Long and Short rhythm?

[WayneFlint]

Hello all, been a bit busy recently to get online but theres a topic that has been cropping up here and there during my boxing study's but have yet to find a detailed description or instructions on what it is and how to use it, the best info ive found about rhythme is in boxings 10 commandments where it refers to tyson as short rhythme and ali as long rhythme. can anyone help educate me on the principles of rhythme for boxing?

[Chris Nagel]

I think that short/long rhythm is somewhat a vague subject. It could've just the same been called x/y rhythm, as it seems more related to the direction of movement rather than rhythm.

Rhythm is made up of the time that it takes to do different movements, be it a slip or a punch. It also refers to the time that is between techniques.

In boxing it's an important concept to grasp in order to be more effective at landing punches as well as avoiding them. Say for instance, if you were to throw punches at a steady tempo, it'd become predictable. That's why you'd want to throw it at different speeds, including stop and go. At times it's just like a change-up pitch in baseball. Having variety in your speed and rhythm can keep your opponent guessing.

It's the same thing when you're moving, slipping and weaving. If you're moving your head back and forth like some kind of human-metronome your opponent is easily going to figure out where your head is going to be. This is especially true if your head is tracing the same path over and over again.

Floyd Mayweather talks about rhythm in his interview with Smitty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqOJp9Wmayo-The changes in the speed of his movements and timing is more important than just him being fast.

Just try to get a feel for it in your movements, especially when you're shadow boxing or hitting the bags. You can break down certain moves into beats, kind of like dance steps or drummer-beats. Apply it to different techniques, ie. feinting, punching as well as defensive moves.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

hmm trying to remember what I got taught about this.

[WayneFlint]

Thanks chris i was thinking myself the movements could be timed and it was the movements that bugged me in boxing 10 commanments it seems hes sort of transfering most of his weight back forth and side to side and recently ive come into realisation that doing that makes you slow in everything you do ive been trying to re-train myself to lift the front foot and push off with the rear to move forward and vice versa like scrap said in one of the threads and ive found my balance is spot on, im much faster much more in control and have been using counters i never had time for before while sparring and then when i saw this in 10 commandments i thought i had to start all over again hah, ive heared alot about breaking boxing down into a rhythm and it makes sense when you think about it the other day i managed to slip accidently a punch im not really sure i saw because my partner has a very predictable rhythm and doesnt change tempo much, the knack i think is to know when the dangerous beats are coming and i believe this is how you get to slipping and countering more shots rather than simply trying to see which shot is coming or trying to draw the shot, if you put it all together tells, draws, tempo, feints it makes a fighter quite predictable. thanks for replys missy and chris

[WayneFlint]

Oh yeh and it wont allow me to view the video in my country im afraid chris, thanks again anyway mate ill rep you when ive spread some around >.<

[Howlin Mad Missy]

Thanks chris i was thinking myself the movements could be timed and it was the movements that bugged me in boxing 10 commanments it seems hes sort of transfering most of his weight back forth and side to side and recently ive come into realisation that doing that makes you slow in everything you do ive been trying to re-train myself to lift the front foot and push off with the rear to move forward and vice versa like scrap said in one of the threads and ive found my balance is spot on, im much faster much more in control and have been using counters i never had time for before while sparring and then when i saw this in 10 commandments i thought i had to start all over again hah, ive heared alot about breaking boxing down into a rhythm and it makes sense when you think about it the other day i managed to slip accidently a punch im not really sure i saw because my partner has a very predictable rhythm and doesnt change tempo much, the knack i think is to know when the dangerous beats are coming and i believe this is how you get to slipping and countering more shots rather than simply trying to see which shot is coming or trying to draw the shot, if you put it all together tells, draws, tempo, feints it makes a fighter quite predictable. thanks for replys missy and chris

yes! one thing you can try and probably have done without thinking is slip in to your partners rhythm, you will be able to read them better. This of course then means you can predict and break their rhythm. If you're not doing it with thought and you slip in their rhythm then YOU will be the one getting hit
Part of that whole fighting their fight.

You can work at this on bags and with a live partner.

[Andre]

You can think in: one, two , 1, 2 , 1, 2, or 1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2 3. they are time signatures like drumming . And to break their rhythm or fit into it snuggly you think an's in between the counts and go and move in on the an.

1 an 2 an 1 an 2 an. <thats a 2/4 signature 1 an 2 an 3 an 1 an 2 an 3. < 3/4 siganture Faster 1an2an3an4an.< see that a 4/4 signature

Make the space in between count. Distance plays a big part too. If two are fighting mid range and one breaks free and steps back in on the an and goes nose to nose thenthat original rhythm has been broken.

To disrupt them from continuing their timing on you ,you break your routine and the distance you are fighting at.You could move back 4 inches and deal with only their arms then move back in as a disruption , or you break away totally switch and move in. You could even drag one of their legs forward with your inside foot as you move back and see what happens to their timing , off their balance!
You push an elbow of theirs across their centre line or out the other way and their timing will change too.