Punching Combinations for Boxing

Boxing is a sport in which two people (or more) fight with their fists on the ground, trying to knock out their opponent. Specifically, they are allowed to punch or kick each other anywhere on the body except for the groin and head. The combinations of punches vary depending on how effective you want your attack to be against that particular type of defense.

In boxing, a “combination” is when two punches are thrown in quick succession. The combinations that you should be looking out for are the jab and cross. You can also use the uppercut and hook. Read more in detail here: boxing combinations list.

Note from the editor: This is a guest article by Chad Howse, who is writing a series of pieces for AoM on the fundamentals of boxing.

So now that we’ve covered the different punches and how to fight against them, it’s time to move on to some combos.

A single punch is almost ineffective on its own. A jab is required to set up a cross, a cross is required to set up a hook, a hook is required to set up an uppercut, and so on. If you just throw one-shot punches, your opponent will anticipate each blow, react, and counterattack with a flurry.

I go through three simple combos in the video below, and like with each piece in this series, I’ve included some advice following the video.

VIDEO

Tips

Distance measurement with the jab

As you approach your opponent on the double jab + cross, unleash two quick and hard jabs. The jabs will serve two purposes: they will let you to gauge distance in order to set up your cross and they will keep your opponent’s defence occupied.

He’ll be thinking about how to counter the two rapid jabs. The cross will be delivered from a different angle than the punches and will strike him much harder. Step in with your lead foot to increase the distance on your cross.

Make the final punch a winner.

I’ve seen men claim that they throw 100 percent of their punches. To each his own, I suppose, but that’s a quick way to tire out, particularly if any of those punches miss or are blocked.

You won’t use as much energy by putting a few “lighter” punches out there, and your opponent may relax up a little, which will free him up for the punch you fire at 100 percent, with malicious intentions.

You may throw a fast jab, hard cross, and hard hook, then complete the combo with a few jabs, or you can throw a quick jab, hard cross, and hard hook, then finish the combo with a few jabs. However, make sure you vary the pace, speed, and power.

Don’t make the same mistake again.

There’s no rhyme or reason to what you’re doing. Don’t constantly throw a double jab followed by a cross; vary it up by throwing 1,2, or 3 jabs followed by a cross. When you’re sparring, keep things interesting.

Knowing what they’re going to do next is the simplest approach to knock them out. I knocked out a man who kept throwing the same combination: two jabs, a cross, and a hook. Before he could get the hook in, I parried the two punches, rolled with the cross, and fired a cross back. I was also struck hard since I was punching with a pattern, which was not enjoyable!

Instead of having a pattern to what you’re doing,……

Make the most of what he provides you.

You shouldn’t simply hurl thoughtless combos at your opponent, or even a heavy bag.

Look for openings in your opponent’s game and take advantage of them. Set up a combo that finishes with a hook if he keeps his right hand down and is an orthodox fighter. Get him to focus on other parts of his body before delivering a strong blow at his weakest place.

If your opponent’s hands are held very high, focus on his body. It hurts more to be struck in the proper location with a good body punch than it does to be hit in the head.

You have to play make-believe with the heavy bag. Think there are gaps in the wall, and pretend there are blows coming your way. You won’t get a decent workout and won’t improve if you merely throw the same punches at a heavy bag over and over again.

Chad Howse is a personal trainer and amateur boxer who is dedicated to helping customers achieve positive outcomes in a short period of time so they may get the most out of life. Check out Chad Howse Fitness for fitness advice and motivation, and sign up for two free ebooks by subscribing to his RSS feed.

Part I: How to Wrap Your Hands in Boxing Basics of Boxing Stance and Footwork (Part II) Basics of Boxing Part III: Retaliation Basics of Boxing Part IV: Punching – Cross & Jab Part V of Boxing Basics: Punching – Hook and Uppercut Part VI of the Basics of Boxing: Punching Combinations

The “advanced boxing combinations” is a technique that can be used to punch harder and faster. The advanced boxing combination is a series of punches that are thrown in rapid succession.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many boxing punch combinations are there?

A: There are 9 different boxing punch combinations in the following order: jab, cross, hook, uppercut, spinning back fist (spine shot), straight left-right.