Blog: Musings of a Boxing Fitness Coach
Martin Seligman's Learned Optimism: A Must-Read for Anyone Looking to Improve Their Mental Health and Well-being
Discover the power of learned optimism with Martin Seligman's ground-breaking theory. Learn how to cultivate a more positive outlook on life and improve your mental health and well-being in this insightful post. From "explanatory styles" to the "ABCDE Model," explore the key concepts of Seligman's theory and how you can apply them to your own life.
The Mental Benefits of Boxing for Fitness
Boxing isn't just a great physical workout - it's also a powerful mental workout. Discover the mental benefits of boxing for fitness, from stress reduction and improved mood to increased self-confidence and mental toughness. Whether you're a seasoned boxer or a beginner looking to try something new, this post will show you why boxing is one of the best workouts for your body and mind.
How Boxing Can Help You Burn Calories and Tone Muscle
Discover how boxing can help you burn calories and tone muscle with this informative post. Learn about the physical benefits of boxing, from improving cardiovascular fitness and endurance to building strength and muscle tone.
The Fitness Map of London: A Borough Analysis
Explore the fitness landscape of London with an analysis of the populations and percentage of sufficiently active people in each borough. Discover key findings and implications for promoting physical activity and improving public health in the city.
The Parry Playbook: A Guide to the 5 Types of Parry in Boxing
Master the art of parrying in boxing with this comprehensive guide, covering the five main types of parry used in the sport. Improve your defence and add variety to your technique with practical tips and strategies for blocking punches and setting up counterattacks.
The Linguistic Legacy of Boxing: 6 Phrases That Have Entered Everyday Speech
Explore the linguistic legacy of boxing with this informative post. Discover six phrases that originated in boxing and have entered everyday speech, from "throw in the towel" to "hit below the belt". Whether you're a fan of the sport or simply interested in language and culture, this post is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the fascinating history and impact of boxing on our everyday speech.
Mindful Movement: How Coaches Can Design Exercise Routines to Maximize Flow State
Learn how to design routines that maximize flow state with this informative post. Discover the benefits of mindful movement and how to incorporate the principles of flow state into your coaching practice.
8 Common Mistakes in Boxing (And How to Fix Them)
Improve your boxing technique and avoid common mistakes with this informative post. Learn about the eight most common mistakes in boxing, from improper footwork to telegraphing punches, and how to fix them. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced boxer, this post has something for everyone looking to improve their technique and get better results in the ring.
Work It Out: A Breakdown of the 6 Essential Parts of a Boxing Workout
A comprehensive boxing workout is structured into six essential parts — Ropework, Mirrorwork, Padwork, Bagwork, Partnerwork, and Floorwork — each designed to develop specific physical and technical skills. This structure ensures training adheres to principles like individualization, sport specificity, and progressive overload, avoiding common mistakes such as irrelevance to boxing or excessive workload.
7 Head Movements in Boxing
A boxer's ability to move their head is essential for both defense and offense in the ring. This post covers the seven head movements in boxing, from the slip to the duck, providing practical tips and techniques for each one.
10 Lessons from 10 Years of Coaching
After ten years in my coaching career, I've learned that being a great coach requires more than just teaching skills; it fundamentally means deeply caring about people and constantly reflecting on the ethical way I approach change. I've discovered that true student motivation is a by-product of great teaching, that I must skilfully balance challenge and skill to achieve 'flow,' and that my ultimate goal is to guide students toward the capability of acting independently of me.
Top 10 World Record Achievements in Women’s Boxing
Celebrate the top 10 world record achievements in women's boxing with this informative post. Discover the female boxers who have made history in the sport by achieving everything from the longest reign to the most knockouts in a career. Whether you're a fan of women's boxing or simply interested in learning more about the sport, this post is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the incredible achievements of female boxers in the ring.
The Art and Science of Boxing Technique: 20 Books to Explore
Mastering boxing technique, from footwork to specific punches, is crucial for success and can be developed using a wide array of specialized literature. This list of 20 essential books covers fundamentals and advanced strategies, featuring foundational texts like Championship Fighting by Jack Dempsey and How to Box by Joe Louis, alongside modern guides.
Fight Like a Pro: A-Z Guide of Boxing Combinations by the Greatest Fighters
Learn from the best with this A-Z guide of boxing combinations by the greatest fighters. From Muhammad Ali to Mike Tyson, explore the signature moves and techniques of boxing legends and incorporate them into your own training in this comprehensive reference. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced boxer, this post has something for everyone.
Master These 7 Advanced Punches to Improve Your Boxing Skills
Advanced boxing punches are technique modifications designed to solve specific problems and improve overall skill by leveraging versatility, unexpected angles, and defensive counter-punching. These seven punches include the surprising low-to-high Up Jab, the guard-breaching Overhand, the body-focused Shovel Hook, the deceptive Bolo Punch, the counter-focused Split-Jab, the evasive Check Hook (with a pivot), and the hybrid Huppercut (hook and uppercut fusion).
Film Study Stages
Effective film study for boxing involves a six-stage process that begins with setting a clear focus, such as technique or tactics, and carefully observing the footage without audio. The subsequent stages require the coach to analyze and name observed patterns, translate the skill into a teaching progression with drills, develop verbal and non-verbal coaching methods, and creatively brainstorm new applications for the technique.
The Art of Misdirection: 7 Basic Feints for Boxers
Master the art of misdirection in boxing with this informative post. Learn about seven basic feints that can be used to deceive opponents and set up punches, from the jab feint to the slip feint. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced boxer, this post has something for everyone looking to improve their technique and add variety to their boxing arsenal.
The 4 Stages of Learning
Whether you're learning to box or mastering a new skill, understanding the four stages of learning is crucial for success. This post breaks down each stage - from unconscious incompetence to unconscious competence - providing expert insights and practical tips for navigating the learning process. So, get ready to improve your skills and achieve your goals with this comprehensive guide to the four stages of learning.
7 Styles of Padwork in Boxing
To add variety and complexity to boxing training, padwork can be structured into seven distinct styles that help improve everything from single-punch mechanics to advanced combination delivery. These styles include foundational Single Punches and Short Combinations, progressive methods like Stacking and Layering, continuous drills like Looping, memory-focused drills using Names & Cues, and the high-pressure endurance training of Old School padwork.
