Shadowboxing against a Partner

Shadowboxing against a Partner

Being successful in boxing has a lot to do with awareness. That is being able to see the punches coming, and on another level being able to see openings and predict an opponent’s moves. However achieving this kind of awareness is often a difficult process, since it mostly comes from time spent in the ring. There are various drills that one can do with a partner to develop the right responses and help your skills somewhat, but it’s still not enough. There is one effective and relatively pain-free method for developing it, and that is shadowboxing against a partner.

This is nothing new about shadowboxing with a partner, but in order for it this training to be productive it must come as close to a real fight as possible, that is with the exception of anyone getting hit intentionally. This training should be done either in a boxing ring, or in a similar environment. To get ready for it, put on the same gloves that you would use in an actual bout, put on a foul protector, mouthpiece, and leave your headgear off (this enhances vision). If you feel you need it, you can put on some Vaseline beforehand.

Stance is important and must not be overlooked, especially when it comes to getting the most out of this. We’ll briefly go over this. Stand obliquely with your non-dominant side toward opponent, bend a little forward at your waist (to the right if you’re orthodox), and with your knees bent, lean back slightly onto your rear foot. Generally speaking, hold your hands at around chin/shoulder level as this promotes punching power as well as enhancing vision. You want to see the punches coming without your gloves obstructing your vision.

Now for the actual “shadow” sparring. First you want to stand at a distance just out of reach of your opponent’s punches, but not too far as to lose the benefit of the exercise. Although this is shadowboxing, remember that you have a real opponent in front of you, and you will be working off of their moves and vice-versa. Get a feel for the punches coming towards you and try to pick up on any visual cues tipping off those punches. Practice your punches, feints and footwork and try outmaneuver your opponent. You’ll also need to practice all of your counters, getting a feel for the timing and how each counter is thrown.

This is an excellent way in developing depth perception in boxing. Working with different opponents, you’ll have to get a feel for distance and become familiar with each opponent’s unique reach in relation to your own. This is so that you will know how close that you’ll have to be to reach your opponent, and how far that you’ll have to be to keep from getting hit. The ability to control distance is an important aspect in becoming a good boxer. For with this ability, a boxer can use the rest of his skills to its fullest potential. Through controlling distance it’ll be easier to land punches, limit the punches that their opponent can throw, and choose the time and nature of the exchanges.

When both you and your opponent are accustomed to this work, you can begin getting closer to each other. This will escalate into controlled sparring. Don’t rush it, just use your jab, and practice avoiding and defending against your opponent’s jab. For this time, just work on slipping, parrying, feinting and controlling distance until you have it all down pat. Spend as much time as necessary. This will help you become more aware of what’s going on without worrying about getting hurt. As you become more competent, and you feel confident with your abilities, you can start using your right hand (or rear hand). Eventually, when you’re able to put all of the different elements together, you’ll be boxing. ;)