MODULE FUNDAMENTALS OF MARTIAL ARTS

CHAPTER 2 : Boxing

Objectives:

1. Demonstrate the knowledge of boxing.

2. Identify the boxing style, equipment, technique, defense
and health benefit of boxing.

Boxing
Boxing is a combat sport in which two people, usually
wearing protective gloves, throw punches at each other for a
predetermined amount of time in a boxing ring.

Ancient history

The earliest known depiction of boxing comes from

a Sumerian relief in Iraq from the 3rd millennium BC. later depictions
from the 2nd millennium BC are found in reliefs from
the Mesopotamian nations of Assyria and Babylonia, and in Hittite art
from Asia Minor. A relief sculpture from Egyptian Thebes (c. 1350
BC) shows both boxers and spectators. These early Middle-Eastern
and Egyptian depictions showed contests where fighters were either
bare-fisted or had a band supporting the wrist.[2] The earliest
evidence of fist fighting with the use of gloves can be found
on Minoan Crete (c. 1500–1400 BC).]

Various types of boxing existed in ancient India. The earliest

references to musti-yuddha come from classical Vedic epics such as
the Ramayana and Rig Veda. The Mahabharata describes two
combatants boxing with clenched fists and fighting with kicks, finger
strikes, knee strikes and headbutts.[3] Duels (niyuddham) were often
fought to the death. During the period of the Western Satraps, the
ruler Rudradaman - in addition to being well-versed in "the great
sciences" which included Indian classical music, Sanskrit grammar,
and logic - was said to be an excellent horseman, charioteer,

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elephant rider, swordsman and boxer.[4] The Gurbilas Shemi, an

18th-century Sikh text, gives numerous references to musti-yuddha.

Late 19th and early 20th

20th centuries
Through the late nineteenth century, the martial art of boxing or
prizefighting was primarily a sport of dubious legitimacy. Outlawed
in England and much of the United States, prizefights were often
held at gambling venues and broken up by police. Brawling and
wrestling tactics continued, and riots at prizefights were common
occurrences. Still, throughout this period, there arose some notable
bare knuckle champions who developed fairly sophisticated fighting
tactics.

Modern boxing
The sport rising from illegal venues and outlawed prize fighting
has become one of the largest multibillion-dollar sports today. A
majority of young talent still comes from poverty-stricken areas
around the world. Places like Mexico, Africa, South America, and
Eastern Europe prove to be filled with young aspiring athletes who
wish to become the future of boxing. Even in the U.S., places like the
inner cities of New York, and Chicago have given rise to promising
young talent. According to Rubin, "boxing lost its appeal with the
American middle class, and most of who boxes in modern America
come from the streets and are street fighters".

Amateur boxing

Amateur boxing may be found at the collegiate level, at

the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other
venues sanctioned by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing
has a point scoring system that measures the number of clean blows
landed rather than physical damage. Bouts consist of three rounds
of three minutes in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, and
three rounds of three minutes in a national ABA (Amateur Boxing
Association) bout, each with a one-minute interval between rounds.

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Professional boxing

Professional bouts are usually much longer than amateur

bouts, typically ranging from ten to twelve rounds, though four-round
four
fights are common for less experienced fighters or club fighters.
There are also some two two-[30] and three-round
round professional
[31]
bouts, especially in Australia. Through the early 20th century,
c it
was common for fights to have unlimited rounds, ending only when
one fighter quit, benefiting high
high-energy fighters like Jack Dempsey.
Dempsey
Fifteen rounds remained the internat
internationally
ionally recognized limit for
championship fights for most of the 20th century until the early
1980s,, when the death of boxer Kim Duk-koo eventually prompted
the World Boxing Council and other organizations sanctioning
professional boxing to reduce the limit tto twelve rounds.

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BOXING STYLES

Definition of style
"Style" is often defined as the strategic approach a fighter
takes during a bout. No two fighters' styles are alike, as each is
determined by that individual's physical and mental attributes. Three
main styles exist in boxing: outside fighter ("boxer"), brawler (or
"slugger"), and Inside fighter ("swarmer"). These styles may be
divided into several special subgroups, such as counter puncher,
etc. The main philosophy of the styles is, that each style has an
advantage over one, but disadvantage over the other one. It follows
the rock paper scissors scenario - boxer beats brawler, brawler
beats swarmer, and swarmer beats boxer.

