i been in the gym for a month now and i been hitting the bag and my speed is slow also just started hitting the mitts and everytime i throw jabs i lose my balance. what do i do about this. i was thinking about buying some bands to help me with my speed and the fast feet from title boxing if this will help. iam looking at title boxing web site now. lol:

The jab should not be a power punch. You're probably leaning into it; it seems that most people do until they've been boxing awhile. Your back should be upright and the jab should flick out and back without pulling any bodyweight behind it. I was taught that the force of the jab comes from pulling it back; to think of it as snapping a towel. SMACK! Fast, light, and loud.

There is a time and a place for a heavy jab, but it is not a heavy punch most of the time.

will the bands help me with my speed.

Probably not. Speed comes from technique, and the power of the straight punches (jab & cross) come from speed. Learn to throw your punches right, and you'll eventually be able to throw them fast.

I felt like a five-year-old learning ballet for my first couple months at the gym. I thought I was hopeless but I stuck with it and learned to do it right. You've got to do the same.

i got the same problem but it is throwing the straight while on the move. should you plant then throw ur straight or can you throw out there quick while on the move?

You should be able to do both. It's going to depend on timing and foot position.

You guys need to be taking this up with your trainers or the more experienced guys at your gym. Maybe someone else here can explain it well enough that you can get a good mental picture.

I have the same problem with the straight right because I got double talk from the trainers. They say to step with the jab, but should I step with the right too? And do you always have to do the "putting out the cigarrette" foot pivot if its uncomfortable for you?

i don't have a trainer. i train with another guy. the shortest trip to a boxing gym is two hours a way. about the punch i was messing around this weekend on the double end bag and it seemed like i was trying to swing through it to much and i adjusted to throw a shorter straight and it seemed like that could be it. i don't know

Okay. My bad.

You guys need one of the pros into this thread at this point, though. I'm stepping out of this -- I've been boxing just long enough to get into bad habits and I don't want to pass those on.

I have the same probeblem its like i cnt turn to throw a three punch combo i think its because i am using too much power with every punch and need to relaxe and let it flow off the jab.

i been in the gym for a month now and i been hitting the bag and my speed is slow also just started hitting the mitts and everytime i throw jabs i lose my balance. what do i do about this. i was thinking about buying some bands to help me with my speed and the fast feet from title boxing if this will help. iam looking at title boxing web site now. lol:

Don't lunge into the jab. Think of the punches name, Jab you are literaly jabing your fist out there to your target. Yes you do slightly step into it for a weight transfer, but you don't lunge your whole upperbody into it. It shoots straight out from the ground to the shoulders and out, And snaps back quickly. I have seen people use the quickfeet to get used to there stance. But I don't like either of the devices you have mentioned. The Shadow boxer bands "I assume is what you are talking about" help with conditioning not skills. And I don't like the restrictive nature of the quickfeet. If you get either remember they are tools to be briefly used. Not relied upon for skills training.
I would also recomend to relax don't stiffen up your upperbody trying to hit hard. be loose and snap the jab out there with in your range of motion use your feet to reach not your upperbody if your target it too far off, stem quickly while throwing the jab still snaping it out and straight back.

I have the same problem with the straight right because I got double talk from the trainers. They say to step with the jab, but should I step with the right too? And do you always have to do the "putting out the cigarrette" foot pivot if its uncomfortable for you?

You slide your left foot "quickly" and snap the jab off you have to follow with the right somehow or your legs will be spread to far and not ready to bounce of out of the lane of the punch, remember the counter punch will 9 times out of 10 come down the same lane, so you have to be balanced to move quickly out of that lane. And I don't get the foot pivot thing you pivot your left with a hook and right with a straight right never a jab or how would you pivot the foot for a right after a jab??? not clear as to what you are talking about here

