy a boxing round timer and set it to different lengths. Traditionally, while training for boxing your round timer is set to 3 minute rounds with 1 minute breaks. However, improve your conditioning you can make some small tweaks.

You could opt to limit your rest with the boxing round timer to 30 seconds between rounds. Alternatively, or in addition, you can set your rounds to be 4 or 5 minutes in length for a harder, more exhausting workout period. Either way, you will be taxing your body to a higher degree while training for boxing, which makes those formerly hard moments during a fight all the easier.

Of course, even if you are training for boxing just to get into better shape to begin with, it’s still important to train for conditioning and stamina. It will improve your overall fitness, while helping you reach the goals that you have for weight loss and appearance.

Put these two boxing training techniques to use today and you’ll start seeing serious improvements in your conditioning and stamina in no time at all. Training for boxing can be fun, challenging, intense and even rewarding. To make the most out of your time, incorporate a boxing round timer with tweaked settings and try a circuit training workout.

Visit Boxing Equipment 24/7 to learn more about the best boxing training techniques that you can start putting to use today. You’ll also find a fantastic selection of cheap, brand name boxing equipment to complete your collection and improve your performance.

“You can over hype this fight, if you want, call it a career defining fight, because that’s exactly what this fight is for me,” said Taylor, who hinted that he had trouble making the 160-pound limit during the first fight.

“If he wants to fight at 166, that’s fine by me. I can go home and eat pasta and not have to worry about the scales. I’ll be even stronger,” warned the Youngstown, Ohio native Kelly “the Ghost” Pavlik (32-0, 29 KO’s) right after knocking Taylor in the seventh round.

Taylor’s former trainer Emanuel Steward however hinted that the weight issue could pose a concern for his former fighter. “Pavlik had to kill himself to make 160. This allows him to be even stronger this time around,” Steward was quoted earlier.

Taylor remains a dangerous fighter and is even more determined to get right back in the ring with “The Ghost”, who also had a hard time making the weight, survived a knockdown, and went on to dethrone Mr. “Bad Intentions”. The only worry is that “The Beast” will be even bigger and stronger the second time around.

Author’s pick : Kelly Pavlik is way too big and strong for Taylor at 166 pounds. Coming into the first fight, both fighters had a hard time making the 160 weight limit. Both were physical drained coming into the fight, but somehow Pavlik was still able to summon enough strength to take Taylor’s best shots, and manage to knockout and dethrone the erstwhile undisputed champion. Now, simple logic would tell us that if both fighters were not at their A-game because of weight issues, how much more if they fight at the weight they are most comfortable at? The first fight : Pavlik was better than Taylor. The rematch : “The Ghost” will haunt Taylor even more. Author’s prediction : Early round knockout victory for “The Ghost”, around 5th or 6th round.

There are three main types of styles that boxers fall into when boxing. These reflect how they move and how they punch. It is generally thought that the styles are a lot like rock, paper, scissors in that one style beats another while it will generally lose to the third. However, this has been disproved many times and is only accepted as true.

The first style we will mention is the Brawler. This type of boxer will generally throw single and powerful punches against their opponent. A lot of brawlers are able to throw a punch which can knock out an opponent in a single blow. The biggest problem with this fighting technique is how slow the boxers usually are to punch. By being so slow they can be countered a lot more easily.

The next type of style is that of the Inside Fighter. This type of style is usually played very aggressively and incorporates an “in your face” type of play. The idea is for the boxer to get and stay close to his opponent and knock him out with multiple fast punches. This is a great class to be used by medium weight boxers.

The final type of style is that of the Outside Fighter. Boxers who use this style type will generally stay toward the outside of the ring and work on keeping their opponents away from them. The idea is to wear out your opponent rather than knock him out. This style is usually played by lighter class boxers who don’t have the strength for heavy punches.

There are some boxers who have become good at using all of these styles to their advantage. By using multiple style types they can keep their opponent off balance as to how they will play. Some of the best are the Brawlers who can also use good footwork and speed.

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