Tag Archives: boxing training

Posted on 06/11/2020

It was all action, all the time in the opener of tonight’s Top Rank card headlined by Jessie Magdaleno and Yenifel Vicente. 

Featherweight contender Adam Lopez (14-2, 6 KOs) moved back into the winners circle with a victory over Luis Coria (12-3, 7 KOs). But it wasn’t easy for him to do so. Coria came into the contest swinging from the opening bell. It didn’t take Lopez long to realize that he had a dog fight on his hands and met fire with fire. He quickly adapted and pushed his man back. Much of the contest played out in a phone booth with both men having their moments. 

In the end, Lopez did just enough to leave out the back door with a majority decision victory. The judges scoring the contest gave in their scorecards which read 95-95 while the remaining two judges had it 96-94 in favor of Lopez. 

Posted on 06/03/2020

By: Hans Themistode

Current unified Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is having a hard time keeping his eyes on the prize. With WBC belt holder Tyson Fury constantly calling him out, it’s been difficult to focus on anyone else. However, the last time Joshua looked ahead, he found himself on the mat on four separate occasions before ultimately getting stopped by Andy Ruiz Jr. in mid 2019.

Joshua, of course, has since bounced back. Now, he is now in line to face off against IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev. The former title challenger has been rolling since losing to Wladimir Klitschko in 2014, winning eight straight matchups. 

Pulev has done all of the dirty work. He faced the virtual unknowns such as George Arias and Maurice Harris to knocking off title contenders such as Dereck Chisora and Hughie Fury. He’s now exactly in the position that he wants to be. And don’t expect him to simply relinquish his spot so easily. Even if it means most of the boxing world hating him for coming in between one of the biggest fights in recent history. 

“Pulev’s entitled to do exactly what he wants,” said Joshua to IFL TV during a recent interview. “He’s in position to fight me. So, if he wants the opportunity to fight, he sticks to his guns. But if he wants to see, you know, the two world champions in Great Britain clash, then step aside. But that’s the only options.”

Joshua may claim that Pulev has two options, but at 39, he may have only one. Stepping aside during a global pandemic in order to allow Tyson Fury and Joshua to meet up in the ring, may not be in his best interest. But putting all pessimism to the side, Pulev could opt to sit on the sidelines and collect not only ring rust, but also piles of cash. But that’s only one side of the equation. Fury still has business of his own to handle in a third fight with Deontay Wilder.

“If he wants to fight me and he’s confident, come get this work. Or if you would rather sit back and watch what happens with me and Tyson Fury, that option’s there as well. But if I’m honest with you, my negotiations with Pulev were a bit different. I think [Fury] has a lot of things he needs to sort out with Deontay Wilder.”

Posted on 11/29/2018

By Bryanna Fissori 

Posting on social media is not what we are referring to when we say it is beneficial to record your boxing workouts.  That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t, but your social media engagement is your business. Helping build better boxers is ours. 

Why should you record your boxing workouts?

Everyone has a certain style and method of movement. Some of these idiosyncrasies are good, but others are not. Most coaches serve the purpose of correcting the movements that are not ideal, but sometimes you have to see it for yourself. 

Let’s say you think that you are keeping your hands up at the level of your face, but your coach is repeatedly telling you to keep your hands up. It may take visualization of the problem that inspires the need to fix it. 

Conditioning Workouts

It may sound silly to record yourself lifting weights or doing pushups, but a sloppy workout can have an impact on the functionality of your muscles. Reviewing your posture and technique can identify areas where you are weak or unintentionally causing damage to your body. This is a great way to make the most out of your boxing workouts. 

Shadow Boxing in front of a mirror

Sparring while trying to watch yourself probably won’t work out well. But shadowboxing in front of a mirror allows you to see your movements and correct them in real time. If you have the opportunity to shadow box with a group of people, a mirror allows you to mimic their movements and see what works for you. 

Drills Technique

Having the ability to correct your movements while you are training can be very valuable. At times you may find that you are having difficulty understanding exactly what you need to do in a particular drill. In a small class situation, it may be beneficial for the trainer to video boxing workouts done by you and the others in the class. If you can watch the video in between rounds it may be easier to understand the parts you are missing in comparison to your teammates. 

Sparring

Sparring is when it all comes together. All of the techniques learned in class are applied and you realize what it is that actually works for you and fits with your natural reactions. Recording sparring can be crucial to identifying holes in your technique and especially important for competitive boxers. 

Posted on 11/04/2018

By Bryanna Fissori 

Push-ups are a foundation exercise for many athletic training regiments. Boxing is no exception. There are numerous ways push-ups can increase athletic performance with an emphasis on increasing power and endurance. 

