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Faizan
Over the centuries, boxing has evolved from a bare-knuckle brawling contest with no weight classes, rounds or specific rules into an Olympic-sponsored tournament and a professional sport that generates millions of dollars in revenue a year. While there are standard training methods that most boxers use, such as the speed bag and sparring, some unorthodox training methods have proved to be very effective.
Tying the Feet Together
Rocky Marciano was a fighter who was known for brutal punching power but awkward footwork and balance. He addressed that problem by tying his ankles together with about 2 ft. of slack left in the string. He then had to move around a heavy bag while throwing punches at it, forcing him to develop better balance and footwork because he would fall if he was not able to adjust to the string.
Boxing in a Swimming Pool
Another example of Marciano's unconventional methods was his use of a swimming pool in his training. While many fighters swim laps in training to further build lean muscle and add endurance, Marciano used the pool as a pseudo-boxing ring. His trainer Allie Colombo would put him in the deep end of the pool and have him tread water for as long as he could while throwing punches under the water. This strengthened the boxer's legs and, when combined with the resistance of throwing punches underwater, increased his punching power in the ring.
Using Bubbles
A child's bubble set is a great tool for increasing a boxer's hand speed, movement, and hand accuracy. A trainer can take a bubble wand, either outside or indoors with a fan, and send a torrent of bubbles toward a boxer, who then has to move back and forth and punch the targets out of the air. The air can cause the bubbles to spread and move in unpredictable ways, and the boxer has to remain focused to target them before they blow away or burst on their own.
Restrain the Dominant Arm
One problem many boxers have is that most of their effective offense comes from only one hand. While a fighter can get a lot of wins with a dominant right cross or a crushing left hook, he will eventually be neutralized if he cannot fight well with his weaker hand. Strapping the dominant hand to a boxer's side and then forcing him to either work a heavy bag or spar with only his weak arm will force him to rely on his uncomfortable hand and will also improve his defensive abilities.
Weight on the Ankles
Baseball players who are about to bat frequently hold two bats or a weighted bat while standing on deck, because they feel it makes their swing faster when they go the plate with a regular, lighter bat. The same principle applies to boxing. Using ankle weights on a fighter allows him to improve his footwork and increase his speed. Once the weights are removed, the boxer's legs feel lighter and the boxer can move faster. The principle also applies to punching speed when weights are added to the boxer's wrists.
Tying the Feet Together
Rocky Marciano was a fighter who was known for brutal punching power but awkward footwork and balance. He addressed that problem by tying his ankles together with about 2 ft. of slack left in the string. He then had to move around a heavy bag while throwing punches at it, forcing him to develop better balance and footwork because he would fall if he was not able to adjust to the string.
Boxing in a Swimming Pool
Another example of Marciano's unconventional methods was his use of a swimming pool in his training. While many fighters swim laps in training to further build lean muscle and add endurance, Marciano used the pool as a pseudo-boxing ring. His trainer Allie Colombo would put him in the deep end of the pool and have him tread water for as long as he could while throwing punches under the water. This strengthened the boxer's legs and, when combined with the resistance of throwing punches underwater, increased his punching power in the ring.
Using Bubbles
A child's bubble set is a great tool for increasing a boxer's hand speed, movement, and hand accuracy. A trainer can take a bubble wand, either outside or indoors with a fan, and send a torrent of bubbles toward a boxer, who then has to move back and forth and punch the targets out of the air. The air can cause the bubbles to spread and move in unpredictable ways, and the boxer has to remain focused to target them before they blow away or burst on their own.
Restrain the Dominant Arm
One problem many boxers have is that most of their effective offense comes from only one hand. While a fighter can get a lot of wins with a dominant right cross or a crushing left hook, he will eventually be neutralized if he cannot fight well with his weaker hand. Strapping the dominant hand to a boxer's side and then forcing him to either work a heavy bag or spar with only his weak arm will force him to rely on his uncomfortable hand and will also improve his defensive abilities.
Weight on the Ankles
Baseball players who are about to bat frequently hold two bats or a weighted bat while standing on deck, because they feel it makes their swing faster when they go the plate with a regular, lighter bat. The same principle applies to boxing. Using ankle weights on a fighter allows him to improve his footwork and increase his speed. Once the weights are removed, the boxer's legs feel lighter and the boxer can move faster. The principle also applies to punching speed when weights are added to the boxer's wrists.
Posted in: boxing