You slide your left foot "quickly" and snap the jab off you have to follow with the right somehow or your legs will be spread to far and not ready to bounce of out of the lane of the punch, remember the counter punch will 9 times out of 10 come down the same lane, so you have to be balanced to move quickly out of that lane. And I don't get the foot pivot thing you pivot your left with a hook and right with a straight right never a jab or how would you pivot the foot for a right after a jab??? not clear as to what you are talking about here

Sorry Bmore, had to look at your post again, You need the pivot for more reasons than just balance. This is where the power of the right comes from, same with a hook. It turnes your hips and shoulders into the punch while giving a push off. Allowing you to snap the right out with greater force. If you want to throw it correctly yes it is necessary.

shadowboxing is the best excersise for balance, because there is no object your moving into to help hold you up. You've said you are worried about your speed, which I think is why your balance isn't coming along. Right now, just completely forget about speed and power, and do a lot of shadowboxing. Once the balance and technique develops, the speed will improve.

i don't have a trainer. i train with another guy. the shortest trip to a boxing gym is two hours a way. about the punch i was messing around this weekend on the double end bag and it seemed like i was trying to swing through it to much and i adjusted to throw a shorter straight and it seemed like that could be it. i don't know

Training w/no trainer/coach = breeding gound for bad habits. I'd guess you need to make the necessary sacrifices to get to a gym. At least once or twice a week will show you exactly what you are doing wrong. I assume that is a lot. Without seeing what you are doing I couldnt help much You may be leaning too far forward, not pivoting your feet. or somthing like that the right is a quick hard blow don't load it up or it will be countered every time. Dont lean into it counters will come to the kidneys and have you on your knees.
It's a snapping type punch You snap your hips and shoulders and fire the right hand off that power. Keeping everything in balance.

I have the same probeblem its like i cnt turn to throw a three punch combo i think its because i am using too much power with every punch and need to relaxe and let it flow off the jab.

I don't think you are using too much power, I think you are using your power in the wrong way. You are probably leaning into the punch it seems a common problem with guys on this thread. If you lean to far your balance it way out of wack to come around for the hook or uppercut. You do need to relax, but dont reach for it. Or reach with your feet not your upperbody.
You need to pivot your feet and snap your hips and shoulders to. this will not only allow you to easily turn to combo, but do it with power, Start slow and get used to the motion, I can't believe your trainers havn't noticed this, "assuming you have trainers" It's vary basic and the first thing you shouldhave been taught. if you are having problems with your balance you need to start all over and rebuild relearn what you are doing start by shooting your trainer. It'll put him out of his misery. everything you do will be a problem if you don't get this building block fixed. It's your foundation. You should be in balance at all times and no how to move your feet to do so. even if pushed around by a bigger fighter. **** you'd be knocked down with every good shot if you didn't learn your balance.

Work on throwing straight punches with both hands (throw a jab, a double jab, a jab-cross etc.) while jogging/running. Mix it up, don't just repeat the same pattern over and over. It gets you used to throwing punches while on the move. Do movement exercises where you move around the ring in a wide circle (pretty much circling the ring while facing the center), utilizing lateral movement while throwing 1-2's so you can learn to throw them in between side to side movements without compromising your balance. Hell, forget the ring and go outside and do this in your driveway. The important thing is to learn how to throw straight punches while moving forward, back, and side to side without upsetting your balance.

It seems to me that you are leaning in when you jab. Learn to relax while punching, and work on the jab exclusively for awhile. It really is the staple of your aresenal, and you want to master it completely.

Now what you're doing is called reaching and you shouldn't be reaching with the jab. Why not? Easy way to get countered when you're leaning forward, off balance, and the other guy has backed up, hands ready to bring the pain.

Let your feet bring you into position while your upper body remains upright. Now you don't want to be too upright, make sure your chin is always tucked which will naturally curve your upper spine somewhat, but what's important is you should not find yourself bending more as you jab. Your jab should move independently and SNAP, NOT push forth while bringing your whole upper body along with it. You may want to lean in with it to give it more power but avoid the temptation.

