Expert: Alan Kahn - 9/15/2004

Question
Hi, my name is Vincent Lopez, im 15 years old, and have been interested in boxing since I was in grade school, and I started training for it when I was about 13, anyway, I think I need some help on my exercises and diet. What I normally do is shadow box for about an hour, jump rope, do some crunches (normally 200), curl, bench( a lot of reps)and about 60 pushups.I don't really follow a diet. There pretty much is no place around austin Tx to help train me in boxing, so I have self taught myself, but I don't have the best knowledge. I was wondering if you could you tell me some good techniques that are important to follow, as for combinations, same thing for exercises and diet. I am very devoted to being a professional boxer, and I will definetly follow any advice you give me.

Answer
Hi Vincent,

I'm glad you are starting to Box. 15 is a great time to start!

Your beginning routine sounds great. But Shadow boxing for "an hour" might be a little more than necessary.  I hope you break it down to 1 or 2 minute "rounds" with a short break inbetween.  Do 5 or 6 of those at the most for a while. Be careful and not punch air" too hard or you could hyperextend (stretch to injury) your shoulder or Elbow.
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Here are some good boxing links for you.

http://www.balazsboxing.com/thegym/boxingbasics.htm

http://towyabc.tripod.com/towyamateurboxingclub/id13.html

http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Sideline/5773/method.htm

Beginners Speed Bag article
http://www.rossboxing.com/thegym/thegym20.htm

Boxing Help
http://www.boxinghelp.com/about.html

Major training Articles
http://www.rossboxing.com/thegym.html

SpeedBagCentral.com training site:

http://www.speedbagcentral.com/SpeedBagBasics_Introduction.html

Coaches corner. Ringside Boxing
http://www.ringside.com/articles/archives/coaches_corner/shadowboxing.htm

How to Hook punch
http://www.dolfzine.com/page635.htm

Ross on the heavy bag
http://www.rossboxing.com/heavybagtraining.wmv

Punching information
http://www.protectivestrategies.com/boxing.html



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As for Boxing Gyms in Austin, Texas. There are a few good ones.  here are a few links to their websites.

Texas State listings
http://www.boxinggyms.com/addresses/texas.htm

http://www.boxinghelp.com/texas.html

Bams Boxing Gym, 4707 Harmon Ave, Austin, TX, 78751-3418, Ph: 512.458.9996

Bruce's KO Boxing, 2110-c Whitehorse Trail, Austin, TX, 78757, Ph: 512.407.9413 http://www.bruceskoboxing.com/

ROCK Gym, 1606 West Stassney Ln, Austin, TX, 78745-2950, Ph: 512.773.7494, Email:

Richard Lord's Boxing Gym, 5400 N Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX, 78751, Ph: 512.451.8424 http://www.boxinggyms.com/lords.htm

Ann Wolfe Boxing Gym 4700 Loyola Ln. Suite 124 Austin TX
78724   512-929-1998
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as for techniques you ask for, I would suggest you read and learn as much as you can.  I really suggest you get these training videotapes:

Kenny Weldon's Learn to Box series. there is a beginning and advanced series:  (beginner)
http://www.ringside.com/store/prodinfo.asp?number=LTB%20S&variation=&aitem=88&mi...

Advanced series
http://www.ringside.com/store/prodinfo.asp?number=WELD%20S&variation=&aitem=83&m...

Also, here are a few major link to training materials and techniques of training:

Ringside
http://www.ringside.com/store/products.asp?dept=2&pagenumber=1

title Boxing
http://store.titleboxing.com/video-tapes---books.html

You can't get too much information on training. I would suggest you work soley on the basics, such as stance, footwork, movement and the main four punches, Jab, Straight, Hook and Uppercut. Learn to do these moving in various directions: Forward, backward, Left, right, and circling both clockwise and counterclockwise. Do each  slowly and feel the balance and weight shift. Work each punch individually with movement, then create combinations. I suggest you write them out. such as.

Two punch combinations;

Jab, Jab,
Jab, Straight Punch,
Jab, Hook ( same arm )
Straight Punch, Jab
straight punch, Hook,
Straight punch, Straight punch
Hook, Jab ( same arm )
Hook, straight,
Hook, Hook,
...etc.  do every possible combination of two punches, moving forward, back, left, right and circle.

then do three punch combinations, such as:
Jab, Jab, Jab,
Jab, Jab, Straight punch.
Jab, straight punch, jab
Jab, straight punch Hook,
Jab, Hook, straight punch
Jab, Hook, Jab ( all same arm )
Straight, Hook, Jab.

....etc.  I suggest you finish off each combination with a jab, particularly when you do them moving backwards. this helps to keep the other guy off you. Work most combos off the Jab as a leading punch.

I hope this gives you some needed information and I have answered you questions.  Please read and learn as much as you can, and good luck in your boxing career!

sincerely,

Alan Kahn
author, The speed Bag Bible