Critique my Shadowboxing

[meremortal]

Trainer at my gym only gives tips when we I'm sparring so I'd appreciate some shadowboxing advice.



Any good video tutorials that could replace a ****ty trainer?

[Mr.MojoRisin']

You're too tense. You won't be able to punch with maximum power if you are tense.

Not enough movement. Move around when you aren't punching.

Quit looking down, keep your chin down but don't look down, look up and out.

Weight is too far forward. Put your weight towards your back foot and step forward with the jab.

When you punch, you pause before throwing another punch. You will be countered big time against an opponent who knows how. Throw your punches smoothly, let em flow like water.

Turn over the palm of your hand on your straight punches.

Shorten your hooks, they are too wide. Your hook should be like a spoke on a wheel.

Like I said earlier you are too tense and that bothers me a lot watching it as a fighter. If your trainer only critiques you when sparring then that is a red flag because if you can't do basic things in shadow boxing then you definitely won't be able to in sparring when you are fighting off of instinct. You could really get hurt.

Like Bruce Lee said, fear the guy that practices the same kick 10,000 times rather than the guy who practices 10,000 different kicks one time.

Practice basic fundamentals over and over until you mastered them. That way you don't have to fix it later on.

[Ray Corso]

Find a trainer willing to give you "tips" on shadowing!
Forget sparring you have no form or balance your "trainer" isn't teaching you a thing!
Ray

[meremortal]

Thanks guys, and you are right, the trainer doesn't teach me anything. He mostly uses me to spar his heavyweight pro who outweighs me by 70lbs and my first sparring session was after only one week.

Unfortunately, it's the only boxing gym in my town.

[Redd Foxx]

It looks like you're warming up, but not shadow boxing. Everything is coming up short of being an actual punch. Visualize an opponent and try it. Imagine that he's in front of you, moving, and striking at you. Use a little reach, explosion, speed, etc.

[meremortal]

It looks like you're warming up, but not shadow boxing. Everything is coming up short of being an actual punch. Visualize an opponent and try it. Imagine that he's in front of you, moving, and striking at you. Use a little reach, explosion, speed, etc.

Oo, that's all I've ever used it for.

I need to get a better imagination.

[Ray Corso]

Has your trainer shown you the "boxer step"?
Has he held pads to put together your combination?
Does he hold the heavy bag and direct your work on it?

These are the very basic steps any trainer worth a damn does when teaching balance, distance and punching form.

Where are you located?

Ray

[Redd Foxx]

Oo, that's all I've ever used it for.

I need to get a better imagination.

Shadow boxing is important because not all your punches land in a fight. When you slam a heavy bag, you get used to the way that energy transfer and recoil keeps you balanced. That can leave you ill-prepared for when you miss. Shadow boxing helps make sure you have balance and speed in all situations.

It also lets you do footwork exercises that you can't do when striking an object. Footwork drills don't mean a lot if you're not shifting balance like in the actual movements though.

[meremortal]

Has your trainer shown you the "boxer step"?
Has he held pads to put together your combination?
Does he hold the heavy bag and direct your work on it?

These are the very basic steps any trainer worth a damn does when teaching balance, distance and punching form.

Where are you located?

Ray

It's a boxercise club (Canada) but it has a ring for ppl who want to spar. Trainer has watched me hit the bag but not really given much advice. Also, I've never worked the mitts with a trainer.

For the boxer's step I've watched this video...

Shadow boxing is important because not all your punches land in a fight. When you slam a heavy bag, you get used to the way that energy transfer and recoil keeps you balanced. That can leave you ill-prepared for when you miss. Shadow boxing helps make sure you have balance and speed in all situations.

It also lets you do footwork exercises that you can't do when striking an object. Footwork drills don't mean a lot if you're not shifting balance like in the actual movements though.

Thanks man, that makes sense.