Relaxing in the ring

[stefl14]

My coach is constantly telling me to relax my arms in the ring, which i try to do constantly but sometimes it gets difficult when keeping hands up. Has anyone got any tips on this?

[jujulio]

maybe your arms compensate for your shoulder's exhaustion, if that's the case you should work you shoulder more(maybe trapezius too) just a thought

[Rocky Balboa]

Same here; that's why I adopted the Philly Shell stance. Fits like a glove.

[jujulio]

ok, are you effective with it? I'd say it's hard to defend but...what i do when my arm is tired is that i drop it to the waist and jab from below. and for the defense i rather use the left shoulderthis way.

[Chris Nagel]

My coach is constantly telling me to relax my arms in the ring, which i try to do constantly but sometimes it gets difficult when keeping hands up. Has anyone got any tips on this?

I think if your arms are up in a constant state of blocking, you'll get tired regardless of the punches you throw. What helps is to stay calm, look your opponent right into his eyes, and circle your opponent maintaining just enough distance so that you don't have to fight the whole time. Keep your jab busy like a blind man with his stick. The jab is the safest punch, so you don't have to worry about counters too much.

The jab is a punch that is the product of not being tense. You must be loose, as in your muscles should be not tight, and the technique of the punch is very important. Exercises such as shadow boxing with hand weights should be under taken with care- for example do not snap out straight punches with hand weights as it is deleterious to your shoulders.
Try "catching the fly" with your left hand. Shoot it out lke you are trying to snatch $ out of somebody's hand. Learn to time the movemment of your left hand with the movement of your left foot.

You should look for a few things while jabs:
#1. Depth perception. How close do you need to be to land your jab.
#2. Your opponent's reactions. See how are they react to your jabs, if you see where they usually move their head, you can then feint with your left shoulder, and then jab where they move their head. If they catching or parrying it, then see if you can get around to their right (your left) and catch them with a hook.

Just relax and believe in yourself, and give it some time. If it were easy we'd all be champs!

As for your arms, they should feel comfortably prepped and not unnaturally tense. Just take it easy. Don't tense up in an effort to punch faster, keep your punches loose and fluid. Work on it when you're training, don't concentrate on it while you're sparring. Your gloves don't need to be around your head like ear-muffs, instead bring them up when needed.

You'll get there, just stick with it.

[Andre]

Smile (even just inwardly) enjoy being there so that any stress dissolves and your brain patterns will follow your smile funny thing the body/mind it can work both ways; enjoyment, brain activity,smile, and the reverse way around to some extent. Inner control panel.

Also know when they are in range and when they are not in range so you know instinctively when they are a threat and when they are not.
So for instance you can relax your arms as you step out on an angle after making them miss you (they are committed and you are out of range).You have time to move so they have to come around even further or its time to attack and catch them as they seek your new position, either way you can do it from arms at a lower more flowing and relaxed level on the move on angles you just have know when its exactly back on and be there again.

Practice freedom in your head so it shows in your game.

[Chris Nagel]

Smile (even just inwardly) enjoy being there so that any stress dissolves and your brain patterns will follow your smile funny thing the body/mind it can work both ways; enjoyment, brain activity,smile, and the reverse way around to some extent. Inner control panel.

I remember watching Sam Soliman being interviewed before, and he was saying something to the same effect. I think his trainer came down before his first boxing match, and Sam is all tensed up, feeling nervous. So he tells Sam, "You go out there and do what do, but remember one thing, you go out there and enjoy it." It stayed with Sammy through all of his fights.

[Andre]

Yeah mate I dont know how, but even when your faced with something that could kill you and fight or flight reflexes are about to set in ,if you smile your brain catches on and follows the lead slightly and does something in reverse up the same nuron path and you relax a bit.

When you think about it that may or may not be so good in some situations.


In other situations like being threatend on the street it is an advantage because it puts a question into the attackers mind that you could be a nut and he has picked on the wrong person, (in which case he would be correct) .

[Chris Nagel]

I was just thinking about what Thomas was saying before:

fear is a natural thing. when you first start to box you're full of it; you're not sure what you're really even doing, the guy keeps tagging you on the beak and just how the hell are you supposed to stop that seems to be completely out of your reach. each round passes by like a whirlwind of confusion where you cant tell up from down. anyway the main point here is that all of your fear and anxiety comes directly from your confusion which ultimately comes from your inexperience. hopefully after some time in boxing you will have learned that you are the one who is in total control over what happens to you in the ring -- not your opponent. that is, you only ever get hit when you made a mistake. understanding things in this manner, you box with the idea in mind to never make mistakes which removes the element of being in a street brawl for your life and replaces it with a mind set that all the greats utilize, that of putting together a puzzle. whens the last time you ever got scared putting together a puzzle?

i also think its important to dehumanize (that even a word?) boxing. how else can you get over the harsh reality inside the ring? when i fight, i fight as if i am fighting not an opponent, but boxing itself. as if i were trying to beat my best score. not making mistakes, setting up your shots, it isnt about getting the best over someone to prove how tough you are, playing the game is an end in itself.

I think that it's important for a boxer to develop a real sense of control. Even riding a bicycle, or learning to swim for the first time can be a scary experience, much more so with fists flying.

[God.in.my.corner]

Alot of great insight and advice in this thread. So it seems learning to relax- and I have the same problem- is more mental than mechanical. Many times I will try things like rolling my shoulders, deep breaths, etc. to try to stay loose and relaxed, but it seems it's more a mental thing.

[Youngblood]

Here is a past thead on ring nerves. Moreso fight night nerves. So maybe a bit more dramatic... http://www.saddoboxing.com/boxingfor...37-nerves.html

I think a lot of it has to do with simply putting in the time for most people. Basic things like closing our eyes when getting hit, turning away, tightening up, are generally all overcome with sparring time. One thing for sure, there is nothing more tiring to a person then being tight in the ring and it reflecting in holding ones arms and body flexed for 2-3 mins at a time.

[Scrap]

If you are not use to feeling relaxed while Boxing,its Hard to know how you should feel nor does muscle. Shadow Boxing with the eyes shut gives you that feel. It teaches you how the Body should feel.

[Cerberus]

I am listening (well reading) and learning, keep it coming!