boxing drills
Set the timer
For these drills, you will need a timing instrument (i.e. oven clock, personal timer or cell phone). Set the device for 2-minute workout intervals with a 30 second rest. (If you want to be official about it, you can order a personal boxing timer from www.Everlast.com.)
Take a rest
Between the 2-minute rounds when you are taking your 30-second breaks:
- Relax your whole body and catch your breath
- Shake out your arms and shoulders
- Stretch your calves if they’re tight
- Get a quick drink of water
Be consistent
Do these six drills as a single workout (repeat more than once as you get more boxing fit), or incorporate individual drills into your own fitness routine.
Boxing drill #1: Skip rope
Skipping rope builds cardiovascular strength as well as the coordination, timing and rhythm needed in boxing while working nearly every muscle in your body.
Skip rope drill:
- Keep upper body relaxed while jumping just 1/4-inch off the ground.
- Rope touches the ground just in front of the tips of your toes.
- Maintain a slight bend in your knees.
- Let your wrists do the work and keep your forearms horizontal to the floor.
- Keep elbows close to your sides.
- When you mess up, get right back in your rhythm.
Boxing drill #2: Torso twist with medicine ball
A standing side-twist with a medicine ball will strengthen the core muscles used while twisting your body in boxing to make punches more effective.
Torso twist drill:
- Depending on your fitness level, you can use a 5- to 15-pound medicine ball. Hold a medicine ball with both of your hands directly in front of you and your arms straight.
- Stand with your back against the wall and legs slightly bent. Twist at the waist to the left tapping the ball on the wall and then to the right. When you twist to the right pivot your left foot and vice-versa. Continue for 2 minutes.
Note: If you bend your knees a little more in a squat position, you will also work your quads and glutes as you work your shoulders and obliques.
Boxing drill #3: Knees up
This knees up drill will improve cardiovascular endurance as well as lower abs strength and the coordination needed to match hands with feet in boxing.
Knees up drill:
- Standing on the floor alternate bringing knees up to waist, attempting to reach knees chest-high. All the while, move steadily forward around the floor in a circle, forward and backward or simply in place depending on your space.
- Hands are held in “hands up” position until 30 seconds before your rest period, then you “punch up,” throwing punching directly above your head and bringing knees up at a much faster pace until the timer goes off for your rest period.
Boxing drill #4: Jump squats
Jump squats are effective in strengthening the legs and core for defensive boxing moves such as the bob and weave.
Jump squats drill:
- Start in standing position with feet facing forward and shoulder-width apart, then drop down into a squat position and immediately push back up into a jump at least 1 foot above the ground.
- As you return to the ground, immediately drop back into the squat position—making sure knees don’t go past toes—and repeat the sequence.
- You may swing your arms to give your body momentum.
- This is an excellent anaerobic exercise that works your cardiovascular system and strengthens your quads, hamstrings, glutes, calves and even abs and back.
- If you get too exhausted before the 2-minute timer goes off, continue with regular squats until your rest period.
Boxing drill #5: Mini push-ups
Mini boxer push-ups strengthen the triceps, deltoids and back, all of which are used to “turn over” your punches in boxing.
Mini push-ups drill:
- Lie face-down on the floor, placing hands palm-down right next to the shoulders. Keep elbows in and arms touching the sides of your body. Push entire body up and down, coming only 6 inches off of the ground.
- Raise the entire body at the same time, without arching your back. It is important to keep your arms in tight and close to the body.
- You can do these on your knees to start and then work your way to doing the push-ups on your feet.
- If your arms get too fatigued before the timer goes off, straighten your arms completely and hold your body up until you are ready to start the push-ups again.
Boxing drill #6: Core strengthener
This drill requires laying your stomach over a basketball. This exercise will strengthen your abs, obliques and back muscles and teach you to keep your core constantly tight. This will keep you from getting the air knocked out of you if you are caught with a body blow!
Core strengthener drill:
- Lie facedown on a basketball, with your stomach (between hips and ribcage) positioned on the basketball.
- Spread your arms and legs wide and straight out, then roll body from side to side (left and right) on the ball, keeping knees and elbows off the ground.
- The trick is to keep your abdominals as tight as possible.
Incorporate this workout into your regular exercise routine and consider taking a boxing class. Boxing shreds calories, improves your cardio health, and makes you a lean, mean fighting machine.
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