Beauty in its simplicity

The task at hand is taught in 4 steps.

I keep the instruction simple by demonstrating
(A) fundamental footwork (how to stand, where the weight should be placed, how to move forwards, when to shift the weight forwards, neutral or back)

(B) how to throw a lead punch (jab), followed by the rear foot coming up to allow the rear hip to turn forwards while keeping the balance.

(C) how to throw a rear punch (cross) by turning the rear hip and keeping the chin down and using the deltoid as a landing pad

(D) how to throw a lead hook by shifting the weight back - pushing the lead leg to get the lead foot pointing at 3 o'clock (in an orthodox stance)

On top of this there are 2 rules that I use:
1. Always follow a lead hook with a rear cross irregardless whether the hook connects or not
2. Of the 4 punches (lead jab, rear cross, lead hook and rear cross) - leave one punch and mix up the combination of the same and you have a little offensive game going.

It doesn't take much to learn but it take years to get it 'feeling' right with the correct distance, timing and set up. That's the beauty in the simplicity of boxing.

I am often perplexed by people who wander in asking for taekwondo or kickboxing when I kind of get a sense they don't really know how to use their hands properly. One of the most common and natural human instincts is to use the hands when it comes down to personal defense. Whether it is picking up a tool to be used as a weapon or balling your hands into fists, your hands are your primary tools in most defensive engagements yet many are taken up by the need to employ acrobatic kicks or similar movements that require flexibility or lots of space (and no slippery floor).

While I am not dismissing the effectiveness of kicking techniques, there is an approprite time and range to use them to your advantage. However, for many Malaysians who are exposed to taekwondo in primary and secondary schools, they tend to place a lot of value to them rather than to augment their kicking skills with decent hand skills.

The rule of thumb that has been used is this: a puncher will beat a kicker and a grappler will beat a puncher. While this theory has been put under the test in countless professional matches, the low percentage of kickers winning professional fights compared with punchers or grapplers only serves to point the necessity to be proficient at all 3 major ranges (including clinching - which makes it the 4th)

Can you win fights with being good at just 4 punches?
Most Olympic level boxers are very good with one or two punches and one or two bread and butter combinations. They hone their skills (timing, distance, balance and power) in the ring and develop an acute sense of when to use the few punches and combinations with devastating results. Mike Tyson had a powerful lead hook which he used with beautiful timing to win the world heavyweight championship in his prime.

While we are not Olympic calibre athletes, with regular training, we condition ourselves and develop confidence against a constant barrage of punches which we learn to roll or defend or counter. We don't panic and learn to relax and to go with the flow.

I hope you get to think about simplifiying your training and not the opposite. As the old saying goes: K.I.S.S. = Keep It Simple Smartass

Best training!