An Aspie boxing team?

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Regularguy what Pro Boxer style is closes to you?

Me, I guess be Joe Louis.

That's true, or as cliche saying goes "styles makes fights."

Being a smaller fighter, do you still use your jab to get on the inside. I only ask because Marciano I don't think even knew what a jab was. I see so many smaller fighters that just forget about the jab and come charging at a bigger boxer head first.

Whenever I went up against a bigger guy, I just used my jab as a battering ram to get inside.

I don't think I could ever stop using my jab. When I first started boxing my instructor for first months just had me hitting a punching bag with just my jab, nothing else.

Hah. Good point about Marciano.

I do use my jab a lot, all the time. I need to get inside and punch--that is very often a key component of my offense--but I have found that using the jab is the best and safest way to do that. Jab low. Jab high. Fake low and then jab high (nice to add a quick left hook after that one, if possible). Or throw repeated jabs at him while I'm working to cut off the ring.

I know what you mean about the shorter guys who charge a taller boxer head first. Some guys can pull it off, but to me charging seems like a recipe for disaster. For one thing, if you just charge in, you give up an opportunity to score with the punches that help you get inside. In amateurs, especially, that can really put you at a disadvantage since those bouts rely so heavily on points scored, and don't give you any extra credit for a hard punch unless you knock the guy out or really clock him hard enough to get the referee to stop the match. For another thing, not using the jab throws away the "built in" defense (as well as distraction) that you have when throwing the jab. You're a much easier target to hit.

That second point can compound yet another problem that happens when you charge: getting off balance. I can't recall seeing any boxer looking well balanced when he was charging his opponent. I have seen lots of instances where the charging boxer ends up in the ropes as his opponent quickly (and rather easily) steps to the side, or where the charger finds himself in a very awkward position at an angle where he can't punch, but can probably be hit pretty well.

Finally, if the other problems aren't enough, the risks of getting clobbered while charging are just too great to make doing it worthwhile. I have spent quite a few rounds in the gym practicing for dealing with chargers when my coaches thought I would be facing one. Charging can definitely be very intimidating when you are first starting out, but if you practice drills against it, charging seems like one of the most beatable approaches out there.

The boxer who is charging is in full view of his opponent; the boxer being charged can see everything the charger is doing and he's probably in a great position to launch his own attack with both hands. Think about it. If you're the taller boxer/puncher and if I try to charge you, when I end up at the edge of your "blasting range," are you going to just wait for me to finish the charge, in effect saying, "Hey, come on in; it's all yours!"? I don't think so!! !

I think I learned to box pretty much the same way you did, so the jab is an essential element of my strategy. In addition to lots of rounds of using the jab on the heavy bag, I can remember countless more rounds of jabbing while stepping forward, jabbing forward and then moving one step back, jabbing while moving laterally to left and right, jabbing while circling, and so on. Heck, I still do those kinds of drills fairly often. I've been blessed to have coaches over the years who always emphasized the importance of the basics. I figure you can never really practice them too much. The basic punches, moves, defenses, and counters are the foundation of the sport.

Even after working on some new, "fancier" technique, I might still have to resort to the basics like a good left jab and hard right cross if I can't pull off the fancy-schmancy stuff for whatever reason. I had one bout against a taller guy who was about my level of skill and a hard hitter. I was ready for him. Man, I had been practicing quick hooks to the ribs and head, uppercuts for being in close, and so on: all the textbook technique. During the first round, I was faking a hook to the head, going for a hook to the body, and so on. The problem was that it wasn't working. The guy had kind of an unusual stance, plus he moved at some strange angles that made him hard to hit. Even worse, was the fact that he was hitting me, a lot.

I was frustrated as hell after the first round. Back in the corner, my coach gave me some of the very best between-rounds help I've ever gotten. He said, "Steve, forget about all that fancy stuff. If you couldn't do it with this guy in the first round, it's not going to happen. Use your double-jab and right hand to get inside and then pound the guy with everything you've got."

I followed his suggestion and it worked great. The irony is that it was the basics, the Boxing 101 stuff, that let me get inside and start working the speedier combinations I had been practicing. The other boxer was a very tough opponent and brought out the best in me. It just so happens that the best was the elementary boxing skills. I love this game!

the jab is a mighty thing...

we once did a sparring drill in muay thai that involved one sparring partner being allowed to kick only (well, roiundhouses, no push kicks, for obvious reasons), the other one being restricted to boxing only.
my turn boxing, against one of our best kickers, i caught exactly two bruises on my left arm (blocking one kick that hit both my upper and lower arm, and part of my lat) and from there, could keep hunting him with barrages of jabs, blocking him off with a hook whenever he tried to step out to the side.
as his kicks need proper distance and some longer time than a punch (heavier leg travelling more distance et al.), once inside, its absolutely possible to never let him come to kicking range again. its frustrating, though, as you are not likely to score any substantial hits on a backpedalling, constantly evading target. thats why i think that a sound boxer can beat a kickboxer. its full muay thai rules where the boxer will inevitably be wrecked, for the jab is complemented by the push kick, that is often used as a foot jab or to keep people out of reach, and there are elbows in infight. so, the boxers range is bracketed by very effective attack ranges for the muay thai guy.

It bugs me seeing boxers that don't use a jab. Unless got T-Rex size arms, you should always be using your jab.

Also what bugs me is seeing guys that are suppose to be Pros throwing lazy jabs. Might as well just stick your head clear out and let your opponent bounce a few over-hand rights off your head, because essentially it's the same thing.

Gekitsu,

That sounds like an interesting and pretty difficult sparring drill. Did you find it helpful?

Sound like you guys have a great foundation. Yes the jab. the jab every good boxer needs to use the jab get it his face block up his vision then straite right or left if your a south paw. keep the jab going. It too drives me nut when you see a boxer not use the jab much or thruw out lazy ones.

You guys are learning whats works well for you, good. The only and only time I might charge is if I have gotten in a good punch and my opoinent is tired and clearly cant throw more than one or two. Charging, you can end up throwig your self right in to a punch. I dont charge much unless I am fighting MMA. But then I am charging for a diffrent reason.

Sounds like we all have heart for the sport! where should we put up a boxing center. We have to get some woman boxing too. Burserk on here sounds like she could be a good fitgher, If trained . Lets do some recurting. I wonder if we can get a grant money of a Aspie team.

What is the weights of every one, I am a small one.

Soon 106 to 120 lb

regularguy: yeah, it was very interesting to do. id say, almost everyone has a favorite weapon... some people are in love with their thigh kicks, some love to knee and there are some (like me) who are in love throwing elbows. while there is nothing to be said against such preferences, this drill teaches quite well that everything has its place.

also, that drill is goddamn hard for the kick part... getting distance to someone who can rush you because you wont punch him is quite a job.

anyway, yeah... it taught me a lot about distances... and that there is no superior weapon. there only are superior weapons for a given range.

Soon If I got back down to fighting shape, I'd be a light-heavy. Right now, I'd be an out of shape Cruiserweight lol

Thanks, guys.

You've given me some things to think about for this boxing team idea. I also appreciate your comments on boxing technique and strategy. There's always more to learn. I need to let this stuff roll around in my head a bit and see what would be the next steps to take. Thanks again.