Endurance

Boxers have been known to throw 150 punches a round. That is a high end, but it can happen. Regardless, being prepared to throw large volume is important. Push-ups work the chest, shoulders, and triceps, which are the same areas that are used to throw punches in boxing. 

Being able to execute push-ups at a high volume trains the relevant muscles to work for extended periods without fatigue. Doing multiple sets of push-ups throughout a training session will help build this type of endurance. 

Explosive Power

Using plyometric push-up techniques is one way to improve explosive power necessary for boxing. With any plyometric workout, the exercises should be limited to what can be achieved accurately. Most movements are unorthodox and taxing on the muscles, thus more difficult to maintain proper form for long sets when first starting. 

Clap Push Ups

One of the best ways to train explosively is using clap push-ups. These are executed by pushing up hard through the hands so that they propel the body high enough off of the ground that you can clap in between pushes. If these are difficult in the beginning, it is recommended to start on the knees. It is not necessary for feet or knees to come off of the ground. 

Medicine Ball Push-Ups

There are many variations to using a medicine ball with your push-ups. For this one, start with one hand on the ground and the other on a small medicine ball. Without letting the ball move, explode up and over to the other side, having your opposite hand land on the medicine ball. Be sure to “catch” yourself without hitting the ground and keep the ball in the middle as you go from side to side.  A set of 5 to each side is a good starting goal.

How Much is too Much?

According to a 2015 study in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, the quality of your explosive push-ups should determine when you end your set. If you start to feel significantly slower or your form starts to break down, you should stop. Explosive push-ups should be executed as fast as possible.  

For explosive push-ups, this means that you may need to limit your sets to 3 -4 sets with no more than 10 reps each. Standard push up can typically have longer sets depending on where you are in your fitness journey. 

Push-ups can be frequently incorporated into workouts, but it is necessary to give the muscles a break. Listen to your body to tell you when it is too much. 

Posted on 11/04/2018

By Bryanna Fissori

There are a number of myths about the proper way to training for boxers. Some of this is from watching too many old-school boxing moves and some are just from a general lack of knowledge. Here are some things you should know about the most common boxing fitness myths

Six Packs are not built on 1000 crunches a day

Having a strong core is crucial for boxers and also aesthetically pleasing. The concept of completing 1000 crunches a day is helpful, but not the best way to achieve visual results. The appearance of abs heavily dependent upon body fat percentage. The lower the body fat, the more evident the abs. This is why even people who are undernourished may have evidence of abs without the gym time. This does not mean that abdominal exercises are not important for core strength. They are very much so, but this also involves targeting different areas of the core to promote stability rather than focusing on the short movement of crunches. Essentially, six packs are made in the kitchen.

Shadowboxing with dumbbells

It sounds like a good idea. Adding weight to your punches should make them faster and make you stronger. Unfortunately, the torque and strain that the extra weight places on the shoulders and lumbar spine have been known to result in injury. There are a number of other strength and speed building exercises that have been shown to produce results with significantly less risk. Boxing fitness can already be painful enough. Don’t make it worse by unnecessarily wearing down your joints and tendons.

Long Slow Distance is the best roadwork

Roadwork is the cardio based effort that is put in to complement training in a specific sport. Many people are under the assumption that the more miles you run, the better your conditioning will be. Though endurance training is helpful, it is not the end all be all. Energy systems used for boxing are primarily anaerobic, comprised of short bursts 70 to 80 percent of the time. This means that high-intensity training is crucial for effective boxing fitness roadwork.

Weight Training will make you slower

Some athletes are naturally gifted with muscular genetics. Fighters like Mike Tyson may not need to hit the weight room because their power and physique do not require that specific training, but for the vast majority of athletes, weight training provides a significant advantage. If two fighters have the same skill level and one is stronger, the stronger has a higher chance of victory. Weight lifting will not hinder speed unless the fighter does not train speed and flexibility.

Hitting hard all the time makes your punches more powerful

Technique is key for improving punching power. That is all there is to it. You can stand in front of a heavy bag and throw everything you have at it, but unless you are using proper technique, your power will not increase.

Posted on 09/30/2018

By Bryanna Fissori 

There are a number of boxing training myths about the proper way to improve and stay in shape. Some of this is from watching too many old-school boxing movies and some is just from a general lack of knowledge. Here are some things you should know:

Six Packs are not built on 1000 crunches a day

Having a strong core is crucial for boxers and also aesthetically pleasing. The concept of completing 1000 crunches a day is helpful, but not the best way to achieve visual results. The appearance of abs heavily dependent upon body fat percentage. The lower the body fat, the more evident the abs. This is why even people who are undernourished may have evidence of abs without the gym time. This does not mean that abdominal exercises are not important for core strength. They are very much so, but this also involves targeting different areas of the core to promote stability rather than focusing on the short movement of crunches. Essentially, six packs are made in the kitchen. 

