PULL not PUSH your punches

[God.in.my.corner]

I have spent alot of time on the internet and reading books about boxing skills/techniques. Since I am an older novice, I dont get the attention I would like from the coaches. They usually spend their time with the open fighters or the younger guys. So I try to learn as much as I can from other sources.

I can tell you the single greatest tip that I have learned came from this forum. It solved several of my problems. The tip was "pulling" your punches. With the lead jab, you pull the back shoulder back to facilitate the snap "push" of the punch. With the right(rear) hand, you pull the lead shoulder back.

This did the following:

1. added power by putting more bodyweight behind my shots (instead of arm punching)

2. Improved balance by keeping my weight on my back foot (which also improved footwork)

3. Kept me from reaching

I didnt know if this explanation was common knowledge, but everything just clicked when it was explained this way.

[Scrap]

Simple isnt it

[God.in.my.corner]

I always reached before. and when I reached, my head would go past my lead knee which would put my head closer to my opponent, which made it easy to get hit. Combos were difficult since I didnt have good balance. And with my right cross, my punch covers the same distance by pulling the left shoulder back, since the right shoulder fires forward more than it used to, but my head and balance remains under that back foot. So it covers the same distance with better posture, balance and defense without reaching or "falling in" with the right cross.

Scrap, what is the antagonist pulling motion on the uppercut Is it an upward pull of the opposite shoulder?

[Scrap]

Quads on the left leg, and tricep on the right arm, if orthadox.

[jameso'hara]

I must say a big thankyou for this tip God.in.my.corner. I too am an older novice and am fascinated with boxing technique and improving what little skill I have. Very interesting stuff.

[WayneFlint]

I have to agree 100% on that, i too read one of scraps posts talking about pulling back the shoulder about a year back and straight away it instantly made massive improvements, its probably the single most helpful thing ive read on these forums or online that helped me improv instantly without actually being shown anything in person..andit was so simple. such an improvement from just a few words of advice from scrap quickly made me realise to listen to what this man says, learn and ask questions now i travel 40+ mile every other week or a few times a week if possible to do so in person lol =D best education ive ever had, hats off to scrap, saddo's very own yoda of boxing lol

[HerbM]

I am an old novice too (58 with about a year in boxing), and I too spend a lot of time seeking the best methods from multiple sources.

Have you thought about the seeming contradiction between #1 and #3 (there really is NOT one) when you are told to "put more weight behind" the punch, and yet "keep you weight back on your rear foot"?

There are multiple ways to get your body (not necessarily your 'weight' but there are ways to do that too) into a punch without throwing yourself forward.

Somewhere in this forum are threads where we discussed this and at least one where I ran down most of the methods to do this....

Dropping, pushing (from feet), turning, pulling back with opposite side, etc....

[WayneFlint]

I agree herb its not so much the bodyweight that is the point, yes bodyweight behind a shot is better than an arm punch but using all the points you mentioned at the end of that post herb is what makes for a powerful punch not bodyweight alone and this is because your using your body with good economy with the optimal triggers to build up momentum, yes your bodyweight is behind the punch but behind your bodyweight is your legs/feet pushing, pivoting. knees dropping, shoulders rotating and a solid base using foot/knee placement to get into a good position braced to recieve the recoil of the impact in the oposite direction (will help if a bag/heavy fighter is swinging/moving towards your shot, bodyweight is not enough in these cases) from which the punch is being delieverd from etc, etc which allows for the stopping power. bodyweight punches with very shoddy technique and foot/knee placement will bounce off a target rather than strike into and through it powerfully stopping.

Using bodyweight is better than arm punches but it can never compare to proper technique because there are limits when using bodyweight/gravity to throw a punch like most people do when starting out boxing.

[Scrap]

Its all to do with where the Head is, Balancing the Oral Cavity.

[krotala]

Great advice guys.
I did it and it definitely gives more snap and power to the punch.
I do have a question though....How does this whole concept apply when deciding to double or triple the jab?
Does the momentum from the initial jab carry over to the next two or do I have to pull the opposing shoulder for every single jab?
I'm looking forward to what scrap has to say.

[HerbM]

No, the only way for "momentum to carry over" is for there to never be a stoppage nor a reversal which never happens from punch to punch (in typical punches.)

You throw a punch -- it stops -- you retract it. At the moment it stops all moment (in that direction) is gone. That's physics, and not very complex compared with the kinetic chains in the body that produce that initial momentum (e.g., multiple muscle applying force through multiple levers, the bones).

However when you retract a punch you can -- and should -- be retracting all the opposing muscles to the ones that powered the punch. Now, you can once again throw that punch with full power.

This is also one of the biggest reasons that 'staying relaxed' is so hard, and such an important method to increase punching power, but also why practice will improve your delivery so much if you put in thousands and thousands of really high quality reps.

They key: You must be able to release ALL the contractions in the opposing muscles while throwing the punch, then at the end of the punch extension instantaneously release the muscles powering the punch, and simultaneously contract the opposing muscles for retraction.

That ability to turn off and turn on the contraction is what you are training -- in addition to the perfect form of the punch and the exact sequence of turning on the chains of muscles while maintaining balance (other sets of muscles which must coordinate as your distribution of weight and changing momentum alter your static balance.)

[krotala]

Thanks.
The only problem I have with jabbing this way is (aside from the fact that it's new to my muscle memory) is that it's very hard to bounce rhythmically while initiating that first jab.
I guess this opens up another whole discussion which revolves around the concept of either having a small rhythmic bounce enough to stay on the balls of the feet or staying planted on the stance. I tend to lean towards the first but I've been getting conflicting opinions.

[HerbM]

Why are you bouncing?

Where did you learn that?

What are the benefits?

Do you know the disadvantages to that?

[krotala]

Well I guess many trainers including Kenny Weldon,Russ Anbar (my trainer too), as well as many professional fighters . I was told that this "rhythm" as they say it, is done to always stay on the balls of the feet, as well as maintain constant movement.
I have however heard from some people that this movement is not good.
I'm waiting to hear your opinions on that matter.

Thanks

[nikola_ganchev]

For me the benefits of bouncings(forwarts and backwards) are 3... If the boxer bounces fast enough he uses the elasticity of his muscles. That means that he uses much less energy. If you stay 5 mins on the balls and not moving you want be able to move after that... The secont reason is that the boxer is already in motion. If you are goinig forwarts in your rhythm it will be much faster to trow the jab... The thirt reason is the defence.First If the boxer is getting hit, he will be "softer" target. This means that he will absorb less damage. Second: without a rhythm its almost impossible to evade punches(atleast to the left)... This constant movement gives the oder guy uncertainty and makes the movement of the boxer slightly faste(all the great "head movers" have their own rhythm).
On the oder hand if you bounce you loose some punching power. This comes from the mechanic of the punch. In order to get alot of speed you need great acceleration. This means that you need the biger muscles(gluts instead of calves) to initiate your punch. Thats why all the great punchers have there feets planted.