When beginning boxing lessons, the coach should place all his boxers in a circle around himself while teaching the phases of the important on-guard position. We find that such mass instruction at the outset is much more beneficial than having the boys pair off immediately with gloves on. The length of training should be determined by the amount of previous boxing training each boxer has had.

Practicing the Left Jab

For this aspect of boxing lessons, both boys should be in the regular on-guard position. Stress here again that all punches start from and finish in the all-important on-guard position.

Changing positions with the start of a new punch spoils deception. When punches begin from on-guard position the opponent does not know whether a left, a right, a jab, or a hook is coming.
Both boys in a pair should simultaneously throw left jabs to the jaw. This is boxing training practice since both boys learn the block as well as the punch. The heads should roll a bit to the right, and the right hands should catch the left jabs just a few inches from the chins, but the right gloves still do not come into contact with the faces. Frequently a boxer makes the mistake of holding his right glove against his face. Also guard against the mistake of instinctively reaching out with the right glove to block a jab. Have your boys draw back into the on-guard position, practicing the blow and block. Stress again and again that, after the jab, the arm comes straight back, thereby offsetting a possible right-hand counter.

The puncher immediately follows the left jab with the right cross. Proper timing is all-important. The right cross must instantly follow the left jab.

Practicing the Right Cross

From the on-guard position the blocker for convenience lowers his left arm to give the puncher practice in landing the right cross.
The puncher follows straight through. His left hand is back protecting, and also in position to punch. Always, one hand out, one hand back. The puncher draws back into the on-guard position.

Counter for the Right Cross

For convenience in practice during boxing training, the blocker should drop his left arm. In an actual bout he would keep his left high and counter a right hand by a left jab to the shoulder of the original puncher or by a jab to the jaw. Emphasize that a good jabber can beat a right-hand puncher nine times out of ten. The left hand travels only a short distance to the point of contact, whereas the right cross must travel at least twice the distance to the point of contact.

If you practice these Boxing Training Tips in your boxing lessons you will be sure to show steady improvement.

Proper boxing equipment is a “must” in any boxing training program. A capable, qualified coach would not send a boy on the football field without proper shoulder pads or headgear. Yet, I have seen high school boxers use worn-out boxing equipment and a makeshift mat with no canvas cover; and I have known of boys who have not been provided with aluminum cups. This is absolute false economy, and should not be tolerated.

In comparison with most other sports, boxing is inexpensive to conduct, and can be very profitable financially. After the initial outlay – the ring, punching bag, and gloves – additional purchases are minor in nature. Upkeep is incidental. In numerous colleges, boxing receipts are second only to those derived from football. We do not wish to convey the impression that we suggest boxing only because of the profit motive. But we do wish to show that the sport needn’t be conducted at a financial loss to the school.

Rubber mouthpieces are another essential piece of boxing equipment for all boxers. They are inexpensive. You will find the investment a wise one. It is certainly much cheaper than the dental work which may be required when no mouthpiece is used. The mouthpiece will eliminate practically all teeth injuries and mouth lacerations which are caused by the lip coming in contact with an irregular tooth. Many boxers find it advisable to secure a mouthpiece made from an actual impression. This is desirable even though expensive.

On to other equipment, a ring is required on which the padding extends over the edge for added protection. All turn-buckles must be padded and the ropes wrapped with flannel or gauze. The mat should be at least two inches thick, with a tight canvas cover on top. All bouts and meets must be fought in a regulation ring. Remember, accidents are caused only by laxity and carelessness. Use a regulation ring during all practice sessions.

In general, the punching bag stands for the light bag, and a few training bags for heavy punching should also be available. Jumping-ropes are standard equipment in any boxing gymnasium.

Headgear is compulsory boxing equipment for all matches. This headgear is specially designed and is termed “competitive headgear.” It is lighter in weight than the headgear used in training, but affords the same amount of protection to the eyes and ears. It also includes extra padding at the base of the skull as protection for a boxer on the rare occasions when his head hits the canvas as he falls.

