relaxation seconds before punch

[saxon]

I have read that when practicing on the bag, everything should be very relaxed (arms)..etc until the last second before impact...........I tried this and it seemed to work great. The punches had tremendous impact, quick and spot on. The bag cracked like a firecracker.

Also, relaxing enabled me to increase my stamina. I must have been super tense prior to this...........

If this is correct technique, what thoughts can you keep in your head to keep from relapsing back into a tensed up body?

This is not new I realize but is this a well known fact among experienced boxers?

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks.

[g0tcha]

i used to do this alot like doing mitts or doing combination and resetting my stance. i would notice that my shoulders would be shrugged because i was tense. dance a little left to right and shrug your shoulders up and down or kinda punch them downward left to right and you dance left to right for a second or 2 to loosen your shoulders and your body. you eventually train your body by repetition to become relaxed when you are done defending or done with a combination and dont have to defend. just give it time and your body will adjust

[mongrel_boy]

I still have an issue with my tenseness; I understand this sort of technique but still have great difficulty executing it. I try to stay loose with my punches right before impact, and think of snapping my hand back next to my chin just before impact, tensing my fist in the process. Still need to work on timing though

In terms of stopping from relapsing, I guess you just have to stay relax. I like to think of or base some boxing ideas off certain fighters, and like to watch alot of fighters train. Videos of miguel cotto show him punching quite slowly and seemingly relaxed on the heavy bag, taking his time, so I try to punch like this to relax sometimes. Fighters like Mosley always seemed really tense to me.

[Spartacus Sully]

really slow completely tensed movements might help with relaxation like in tai chi like throwing a slow punch but flexing every muscle that you use from your toes to your clenched fist. do it fast you should feel very relaxed. perhaps

[Danny_123]

The best thing is too spend a few rounds on the heavy bags doing 50% power and speed punches, but consciously thinking about keeping your body relaxed.

HOWEVER, you have to be real careful with this....because if you train your body to relax when your punching a heavy bag or mitts....fair enough your punches may have more of a snap and a solid base from which they are coming from. BUT as soon as you step in the ring and start getting punched back, you will quickly forget this and hunch your shoulders up and tense your arms again.

So after me rambling....I think it best to spend 4 or so rounds every few times you train, in front of a heavy bag or pads, and also in front of a sparring partner.....consciously think about keeping your body relaxed the whole time whilst your punching or being punched.