How to Learn Boxing at Home – The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide
By Scott Mendelson
Is it possible to train without a coach? This is one of the most common questions you can find on the Internet. The answer here is positive, but there are some things you need to consider so your home training is safe and effective.
To achieve great results, you need to take into account several aspects, such as getting to learn the right technique, using additional equipment, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and using some learning materials.
Home boxing training has some benefits, such as less stress, more convenience, and a chance to create a perfect setting, among others. So, in the article, we will talk about what you need to get started and deliver you a step-by-step plan that helps you to build a convenient routine.
Step 1 – Setting Up Your Home Boxing Training Space
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Setting up a working zone for boxing takes time and thought through because you need to consider several factors. But don’t worry, because below you can see all the vital things that require your attention when you try to create a perfect training setting:
- Picking the right area for workouts. Find a spacious area where you can put a mat and other stuff. Also, it would be a great idea if there were a lot of light and a mirror, so you could check if you were doing it all right.
- Preparing essential equipment: gloves, wraps, heavy bag, jump rope. See what you need for the level you have and purchase it online or by visiting a sports shop.
- Looking for alternative options if you don’t have equipment. See if you have some stuff at home you can use as your training equipment. Look up some substitutes on the Internet, and it will help you save money.
When you are ready with your setting, you can create a plan for your training routine and move to the next step of our guide.
Step 2 – Mastering the Basics of Boxing
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It is time for your first training, so you need to understand how it is going to be and which exercises you need to do as a warm-up. Then, you can start moving to the boxing basics.
Boxing Stance and Footwork
Before you can punch and push, you need to take a proper position. It is important that your legs stand the right way, allowing you to move lightly during your training. Also, there are other things you need to learn.
Work on a proper stance for balance and mobility. Make sure your hips are parallel to the floor. It is easy to do; just see that you rely on both legs without any overbalance. Next, bring forward one of the legs. For instance, if you are right-handed, then your left leg should be drawn forward, and vice versa if you are left-handed. The leg that was left in the back should be a bit bent in the knee, and the front leg should remain straight. Finally, your feet should be at a 45-degree angle.
Now, let’s see how to move efficiently without losing control. First of all, you need to keep being well-balanced during your moves. It always should be a 50/50 percentage equally on both of your legs during your moves. For more effectiveness, you can use your foot pads.
Drills to improve footwork. There are some efficient exercises you can do to enhance your moves:
- Back and forward moves. This exercise helps to control the distance and maintains a balance while you are moving back and forth. To begin, stand in a boxing stance and move your front leg forward. Then do the same with your back leg. Observe that your stance is correct and well-balanced. Next, return to your initial position, starting from the back leg, and check your stance again.
- Lateral movement exercise. It helps you to keep your stance and balance while moving sideways. You need to slide from one side to another, relying on one of your legs and making sure it stands strong on the ground.
- Spins. This exercise helps your body to move more efficiently and faster against your opponent. Your front leg should be standing still while your back leg can move in any direction you decide.
- Steps and kicks. This exercise allows you to combine your steps with kicks. Make steps in different directions and do the kicks, maintaining the balance.
- Labyrinth. This powerful combination helps to improve the speed and skill while you are moving during the session. Create or draw a labyrinth of squares on the ground and try moving fast from one to another, keeping the speed and balance.
- Shadowboxing moves. It is an advanced exercise where you can practice your kicks and punches moving from different sides. However, before you start this exercise you also need to focus on the punches technique.
Make them a part of your initial routine, and your progress will increase the chances of moving faster.
Basic Punches and Combinations
We are done with the basic legs and movements technique, so it is time to work with your punches and the way you do it. We will also dig deeper into the shadow boxing technique. By the way, you can see boxing matches for more insights and even make bets on your favorite boxers at 1xBet.
Get to know Jab, cross, hook, uppercut. If these words are new to you, then you need to start learning the fundamentals. Let’s explain them one by one:
- Jab - a basic boxing punch that is similar to a classic one but made with a stronger short impulse.
- Cross - a direct blow made with the boxer’s far hand made as a counterattack while an opponent makes the punch.