Shadowboxing with dumbbells

It sounds like a good idea. Adding weight to your punches should make them faster and make you stronger. Unfortunately, this is a boxing training myth. The torque and strain that the extra weight places on the shoulders and lumbar spine have been known to result in injury. There are a number of other strength and speed building exercises that have been shown to produce results with significantly less risk. Boxing can already be painful enough. Don’t make it worse by unnecessarily wearing down your joints and tendons. 

Long Slow Distance is the best roadwork

Roadwork is the cardio based effort that is put in to complement training in a specific sport. Many people are under the assumption that the more miles you run, the better your conditioning will be. Though endurance training is helpful, it is not the end all be all. Energy systems used for boxing are primarily anaerobic, comprised of short bursts 70 to 80 percent of the time. This means that high intensity training is crucial for affective roadwork.

Weight Training will make you slower

Some athletes are naturally gifted with muscular genetics. Fighters like Mike Tyson may not need to hit the weight room because their power and physique does not require that specific training, but for the vast majority of athletes, weight training provides a significant advantage. If two fighters have the same skill level and one is stronger, the stronger has a higher chance of victory. Weight lifting will not hinder speed unless the fighter does not train speed and flexibility.  

Hitting hard all the time makes your punches more powerful

Building power from just hitting stuff hard is a boxing training myth. Technique is key for improving punching power. That is all there is to it. You can stand in front of a heavy bag and throw everything you have at it, but unless you are using proper technique, your power will not increase. 

Posted on 09/16/2018

By Bryanna Fissori 

A pre-workout is some form of a consumable substance that is formatted to boost your performance during your workout, or at least get you motivated. 

There are a plethora to choose from, all complete with unique colors and flavors.  There are natural foods that will help boost energy and performance, but the term “pre-workout” typically relates to powder that you mix into water and drink 15 to 30 minutes before a workout session. 

What is in Pre Workout Powder?

Caffeine

The big boost of energy that comes from a pre-workout is highly instigated by caffeine. The compounds in caffeine work by blocking the neurotransmitters for adenosine, which serves the purpose of making the body tired. Caffeine has also been found to have some effect on promoting weight loss. The amount in pre-workout differs for each brand but typically ranges between 150 and 350mg per dose. Because of this, it is a good idea to adjust your scoop of pre-workout to your desired level of caffeination. 

Beta-Alanine

This is the substance responsible for the “tingly feeling” you may get shortly after taking a pre-workout supplement. The good news is that the tingles are relatively short-lived. Beta-Alanine is a naturally occurring amino acid that helps to delay the onset of muscle fatigue, meaning you can train at a higher intensity longer without your muscles getting tired. 

Niacin

Having enough niacin (Vitamin B3) in your system is important for general good health. Niacin helps the dilation of blood vessels for an extra “pump” during hard workouts. It also promotes energy, potential weight loss and is proved to be beneficial for skin health, prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Niacin may also be the culprit for the warm feeling on your face after taking a pre-workout. 

Creatine

A staple for most bodybuilders, creatine is known to hydrate muscles, increasing size and strength. There are also studies showing improved performance with shorter workouts, but less variance for endurance athletes. Creatine may also assist in muscle recovery after a hard workout session. 

BCAA

Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAA’s) are the building blocks for protein synthesis. They also assist in reducing the rate of protein breakdown. Increased protein synthesis and reduced breakdown means more muscles and less body fat. That sounds pretty awesome. Another positive thing about BCAA’s is that they are also available in a non-stimulant form and can be added to your drinking water any time during the day. 

These are the most common ingredients that make up powdered pre-workout, but each brand boasts their own unique formula. 

Other key ingredients may include L-Arginine, Citrulline, Agmatine Sulfate, Theanine, Glycerol and Taurine to name a few. 

Deciding and Dosing a Pre Workout 

The important thing about deciding on a pre-workout is determining what your body is going to react to the best. Sometimes too much of one ingredient can cause undesirable effects. For example, if you are sensitive to beta-alanine, you will find that having a full serving of a pre-workout that is high in the substance will result in an uncomfortable level of tingling throughout the body. Too much caffeine may cause jitters. 

We recommend you start your pre-workout supplementation by using only half the recommended dose for the first workout or two, in order to evaluate how your body responds.