I must admit that this is unlikely to be the most exciting boxing tips video that you watch today.
However, it could be the most important boxing tips video that you watch today.
For anyone who is a member of my Boxing Training Foundation you will know that I am fanatical it comes to effective breathing.
Effective breathing results in maximised oxygenation of the muscles which in turns leads to the best possible chance of remaining fight effective.
Keeping it simple, I find it helpful to put breathing into 3 categories:
Breathing during the round
Breathing when punching
Breathing during the rest period.
Breathing During the Round
When you are tired, or even when the excitement of 'the fight' hits you, you can get the urge to breath shallow. Basically you pant like a dog.
Shallow breathing is the least effective way to oxygenate.
Whenever you disengage and move to the edge of range or out of range, take the opportunity to take in a couple of deep, controlled breaths. Breathe in through the nose then out through the mouth.
Same when the referee shouts 'Stop Boxing'. Move out of range (with your guard high) and take some deep breaths before you re-engage with the fight.
Breathing When Punching
Generally you exhale when you punch, often in the same way that tennis players exhale when they hit a ball.
Boxers often make different sounds, ranging from 'Hzz-Hzz' to 'arghh arghh' :-)
When throwing fast combinations this can alter for obvious reasons - you don't want to hyper-ventilate.
A word of warning though - don't get too loud!
I have witnessed referees issuing warnings when boxers are excessively loud, so don't get carried away!
Breathing During the Rest Period
Deep, controlled breathing during the rest period is absolutely crucial.
In boxing being tired is a fact of life.
Even when working the heavy bag you need to work to the maximum rate and therefore you will tire.
The key is that during your rest period you oxygenate and get your heart rate back down.
Controlled breathing is at the heart of remaining fight effective.
As I said, not the most exciting of the boxing tips video series but certainly one of the most important of the boxing tips videos.
Comments or questions below please.
Cheers
Fran