Boxer/out--fighter
Boxer/out
A classic "boxer" or stylist (also known as an "out-fighter")
seeks to maintain distance between himself and his opponent,
fighting with faster, longer range punches, most notably the jab, and
gradually wearing his opponent down. Due to this reliance on
weaker punches, out-fighters tend to win by point decisions rather
than by knockout, though some out-fighters have notable knockout
records. They are often regarded as the best boxing strategists due
to their ability to control the pace of the fight and lead their
opponent, methodically wearing him down and exhibiting more skill
and finesse than a brawler. Out-fighters need reach, hand speed,
reflexes, and footwork.

Boxer-puncher
A boxer-puncher is a well-rounded boxer who is able to fight at
close range with a combination of technique and power, often with
the ability to knock opponents out with a combination and in some
instances a single shot. Their movement and tactics are similar to
that of an out-fighter (although they are generally not as mobile as an
out-fighter),[38] but instead of winning by decision, they tend to wear
their opponents down using combinations and then move in to score

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the knockout. A boxer must be well rounded to be effective using this

style.

Counter puncher
Counter punchers are slippery, defensive style fighters who
often rely on their opponent's mistakes in order to gain the
advantage, whether it be on the score cards or more preferably a
knockout. They use their well-rounded defense to avoid or block
shots and then immediately catch the opponent off guard with a well
placed and timed punch. A fight with a skilled counter-puncher can
turn into a war of attrition, where each shot landed is a battle in
itself. Thus, fighting against counter punchers requires constant
feinting and the ability to avoid telegraphing one's attacks. To be
truly successful using this style they must have good reflexes, a high
level of prediction and awareness, pinpoint accuracy and speed,
both in striking and in footwork.

Brawler/slugger

A brawler is a fighter who generally lacks finesse and footwork

in the ring, but makes up for it through sheer punching power. Many
brawlers tend to lack mobility, preferring a less mobile, more stable
platform and have difficulty pursuing fighters who are fast on their
feet. They may also have a tendency to ignore combination punching
in favor of continuous beat-downs with one hand and by throwing
slower, more powerful single punches (such as hooks and
uppercuts). Their slowness and predictable punching pattern (single
punches with obvious leads) often leaves them open to counter
punches, so successful brawlers must be able to absorb substantial
amounts of punishment. However, not all brawler/slugger fighters
are not mobile; some can move around and switch styles if needed
but still have the brawler/slugger style such as Wilfredo
Gómez, Prince Naseem Hamed and Danny García.

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Swarmer/in-fighter

In-fighters/swarmers (sometimes called "pressure fighters")

attempt to stay close to an opponent, throwing intense flurries and
combinations of hooks and uppercuts. Mainly Mexican, Irish, Irish-
American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American boxers popularized
this style. A successful in-fighter often needs a good "chin" because
swarming usually involves being hit with many jabs before they can
maneuver inside where they are more effective. In-fighters operate
best at close range because they are generally shorter and have less
reach than their opponents and thus are more effective at a short
distance where the longer arms of their opponents make punching
awkward. However, several fighters tall for their division have been
relatively adept at in-fighting as well as out-fighting.

The essence of a swarmer is non-stop aggression. Many short

in-fighters use their stature to their advantage, employing a bob-and-
weave defense by bending at the waist to slip underneath or to the
sides of incoming punches. Unlike blocking, causing an opponent to
miss a punch disrupts his balance, this permits forward movement
past the opponent's extended arm and keeps the hands free to
counter. A distinct advantage that in-fighters have is when throwing
uppercuts, they can channel their entire bodyweight behind the
punch; Mike Tyson was famous for throwing devastating
uppercuts. Marvin Hagler was known for his hard "chin", punching
power, body attack and the stalking of his opponents. Some in-
fighters, like Mike Tyson, have been known for being notoriously
hard to hit. The key to a swarmer is aggression, endurance, chin,
and bobbing-and-weaving.

