The Kaijin Boxing program follows USA Boxing (Olympic-style) amateur boxing standards. Here are the basics:
1. Defend yourself at all times. Keep your hands up and your elbows tight to your body. Face your opponent and keep your eyes on his/her shoulders. You are safe in your stance. The only place safer is outside of the ring. Eventually, your hands will feel like they are resting next to your face. You’re not holding your hands up, your hands are resting in their natural position by your face.
2. Punches in bunches. Typically, the boxer that throws more punches wins the match. If both boxers are throwing a lot of punches, the boxer who throws more straight punches wins the match. This requires cardio. Lots.
3. Boxing is simple. There are four punches, footwork, and head movement. I only teach four punches: the jab, the cross, the hook, and the uppercut. Keep your feet about shoulder-width, don’t cross your feet, and don’t walk into your opponent’s power punch. Move your head. A lot. This is harder than you think but even harder for your opponent to deal with. The rest is cardio and muscle memory gained from repetition.
4. Use your core. That includes all the muscles connected to your hips: gluts, lats, abs. This is where your power and speed comes from. Boxers have strong cores because, if they’re doing it correctly, the core is what boxers use the most. That and their lungs. Did I mention cardio?
