As it probably happens in every sport, you may be thinking that there are beginner mistakes in boxing that will occur if you are just starting to train. But, first of all, what is considered a mistake? Is it something that you are doing the wrong way or when you are using a bad technique? If that were true then everything would have to be done exactly the same way every single time.
However, in boxing, it would be very hard to adapt to situations if you had to throw the same punch exactly the same way always. As a matter of fact, if you try to do everything “perfectly”, your opponent will surely find you predictable and take advantage of this for his benefit. Therefore, experts believe that a mistake in boxing is something you are not aware of or something you are doing unintentionally.
You can expose yourself while boxing and if you did not do this intentionally then it will be considered a mistake. However, you can expose yourself as a strategy, as a bait for your opponent, which is something pros master and why it may seem that many professional boxers “make many mistakes”, but they may not be mistakes after all.
Nonetheless, we will mention a few common mistakes in boxing that you should try to avoid or fix to be better at this discipline.
8 beginner mistakes in boxing you should fix ASAP
Beginner boxing can be hard at first since there is so much you need to learn and take in. Your body has to get used to the technique and be aware of many new things all at once. But don’t worry, no one is expecting you to be perfect or understand everything right away, but it is a good idea to have a notion of what things you might be doing that you are not aware of and that if you fix them, you will be a better boxer.
- Throwing arm punches
Punches should not come from the arms, at least the energy of your punches should not. The correct way to punch is by using your entire body, starting from the ground up transferring the power all the way to the arms and fists.
After the boxer understands that there is actually a technique involved in punching and that they need to learn how to get power from the legs and the lower body and not just the arms, punches are better and more effective.
2. Too much head targeting
Among other common beginner mistakes in boxing is the excessive head targeting of the opponent when sparring. However, the head is not the only target you can use, you should start to learn to employ a strategy around the opponent’s body instead of going for a powerful head knockout.
If you target the entire body, the opponent will slowly lower his/her guard and then you can go for the head.
We understand a beginner’s excitement of learning how to box and wanting to get into the ring with an opponent and throw some punches. But, hey, slow down, focus on your training and everything will gradually fall into place. It is not a good idea to try to train, spar or fight above your current level.
Have you ever found yourself thinking or saying any of these? This is a list published by Expert Boxing of things people tend to say, think or feel when they are training at a level they are not at yet and it may lead them to quit entirely.
- Boxing is too hard.
- Boxing is too tiring.
- Boxing is too painful.
- I don’t have enough power.
- I don’t have enough speed.
- My hands aren’t fast enough.
- My defense isn’t good enough.
- My footwork isn’t good enough.
Do not try to rush things. Usually by focusing on fewer things at a time will be better for you to master little by little everything involved in boxing. Appreciate the journey and do not focus on the final destination, enjoy your time learning and training and use it to pay attention and pick up on everything your trainer is teaching you. Then, slowly you can make your training a bit more challenging until you are comfortable to take another step, and so on.
4. Breaking the line of sight
Many beginner boxers make the mistake of breaking the line of sight and focus, losing their visual on their opponents and then, getting punched in return. Using the eyes while boxing is essential but many boxers that are beginning do not feel comfortable using them and when a punch comes their way, instinctively they close their eyes because they sense danger, but in boxing, you need to do the exact opposite.
The solution is to practice maintaining eye contact with the opponent even as you are throwing punches or are blocking them. The more you are being attacked by an opponent, the more you need to keep your eyes open to be able to block the attacks.
You should also train yourself to see punches coming your way and you can do it with a partner by practicing seeing each other punch in slow motion so that you can study and understand the entire movement of the punch and become more familiarized with them.
5. Wasting energy
If you are sparring or fighting, you need to remember that you will need as much energy as you can from the moment you start until the last round. One of those beginner mistakes in boxing you can avoid is to go with everything you have at the very beginning and then have nothing left to give as the fight carries on.
When you train, analyze how your body uses its energy and pace yourself so you can have a strong start and a strong finish as well.