- Hook - a classic boxing side hit with an arm that is bent at the elbow.
- Uppercut - a fist punch that is delivered on an inside trajectory with the fist turned in on itself.
Now that you know the basic arm punches, it is time to use shadowboxing for technique improvement. Test all the moves in slower motion to maintain their correct technique, and combine legs with arms’ blows and punches.
Here are the best beginner boxing combos to practice:
- Doubles - work with your hand blows one by one using both hands.
- Mailman - make two double punches with your front arm and finish the combination by the blow from your far arm.
- Far Straight to Front Side - strike with your far hand first and finish the combo with a punch from your front arm from the most convenient position.
- Jab, Cross, Jab, Cross (1-2-1-2) - make four straight hard punches in a row with both hands according to the layout.
- Left Uppercut - Cross - Left Hook - Cross (5-2-3-2) - start with the upper punch that will make the opponent’s head go back, exposing other gaps in his defense. Then, use a cross to push the opponent back and finish the combo using the hook punch to break them.
Also, start practicing at a slower speed so that every move is worked out properly before you are able to speed up.
Defense Techniques for Beginners
Now, it is time to concentrate on your defense. It usually involves arms and head movements to protect the most vital parts of your face and body and your leg movements to be able to jump back and forth. Here are the basics that are important to remember.
Head movements: slips, ducks, and rolls. Let’s learn them one by one:
- Slips - common head side moves to avoid the opponent’s punches.
- Ducks - one of the defense moves where a boxer bends the knees slightly to lower the head to save it from the blow.
- Rolls - it is a side move where you direct the head to the side to avoid a blow.
However, you also need to know the main basic blocking and parrying drills. Shadowboxing and training with a partner are the best ways to practice your defense technique.
It is not a secret that many newbies can suffer some common mistakes just because they have no clue. So, let’s discuss how to avoid these mistakes in defense:
- Never give up your hands. Always keep your hands right up front, and your face and body should be able to react to every unexpected blow fast.
- Don’t be too stationary. When you stand still instead of moving, you make yourself vulnerable to a blow. Maintain movement by any means necessary.
- Move your legs. They help to maintain balance and speed, making you better prepared for attacks.
- Keep the boxer stance. The correct stance makes you steady and prepared and allows you to have solid support.
Following our tips will help you to improve during your practice sessions.
Step 3 – Building Strength, Speed, and Endurance
It is time to work on your speed, strength, and endurance now that you learned all the combinations and possible mistakes. Here is a short but solid list of the types of exercises you need to do to work out these skills.
Cardio. The best cardio workouts for boxing are jump ropes and HIIT. They aim to enhance your agility and endurance during long boxing sessions. The more you jump, run, do burpee exercises, and other cardio stuff, the better and longer you can stay strong during the fight.
Strength training exercises. Other important exercises you need to concentrate on include push-ups and core workouts. Your hands and core are the basis of your defense and power during the battle. Therefore, these parts must be strong and prepared to make multiple punches and protect other parts of the body from the counterattack of the opponent.
Reaction time drills for speed improvement. Boxing is all about speed. The faster you can be, the better because speed and power can help you prevail during the battle. You can launch a punch drill session to check your reaction.
Step 4 – Creating a Home Boxing Training Routine
Finally, you can create your boxing routine using the steps we provided in our guide. However, the way you can build a proper training plan can depend on the goals you wish to achieve. Anyway, we will supply you with some general recommendations that will assist you in creating a great routine for yourself:
- Sample weekly boxing workout plan. See how great you are doing and plan your training accordingly, making room for relaxation. Start with two training sessions per week and gradually intensify them, making them 4 or 5.
- Track progress and stay motivated. It is vital to keep an eye on the progress to keep yourself motivated. You can write down your achievements, time, and vital parameters such as the speed of your punches, etc.
- Consider joining a boxing gym for advanced training. It can become a bit boring to train alone. So, join some boxing clubs where you can find sparring partners and elevate your experience level.
We hope this guide will help you achieve your goals and upgrade your boxing training to comfortably work out at home. Simply follow the recommendation from the experts to maintain your skills and progress doing your favorite sport.