It has been definitely ascertained that many injuries incurred in the professional field have not resulted from a blow, but rather from falling to an improperly-padded ring floor. Competitive headgear, with its ample padding is another precaution to avoid possible injuries of this nature.

Every coach should insist that his boys wear proper boxing equipment: headgear, mouthpieces, and protective cups along with his boxing training tips. This must be so at each boxing workout – permit no exceptions. If a mouthpiece slips out, or headgear becomes improperly adjusted, time should be called to replace the mouthpiece or to properly adjust the headgear. To overlook these details is to be remiss in your duty as a coach or supervisor.

Naturally, there is a limit to what protective boxing equipment can do. All rule books, whether for amateur boxing or professional fighting, provide that a doctor be in attendance at ringside. We don’t want to convey the impression that this is necessary because of any dangers inherent in boxing. It is a precautionary measure that is also taken in all properly supervised contact sports contests. Virtually every high school or college conducting a competitive sports program has an M.D. who is designated as the “team physician.”

Call on this man to examine carefully each boxing team candidate before he actively engages in the sport; have him observe the boy at any time you have reason to suspect any injury or illness; and require that each boy undergo examination the day of a match. This is an added precaution which eliminates the possibility of a boy who is sub-par because of illness exposing himself unnecessarily to possible injury.

Proper attention to all boxing equipment will help eliminate accidents. It is a must for any school beginning a boxing training program.

Proper-Hand-Bandaging

On to the free boxing tips; let me stress here that a boy without bandages on his hands should never box or hit a bag.

As free boxing tips go, few are better than how to bandage your hand better to begin with; bandage yourself properly and you will feel more comfortable boxing right from the start. The following procedure for bandaging is proper: Place hand outstretched with the back of the hand facing up, and fingers spread apart at least half an inch. A loop made in one end of the bandage should be slipped over the thumb. Start the bandage high on the wrist and wrap it fairly tight, to minimize bending of the wrist when the boxer strikes. Wrap the bandages over the back of the bones (metacarpals) between the knuckles and the wrist almost down to the first joint of the fingers. Make at least three loops over the thumb to fully protect the big joint of the thumb. The boxer should open and close his fist three or four times during the wrapping so that the bandages will be neither too tight nor too loose.

While giving you free boxing tips, let me emphasize the importance of taking proper care of the wrists, bones of the hands, and the thumbs. Most important is proper bandaging of the backs of the hands, rather than the knuckles. Many people mistakenly consider the latter proper and adequate protection.

In preparation for a regular match use surgical gauze for bandages. Up to 10 yards is necessary, depending upon the size of the boy’s hands. For training sessions, ankle wraps cut in five-yard lengths, elastic bandages, or even carpet binding, are satisfactory.

The Correct Position of the Hand When Hitting

Proper hand-bandaging minimizes hand injuries, but the coach must still teach his boys how to hit properly to further avoid all possible injuries. Free boxing training tips here can help. Once a boxer learns to hit properly, he is rarely troubled by hand injuries.

When starting either a left jab or a right cross, point the four knuckles of both hands outward, and the thumb knuckle upward. When the left jab or right cross lands, the finger knuckles should be pointing upward, and the thumb knuckle inward. At the start of a left hook, the finger knuckles are pointing outward, and the thumb knuckle upward.. When the left hook lands, the knuckles are turned inward to the right, but the thumb knuckle must remain pointing upward. In the execution of a hook, the thumb knuckle starts and finishes pointing upward.

I always insist that boxers I am coaching keep their fists closed from bell to bell. No high school, college, or amateur boxer has enough experience to keep his gloves half open until the moment of contact. A boy trying this will, at some time or other, miss on his timing and a hand injury may result. He should at all times make an “even fist,” meaning all knuckles should be even across (no knuckle protruding) when the first is closed.

Many boys make this mistake, particularly when throwing a hook. Make this a hard and fast rule: keep the forearm rigid from the knuckles of the closed fist up to the elbow. If your boys remember this rule they will have better hitting power and no sprained wrists.

Following these boxing training tips and concentrating on proper care of the hands will result in a much better boxer.