6. Too much focus on the upper body
Many boxers make the mistake of separating their body into two, upper body and lower body when the reality is that you need to always incorporate your entire body in everything you do in boxing. As Expert Boxing says, it will be strange to run without moving the arms (you get the point, right?).
Some boxers focus too much on their upper body and arms and punching and leave the lower body only for footwork. However, when you are punching, like we said above, you need to involve your legs and core. Additionally, when you move your head you require small movements in your hips and knees.
Moreover, footwork also requires the upper body to move accordingly so that you can have enough balance and power and also to help you stay active even when standing still in one place.
“The guys NOT using the lower and upper body together will always have a difficult time with balance and maximizing their power. Using only their upper body makes them over-reach and swing themselves off balance. To avoid losing balance, some will hold back or get tentative with their power. Others, insisting on swinging with full power anyway, will tense up their back muscles as a way of preventing themselves from falling over,” Expert Boxing says.
7. Not feeling what you are doing
Many beginners in boxing will force movements that will not feel right to them or hurt their back or elbows and the reason is that they are not feeling their movements, they are forcing them without taking a second and realizing the situation in front of them or how their body feels.
Of course, all of this takes time, experience, practice, training and it is a mistake that can be surpassed if it is worked on. You will need to be patient and keep on trying, but never forcing movements that will simply not work. Instead of doing random things, study the situation and try something different.
8. Not using the jab enough
The jab is everything and a common mistake in boxers that are just starting is that they do not use it enough. They sometimes believe that the jab is only an opener to bigger punches and combos, but the truth is that the jab is the number one offensive tool, defensive tool and counter-offensive tool as well.
Did you watch that video we just shared with you? Take a look at it and study it and start working on your jab to turn it into a super-fast and powerful movement that could break a nose.
Common punching mistakes in boxing
We gave you eight common beginner mistakes in boxing but we also wanted to give you a list of mistakes made specifically when punching that boxers of any level tend to make.
- Exposing the chin during the jab
Some boxers expose their chins when they do jabs. Either by lifting their chin when they do it or by leaning forward and pulling their heads with the jab. They could also forget to cover their faces with the other glove and create a perfect opportunity for the opponent to punch you. You can solve this if you have a trainer analyze your jabs by throwing a hook every time you jab.
2. Moving the right hand before punching
Another punching mistake in boxing consists of moving the right hand or pulling it back before throwing a punch. This can cause your opponent to jab you in the face before you release the right hand or he can throw a left hook at you. However, you can fix this mistake by recording a video of yourself hitting the bag or sparring and check how your right hand moves from its position.
3. Dropping the right hand when doing a left hook
This is a very common mistake, even among seasoned boxers. When doing a left hook, they drop the right hand leaving sometimes the forehead in sight or dropping it so low that part of the chest is visible. The counterpart can do a left hook himself and punch you so tell your trainer or a friend at the boxing gym to watch you punch the bag or while sparring to see if you are doing this.
4. Lifting the hips
Most beginner boxers make the mistake of lifting their hips when they punch because either they think it gives them more power or that it is necessary to be able to reach the target. You can check your balance by throwing a jab and holding the position while someone else throws a left hook. You will block it with the jab but if you fall over, your hips are most likely lifted.
Is boxing hard for beginners?
After reading this post for a few minutes about beginner mistakes in boxing you may be wondering if this is a hard sport. The truth is that it is quite easy to pick up but hard to master, especially if the person is not taught the right techniques and therefore develops bad habits.
Since boxing is not just about doing the movements that are involved, such as punching and footwork, but also about understanding what goes behind each of them, it makes it hard to become a pro. But, no it is not impossible, with hard work and study time you will gradually be the best you can be in boxing.
If you are having a bad day remember why you started in the first place or take some time off and watch inspirational boxing movies. Do not view your “mistakes” as mistakes or as a reason for quitting, just be patient, work hard, learn and enjoy the ride. Sooner rather than later you will see how much better you have become since the day you started.
How has your progress since you started boxing been? Have you found yourself making any of these “mistakes”? Tell us below in the comments!
