Last year I had traveled to Cuba to train boxing (I did so legally from Miami to Havana). Since 1972, Cuba has earned more Olympic medals in boxing than any other country in the world. The United States is a boxing powerhouse - but due to the embargo, Cuba's boxing techniques and training concepts are a secret to most American fighters.
Some Americans that manage to visit Cuba try to smuggle out cigars or rum... I smuggled out boxing secrets! I got to train with legendary boxing coach Carlos Miranda. Coach Miranda was very different than most boxing coaches I had worked with prior. He has a serious wisdom… he is a guru… he is the Cuban Mr. Miyagi of boxing! I compare him to Mr. Miyagi because every sentence that came out of his mouth was enlightening. I would hang out after the training sessions and sit back with him in the shade and talk for hours about boxing, combat, coaching, and even philosophy… and I learned more about boxing in those few hours talking than I had learned in years of training!
Amongst many principles and concepts he shared with me in those conversations, he introduced to me a very simple system for shadow boxing and practicing technique that revolutionized the way my team now practices striking – and even grappling. The system is so darn simple and when you hear it, it makes perfect sense… but I have never been to a gym that practices shadow boxing in this exact manner. Don’t get me wrong… there are definitely champions that utilize these principles – but I haven’t seen it taught systematically the way it was explained to me.
Ok Avellan, so what's the secret? I could type it out but I think video would help get the message across best! I have been using this system for over a year now and have not shared it publicly. I showed this system to a few colleagues at a seminar, which included world champion trainers Greg Nelson, Adam and Rory Singer, Lloyd Irvin, and UFC veterans and BJJ Black Belts Marcus Aurelio, Tim Credeur, Alberto Crane, Shawn Williams, and a dozen or so others that were in attendance. However, this is the first time I put this information out to the public… the secret is out!
In a few days I’ll post part II – stay tuned!
P.S. Please leave feedback!
Know how trumps everything. It is just not hard work ,if you work hard on the wrong things you just ingrain bad habits. Know how and properly directed effort is what gets the results and the Cubans have a lot of know how.
This is just my opinion what I am about to state. In Cuba when you are good and dedicated to something, that is your job that is what you do forever. A boxer practically lives in the gym with other boxers because that is what he is. In USA and other countries it's different because most young boxers leave boxing as 3rd or 4th priority.
Also why are Cuban amateurs so good? Well they can't go pro so you have the same good fighters from Cuba with more experience facing younger kids from other countries who have fewer experience. You might have 30 year olds Cuban fighting 18 year olds Americans or whatever nationality. Some of these Cubans have won multiple Olympic medals how can you compare that to a young 18 year old kid who has never been away from his small town, it's just different scenarios.
Why are Cubans so good? Because they work hard and are dedicated and they have this winner mentality that others don't have. If you lose is because you didn't work hard enough or you made a mistake.
This is my understanding on Cuban boxing.
That makes sense. Too much boxing training is repetition of predictable patterns which become ingrained . It makes the fighter open to being read. The great fighters are flexible,not predictable and fluid and that has to be cultivated in training. Fighters like Ward and Mayweather must have got into this way of thinking early.
nothing new to me. good post though.
these arent so much cuban boxing secrets as it is boxing 101, problem is most trainers and fighters overlook the basics. the things in the video, angles, range, footwork, defense and rhtym are what boxing is all about. its no secret. you could add timing and precision to that while youre at it.
most fighters today dont know how to box though, everything is all power and speed with no skills or intelligence. that works against another guy who doesnt know what hes doing, but somebody who can fight will use aforementioned skills to take those physical advantages away. then mr dazzling is all confused and has no clue what to do and mr brute force probably done ran into something and went straight to sleep.
the reason hopkins is beating these much younger fighters is bcuz he knows how to fight. he knows angles, footwork, rhytm, range and defense and he uses it to take away the athletic advantages of his opponent. dawson beat him bcuz he knows how to fight too, so does ward thats why thats such a great fight. mainstream fans dont appreciate it though bcuz they dont know quality boxing when they see it. they are more impressed with blinding speed and chilling power, dont get me wrong those are good qualities but they dont mean **** if you dont have the skills and intelligence to use em.
this thread should be moved to training and nutrition, thats where the guys who want to learn about boxing are but there usually isnt much quality info. in NSB the knowledge will go to waste.
very good intresting and thank you for the great information... if you really are new to the forum please excuse the rude coments on here, for the most part everyone should apreciate any contributions to the forums....
Cuban Secrets = They train hard, and they take it seriously.
EXACTLY! That and EARNING YOUR WAY TO THE TOP...compared to the way things are now done in America in which nothing is earned now, your basically CHOSEN TO BE A STAR or CHOSEN TO BE LABELED THE "NEXT BIG THING" in boxing...you want to see who are the real stars in boxing...DO A TOURNAMENT!
Same question gets asked with Brazilian Fighters and MMA
To TS have you gotten any medals? Did you even try amateurs?
You mentioned those names but show us your accomplisment!
You sounded like those boxing commentators speak like they have gotten in the ring.
Lol....that and about 25 hours of Shadowboxing a day, which we've completely forgot about over here in the States.
For some reason EVERYONE hates shadowboxing, it's so underrated it's not even funny..I've read over and over that the Cuban training system is very strict when it comes to shadowboxing..
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