A heavy jab comes from stepping in with it while still retaining that upright (though not too upright) posture. You can generate considerable force like this. Accurate, explosive power punches in boxing start from the legs and hips and abs, never the shoulders. The upper body only needs to be strong enough to transfer that power, not generate it (though extra strength is always nice). When throwing hooks, crosses, and uppercuts, you never just want to swing with your punches or "load up" on them. This is called arm punching and if you're really strong it may hurt the opponent somewhat but you'll never be a knockout puncher generating power like this.

But yeah, work on jabbing and throwing crosses while running, this way you prevent yourself from leaning forward and it becomes muscle memory to throw them without leaning. You also get experience throwing straight punches as you can really throw hundreds during your roadwork. It's extra cardio utilizing your upper body as well.

Show me a guy with an awesome jab who's really worked on it, and I'll pick him in a fight over a better and stronger athlete who throws very quick but wide punches.

PS The jab is also a very underrated punch in a scuffle or street fight. Jab to the nose with good snap and you'll take the fight out of a guy before he can even bring his fist back to throw that lunging haymaker. Most guys anyway.

I read what you guys advice on and it helps me a lot thanks I greatly appreciate it. if it's not to much to ask can I get a break down on how to throw a fist-down hook? I'm sooo accustomed to throwing my hooks side-fisted and it's keeping me from learning the proper punching techniques:(

I read what you guys advice on and it helps me a lot thanks I greatly appreciate it. if it's not to much to ask can I get a break down on how to throw a fist-down hook? I'm sooo accustomed to throwing my hooks side-fisted and it's keeping me from learning the proper punching techniques:(

The hook should be thrown with your thumbs up, your bones and muscles are lined up right at that position, Trainers have told me your power doesn't carry through with the fist held horizontaly, "thumb facing you."

stay loose and relaxed and put more weight on your back foot it should be 60% on your back foot and 40% on your front foot. and dont lean so much into your jab, it should be quick and snap back to your face

Probably not. Speed comes from technique, and the power of the straight punches (jab & cross) come from speed. Learn to throw your punches right, and you'll eventually be able to throw them fast.

I felt like a five-year-old learning ballet for my first couple months at the gym. I thought I was hopeless but I stuck with it and learned to do it right. You've got to do the same.



actually it does help in speed.the bands that is

whithout actually seeing how your throwing you jab on focus mitts, i would tend to say, in a general sense, that you are too far away from your target. this will throw you off by making you reach too far.

stay loose and relaxed and put more weight on your back foot it should be 60% on your back foot and 40% on your front foot

that's an excellent weight distribution to have. it more or less the way i was taught in general boxing/fighting circumstances.

whithout actually seeing how your throwing you jab on focus mitts, i would tend to say, in a general sense, that you are too far away from your target. this will throw you off by making you reach too far.



that's an excellent weight distribution to have. it more or less the way i was taught in general boxing/fighting circumstances.

YES. HE IS PROBABLY REACHING. I THINK A LOT OF FOOTWORK TRAINING IS IN ORDER HERE. ie. SLIDING TO CLOSE THE GAP. AND IF YOU ARENT DOING THAT I CAN ONLY IGAGINE WHAT HIS SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT IS LIKE. I DO'T LIKE THE SOUND OF HIS PROBLEM, WHO'S TRAINING THIS GUY??

thanks everyone for youre help my trainer show me what i was doing wrong i was to far back from the bag mitts. and i was not standing right.

I have the same problem with the straight right because I got double talk from the trainers. They say to step with the jab, but should I step with the right too? And do you always have to do the "putting out the cigarrette" foot pivot if its uncomfortable for you? what's up bmore was u told to step with the jab from charm city boxing I was told the same thing.

thanks everyone for youre help my trainer show me what i was doing wrong i was to far back from the bag mitts. and i was not standing right


yup, that's exactly what it sounded like. nothing complicated, simply a distance problem. see, you can get good help from the internet. you just have to know who to ask.

maybe your reaching or trying to hit too hard.