Equipment
Since boxing involves forceful, repetitive punching, precautions
must be taken to prevent damage to bones in the hand. Most trainers
do not allow boxers to train and spar without wrist wraps and boxing
gloves. Hand wraps are used to secure the bones in the hand, and
the gloves are used to protect the hands from blunt injury, allowing
boxers to throw punches with more force than if they did not use

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them. Gloves have been required in competition since the late

nineteenth century, though modern boxing gloves are much heavier
than those worn by early twentieth-century fighters. Prior to a bout,
both boxers agree upon the weight of gloves to be used in the bout,
with the understanding that lighter gloves allow heavy punchers to
inflict more damage. The brand of gloves can also affect the impact
of punches, so this too is usually stipulated before a bout. Both sides
are allowed to inspect the wraps and gloves of the opponent to help
ensure both are within agreed upon specifications and no tampering
has taken place.

A mouthguard is important to protect the teeth and gums from

injury, and to cushion the jaw, resulting in a decreased chance of
knockout. Both fighters must wear soft soled shoes to reduce the
damage from accidental (or intentional) stepping on feet. While older
boxing boots more commonly resembled those of a professional
wrestler, modern boxing shoes and boots tend to be quite similar to
their amateur wrestling counterparts.
Boxers practice their skills on several types of punching bags.
A small, tear-drop-shaped "speed bag" is used to hone reflexes and
repetitive punching skills, while a large cylindrical "heavy bag" filled
with sand, a synthetic substitute, or water is used to practice power
punching and body blows. The double-end bag is usually connected
by elastic on the top and bottom and moves randomly upon getting
struck and helps the fighter work on accuracy and reflexes. In
addition to these distinctive pieces of equipment, boxers also use
sport-nonspecific training equipment to build strength, speed,
agility, and stamina. Common training equipment includes free
weights, rowing machines, jump rope, and medicine balls.

Boxers also use punch/focus mitts in which a trainer calls out

certain combinations and the fighter strikes the mitts accordingly.
This is a great exercise for stamina as the boxer isn't allowed to go at
his own pace but that of the trainer, typically forcing the fighter to
endure a higher output and volume than usual. In addition, they also
allow trainers to make boxers utilize footwork and distances more
accurately.

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Boxing matches typically take place in a boxing ring, a raised

platform surrounded by ropes attached to posts rising in each
corner. The term "ring" has come to be used as a metaphor for many
aspects of prize fighting in general.

TECHNIQUE

Stance
The modern boxing stance differs substantially from the typical
boxing stances of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The modern
stance has a more upright vertical-armed guard, as opposed to the
more horizontal, knuckles-facing-forward guard adopted by early
20th century hook users such as Jack Johnson.

Upright stance Semi-crouch Full crouch

Punches

There are four basic punches in boxing: the jab, cross, hook
and uppercut. Any punch other than a jab is considered a power
punch. If a boxer is right-handed (orthodox), his left hand is the lead
hand and his right hand is the rear hand. For a left-handed boxer or
southpaw, the hand positions are reversed. For clarity, the following
discussion will assume a right-handed boxer.

• Jab – A quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand from the
guard position. The jab extends from the side of the torso and
typically does not pass in front of it. It is accompanied by a small,
clockwise rotation of the torso and hips, while the fist rotates 90
degrees, becoming horizontal upon impact. As the punch reaches
full extension, the lead shoulder can be brought up to guard the

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chin. The rear hand remains next to the face to guard the jaw.
After making contact with the target, the lead hand is retracted
quickly to resume a guard position in front of the face.

• Cross – A powerful, straight punch thrown with the rear hand.

From the guard position, the rear hand is thrown from the chin,
crossing the body and traveling towards the target in a straight
line.

The rear shoulder is thrust forward and finishes just touching

the outside of the chin. At the same time, the lead hand is
retracted and tucked against the face to protect the inside of the
chin. For additional power, the torso and hips are rotated counter-
clockwise as the cross is thrown. A measure of an ideally
extended cross is that the shoulder of the striking arm, the knee of
the front leg and the ball of the front foot are on the same vertical
plane.

