some questions

[Oriachim]

hey guys, my main problem with the sport is the footwork...

1) How does skipping help footwork?
2) Is there any easy way to practice footwork? (just shadowboxing?)
3) any advice?
4) how do you know you got natural talent?

[Luke.l.08]

Do you go to a boxing gym?

[mr tricky]

/

il answer to number 4.

theres no sauch thing as natural talent, everyting comes from hard work, some find it eaiser than others but everyone can achive the same

[DA1CATAS]

hey guys, my main problem with the sport is the footwork...

1) How does skipping help footwork?
2) Is there any easy way to practice footwork? (just shadowboxing?)
3) any advice?
4) how do you know you got natural talent?

kick the wall drills... they help with foot speed.... i never liked doing them till i got older..


and skipping rope.

[PunchDrunk]

il answer to number 4.

theres no sauch thing as natural talent, everyting comes from hard work, some find it eaiser than others but everyone can achive the same

Oh but there is. And while it's a very nice idea that everyone can achieve the same, like communism, it just doesn't work in the real world. Some people are more gifted than others, and can achieve great things in spite of what they put into it, others can literally work their asses off for years, and just not have what it takes. True story.

I do agree that worrying/wondering about whether you have natural talent or not, is pointless. Some people might feel they see great potential in you, some people might think you don't have it, but nobody knows for sure. Just do the work, and see how far you can take it.

[Oriachim]

ok heres the crack, i love to booze a lot and sometimes i have times when i dont train for ages. this guy who also boxes was out in a nightclub one night, i went to chat to him and he was getting agressive to me. he said to me, if i trained hard, i would be a real good boxer but im always pissing it up.

not like it means anything as he was pissed. however i'm training very hard now, purely because i love the sport itself.

now my footwork is coming on greatly, the person whos training me is helping me greatly. need to work on my fitness though, getting fatiqued real quickly.

my trainer is always bragging about his wife though, about after 3 years she got offered to join the gb squad or how she sparred the no 1 gb female boxer and hammered her, THATS natural talent. (shes going to train me at some point to).

[!! Shawn]

Oh but there is. And while it's a very nice idea that everyone can achieve the same, like communism, it just doesn't work in the real world. Some people are more gifted than others, and can achieve great things in spite of what they put into it, others can literally work their asses off for years, and just not have what it takes. True story.

I do agree that worrying/wondering about whether you have natural talent or not, is pointless. Some people might feel they see great potential in you, some people might think you don't have it, but nobody knows for sure. Just do the work, and see how far you can take it.

Its true. You can train your ass off, but you will never be as accurate as someone with natural born hand eye coordination. If you have natural ability, you will already know it. Its not something that is just boxing specific. It transfers to all sports.

However, what is most important is that you figure out what tools you do have, and learn how to use them. Not everyone can reach the same level, but if you can wring every last ounce of umph out of your natural ability level, you will go further than you would have relying on ability alone.

[Pork Chop]

Oh but there is. And while it's a very nice idea that everyone can achieve the same, like communism, it just doesn't work in the real world. Some people are more gifted than others, and can achieve great things in spite of what they put into it, others can literally work their asses off for years, and just not have what it takes. True story.

I do agree that worrying/wondering about whether you have natural talent or not, is pointless. Some people might feel they see great potential in you, some people might think you don't have it, but nobody knows for sure. Just do the work, and see how far you can take it.

I do agree with you, I just hate to see when guys are in the ring with someone faster & stronger and watch them fold mentally. I think the brain is the most often overlooked source of talent in boxing. I think guys like Archie Moore and BHop have layers upon layers of the science and knew/know how to take advantage of the abilities they have.
The less athletic/naturally talented guy can win - look at basilio vs sugar ray for example.

I can accept that I'll never crack as hard as some of the guys I've worked with - even the smaller guys, or move as fast, or be as accurate, or have as long reach, or have as great timing; but I study the science, train my butt off and do my best to figure out how to put them in a bad situation even with my limited athletic gifts.

I've seen guys stroll up into a gym & whip through all the young fighters there in rapid succession; come back 6 months to a year later and not make it past the first guy he beat the last time around. Hard training and dedicated study of the science can really level the playing field.


EDIT:
In response to the OP's first 4 questions...
1. Jumping rope makes it so you can bounce easily. Essentially any movement of the feet (advancing, retreating, changing direction) stems from the bouncing/pushing off by the foot. By training it over and over on the rope, you'll be a lot better at doing it spontaneously.
2. A lot of training footage of Ali had him just doing bouncing & footwork practice during his shadow boxing. There are also tons of drills you can do (duck walks, ladder running, karaokes/carryovers, shadow w/weight vest, etc).
3. Add sprinting sessions & learn how to relax when you're throwing punches/shadowboxing/sparring.

[jabSTRAIGHTh00k]

work more on skipping rope. Thats how i improved on my footwork. Try doing fast for like a minute without messing up. And also try moving around when jump rope, don't just stay in one spot. Move to the right, to the left, back wards and forward and eventually once you've mastered it, you'll notice your footwork improving.

[!! Shawn]

I do agree with you, I just hate to see when guys are in the ring with someone faster & stronger and watch them fold mentally. I think the brain is the most often overlooked source of talent in boxing. I think guys like Archie Moore and BHop have layers upon layers of the science and knew/know how to take advantage of the abilities they have.
The less athletic/naturally talented guy can win - look at basilio vs sugar ray for example.

I can accept that I'll never crack as hard as some of the guys I've worked with - even the smaller guys, or move as fast, or be as accurate, or have as long reach, or have as great timing; but I study the science, train my butt off and do my best to figure out how to put them in a bad situation even with my limited athletic gifts.

I've seen guys stroll up into a gym & whip through all the young fighters there in rapid succession; come back 6 months to a year later and not make it past the first guy he beat the last time around. Hard training and dedicated study of the science can really level the playing field.


EDIT:
In response to the OP's first 4 questions...
1. Jumping rope makes it so you can bounce easily. Essentially any movement of the feet (advancing, retreating, changing direction) stems from the bouncing/pushing off by the foot. By training it over and over on the rope, you'll be a lot better at doing it spontaneously.
2. A lot of training footage of Ali had him just doing bouncing & footwork practice during his shadow boxing. There are also tons of drills you can do (duck walks, ladder running, karaokes/carryovers, shadow w/weight vest, etc).
3. Add sprinting sessions & learn how to relax when you're throwing punches/shadowboxing/sparring.

I personally feel hand speed is the most overrated quality a fighter can have. As the saying goes, timing beats speed 10 times out of 10. To many fighters spend too much of their time focusing on throwing punches with speed, and to little of their time throwing punches with timing.

Energy is a very valuable commodity, and I am a fervent believer that it is not something to waste. Fast punches with no homes are wasted energy. A slower well timed punch is more effective, and takes less energy.

People are under the impression that speed and power need to be behind every shot. That is the furthest thing from the truth. Speed and power are both valuable commodities that lose their value if over used. Speed and power need to be used to catch your opponent off guard.