If you read one of my article about ranges on striking arts, I said that Boxing range is one of the most important range that any martial artist needs to master. From mastering this, it will be easier for he or she to master kicking range and clinch range fighting.
Having that fact, the next thing to do is to be proficient in sparring, but if you are new to this, what are the baby steps to do so that you can spar safely ,efficient and perform well under pressure?
Here are the steps that you need to do:
  1. First range of Boxing that you need to practice is the long range. This is the range where when you punch or get punch, you can only touch their gloves, not their face or their bodies. The purpose of this range is for you to build confidence in sparring. You instincttively will know whether you are in the safe range or dangerous range. This is the range that if you want to hit the target, you need  to move one step ahead. In this range, you need to be very good at parrying straight punches and blocking long hooks and uppercuts.
  2. The next range is the counter punching range. This is still a long range, but the difference with the prior range is that here your intent is to disrupt your opponent straight line punches by hitting right away after you block, or by intercepting his straight line punches with yours. Everytime you counter attack, make sure you throw 2-3 jabs after it as you move our to your safety range.  The reason for this is for safety. It is not a guarantee that when you counter a punch that you will hit your target.  If you happen to miss or he or she blocks and hit you, you will be safe  by throwing those jabs because he will think twice to move in for a hit.
  3. Slipping range. This is the range where you move into the dangerous range. Basically when he jabs or cross, you will move to the outside of that punch for your own counter punches. To develop this skill, you need few tools and training partner to help you. You can use a rope where it is extended in your gym. Then what you do is to duck your head underneath that rope and weave your head from one side of the rope to the other.  You can also let your partner slowly throw jab and cross to your head using focus mitts and you slip those punches.
  4. Slip range and hit. This is exactly the same as previous one, the difference is that you want to hit back with your punching combinations such as uppercuts, hooks and straight punches right after you slip. For safety, you also need to jab like 2-3 times after throwing your combo because if you miss, you will be safe from your opponent who tries to hit you back as you move away to the long range.
  5. Unattached hitting range. This is the clinch range in boxing. The range happens when you move in and try to hit, your opponent stays there and clinch with you. Once this happens, what you need to do is to angle your body so that you can shove his weight toward his shoulder to disrupt his balance before you hit him with uppercut or overhand.  If hes too heavy for you to push, you want to move away in an angle so you can hit him easily.
I hope these steps are easy for you to understand and follow. Please look at the video below for better explanation.  If you want to learn more, Call me at +628170116098.

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