Slow reaction time

[themusic]

Anyone got any tips on improving reaction time on your own, obviously if I had someone with me I could practice jab sparing etc but my reaction time is terrible as iv got no depth perception so need to practice extra on my own. Thanks

[StrictlySP]

Hi themusic,
You asked:

Anyone got any tips on improving reaction time on your own...

Try TV sparring (in two ways):
1) Stand in front of your TV and watch a fight, selecting one of the combatants as your opponent. From there, fight him as if you're in the ring with him.
2) Stand in front of your TV and watch a cartoon (because scenes in this format change constantly and very rapidly) and every time a scene changes, throw a punch or two-punch combo.

Anyway, hope this helps...

Take Care,
Lito

[Andre]

You could practice hand ball against a wall or table tennis by folding up one end of the table to play on your own,that incorperates good footwork eye to hand cooridination as well. Later you could stain the ball more the same color as the table that'll test your visual reaction to action links out on the next level.

Do you blink when shots are thrown at you? That will get in the way.

There are also some people (quiet rare) who suffer something called sensory processing disorder and that can real effects on comprehending distance ,speed and timing. They usually find out crossing the road as a kid or later out in the traffic which can be tragic.

You can also try not looking into the eyes of the opponent for a while and use your peripheral vision by looking through their mid section and react to their elbows moving instead of their gloves,that can reset your timing a touch.

[Beanz]

Anyone got any tips on improving reaction time on your own, obviously if I had someone with me I could practice jab sparing etc but my reaction time is terrible as iv got no depth perception so need to practice extra on my own. Thanks

Do you only have one eye ?

[Orthobox95]

Do head movement and block / parry drills with a friend at the boxing club / gym. They throw straight punches at you, nothing complicated, and you just move your head and body to evade them properly. Look up a few youtube videos on how to slip punches and you're set for the drill. Or just ask that same question to your coach.

[Douglas]

Also what would help is to keep your head moving and do a slip right after you throw a punch, whether your opponent punches back or not (don't give them an immobile target). In fact, the instructor in one of the youtube videos even said to not just slip only to dodge shots that you know are coming, but to do them ANY time you've thrown a punch or a combo.

[greynotsoold]

One of the keys to reaction time is knowing what you are going to do in advance. So, by yourself, you can kind of program your mind.(and keep in mind that you never practice avoiding a punch without practicing the counter)
So you envision a jab coming to you and catch it and jab back in the same motion, small pivot to your left as you do so. Then you parry it over your left shoulder with your right hand, and bring your left hand up...The list goes on and on.
You teach your mind to react, teach your body. When you get into the ring at least that basis is there.

[OMGWTF]

Anyone got any tips on improving reaction time on your own, obviously if I had someone with me I could practice jab sparing etc but my reaction time is terrible as iv got no depth perception so need to practice extra on my own. Thanks

Be in the moment, thinking slows your reactions down, being aware non stop of what your opponent is doing will help alot. (look into mindfulness)

Learn to read the initial movements of a punch, look for subtle cues that a punch has just been initiated, look for the shoulder or even the hip.
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Look no where specific but everywhere at once kind of a general non focussed glare (like when you are pissed) but be mentally sharp and attentive looking out for the first signs of a sharp movment even though you are relaxing your specific focus

Wear a patch on one eye for 4 weeks and the other eye for the next 4 weeks especially if you are a converted southpaw, make sure your last eye to cover up is the one furthest to the back because you want the lead eye to be the dominant eye.

Practice, just throw jabs at each other if you can read and react to a jab in time you can read and react to anything, also if alone the tennis ball on an elastic cord on your head gear, then punch the ball. (Look it up to see how its done)

[AdamGB]

Don't just 'react'. Look at it as a bigger picture - read, anticipate.