Hook – A semi-circular punch thrown with the lead hand to the side
of the opponent's head. From the guard position, the elbow is drawn
back with a horizontal fist (palm facing down) though in modern
times a wide percentage of fighters throw the hook with a vertical fist

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(palm facing themselves). The rear hand is tucked firmly against the
jaw to protect the chin. The torso and hips are rotated clockwise,
propelling the fist through a tight, clockwise arc across the front of
the body and connecting with the target.

• Uppercut – A vertical, rising punch thrown with the rear hand.

From the guard position, the torso shifts slightly to the right, the
rear hand drops below the level of the opponent's chest and the
knees are bent slightly. From this position, the rear hand is thrust
upwards in a rising arc towards the opponent's chin or torso.

Defense
There are several basic maneuvers a boxer can use in order to
evade or block punches, depicted and discussed below.

• Slip – Slipping rotates the body slightly so that an incoming punch

passes harmlessly next to the head. As the opponent's punch
arrives, the boxer sharply rotates the hips and shoulders. This

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turns the chin sideways and allows the punch to "slip"

past. Muhammad Ali was famous for extremely fast and close
slips, as was an early Mike Tyson.
• Sway or fade – To anticipate a punch and move the upper body or
head back so that it misses or has its force appreciably lessened.
Also called "rolling with the punch" or " Riding The Punch".
• Duck or break – To drop down with the back straight so that a
punch aimed at the head glances or misses entirely.
• Bob and weave – Bobbing moves the head laterally and beneath
an incoming punch. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer
bends the legs quickly and simultaneously shifts the body either
slightly right or left. Once the punch has been evaded, the boxer
"weaves" back to an upright position, emerging on either the
outside or inside of the opponent's still-extended arm. To move
outside the opponent's extended arm is called "bobbing to the
outside". To move inside the opponent's extended arm is called
"bobbing to the inside". Joe Frazier, Jack Dempsey, Mike Tyson
and Rocky Marciano were masters of bobbing and weaving.
• Parry/block – Parrying or blocking uses the boxer's shoulder,
hands or arms as defensive tools to protect against incoming
attacks. A block generally receives a punch while a parry tends to
deflect it. A "palm", "catch", or "cuff" is a defence which
intentionally takes the incoming punch on the palm portion of the
defender's glove.
• The cover-
cover-up – Covering up is the last opportunity (other than
rolling with a punch) to avoid an incoming strike to an unprotected
face or body. Generally speaking, the hands are held high to
protect the head and chin and the forearms are tucked against
the torso to impede body shots. When protecting the body, the
boxer rotates the hips and lets incoming punches "roll" off the
guard. To protect the head, the boxer presses both fists against
the front of the face with the forearms parallel and facing
outwards. This type of guard is weak against attacks from below.
• The clinch – Clinching is a form of trapping or a rough form
of grappling and occurs when the distance between both fighters
has closed and straight punches cannot be employed. In this
situation, the boxer attempts to hold or "tie up" the opponent's
hands so he is unable to throw hooks or uppercuts. To perform a
clinch, the boxer loops both hands around the outside of the

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opponent's shoulders, scooping back under the forearms to grasp

the opponent's arms tightly against his own body. In this position,
the opponent's arms are pinned and cannot be used to
attack. Clinching is a temporary match state and is quickly
dissipated by the referee. Clinching is technically against the
rules, and in amateur fights points are deducted fairly quickly for
it. It is unlikely, however, to see points deducted for a clinch in
professional boxing.
Slipping Bobbing Blocking (with the arms)

Cover-Up (with the gloves) Clinching Footwork Pulling away

Health benefits
As active and dynamic sports, boxing provides the following
benefits:

1. Fat burning.
2. Increased muscle tone.
3. Strong bones and ligaments.
4. Increased cardiovascular fitness.

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5. Stress relief.
6. Improved co-ordination and body awareness.
7. Muscular endurance.
8. Improved core stability.
9. Increased strength and power.
10. Greater confidence and self-esteem.

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Reflection:

Discussion Questions on Term and Concept:

• What are the advantage of boxing?

• What are benefits can you get in boxing?

• Why boxing is one of the old martial art?

• Who are the famous boxing fighter?

Activity:

See video on boxing at you tube and make a reaction.

Reference:

www.wikipedia.com

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