A few years ago, I wrote a blog post about how to remember combinations- particularly in our club's
boxing classes. Things move pretty quickly and it can be a lot to process in short time. Then when you get physically tired, the challenge just increases exponentially. But this is also good for you! It is good for your brain and overall mind-body connection. This is one reason people with Parkinson's disease are encouraged to try out boxing.
A lot of us psyche ourselves out though. The same brain that helps you remember things can also work against you at other times.
After watching hundreds more people try out boxing since the last post, I figured I would write a Part II with more tips and go a little deeper into how to remember punch combinations. If you want to check out my initial post on the subject, here it is:
https://theboxingmanifesto.blogspot.com/2023/06/how-do-i-remember-this-combo.html
Some of the tips in this post might be somewhat addendum-ish to other tips, but in both cases, if you follow these things in earnest, I guarantee that you will get better. Not just about remembering combinations but boxing in general. I guarantee it. There is no way it can't work.
NOTE: Now I know you might look at either post and think something like, "ugh, this just sounds like more work. I just want to work out and not have to think." You can certainly do just that but it doesn't take much more brain power to to stay sharp, especially once you get into the groove, and it will not only exercise your brain but improve the work out tremendously.
#1) Don't Come to a Full Stop/Lose Your Posture
This is a big bugaboo of mine but it is for good reason. During a boxing round on the heavy bag, when people come to a full stop - hands drop down, feet come together, heels down, no bend in knees, etc. - to listen to whatever the next thing is, they lose a lot of mental momentum as well as physical. There is no reason you can't stop punching and listen with your hands up in boxing guard, while in a proper boxing stance, on the balls of your feet. Once you come to a hard stop, you will then have to start up again, which adds complication and more work for your brain. Plus you will have a better chance of getting the next combo, punch, whatever down in you try to do it in real time. Coming to a full stop adds seconds, which are more valuable than you might believe.
If you come to a full stop because you are tired, this is still unnecessary. It doesn't take that much more energy to keep your boxing posture. You can rest all you want in a boxing stance. Spend the few extra joules of energy to keep your hands up and stay on your toes. I promise you that it is worth it.
#2) Avoid Pausing Too!!!
This is kind of similar and something I see a lot. Someone is unsure about the combo so they throw the first few punches and kind of pause before throwing the 3rd, 4th, etc. This is because they are unsure about what to throw next. They are trying to be sure they are doing the right thing and thinking about it. And hey, at least they are staying in their boxing stance and not dropping their posture. So what is my problem with pausing?!?
It does seem like a logical, thoughtful approach but again, after watching many thousands of people box now, I can tell you that it never helps. The person pausing never feels secure in the combination. In a perfect world, you might take the combo slowly the first time, maybe even pause in between shots but ultimately, the goal is that you can throw the combo smoothly, with speed and power. This never seems to happen though, with people who pause between strikes or especially after a defense move like a roll. That is the worst one. When someone rolls and then pauses, unsure of what to throw next. Just throw anything, man! On the side you just rolled to.
I can't be 100% sure why the pausing never seems to help but my theory is that you have introduced doubt in your mind when you pause. You have told yourself that you are not quite sure what to do next. This may be true but it can be very hard to recover from.
So what should an unsure puncher do? I already gave it away but when you get to the point where you pause, just throw any punch. Maybe it's the "right" one. Maybe it's not but that is okay. You may be able to figure it out in subsequent reps. I have done this many times myself. You have to keep your brain switched on though. And again, that is a good thing!
#3) Don't Be Afraid to Try!
Paralysis by analysis. I have seen this happen many times. I explain what we're going to do, for whatever reason someone isn't sure exactly what that means, I explain and demo it again, they are still unsure and still are slow to actually hit the bag. Trying to understand how an entire combo is going to work is sometimes very difficult. I find it easier to just try it and adjust from there. Meaning, just throw the punches as they are being called out. Don't think about the big picture, just one punch at a time. You may not get it "right" the first time but that is why we throw combos again and again and again. The sooner you start, the sooner you will be able to get it down.
#4) Don't Let the Number of Words Deter You
If you were to hear me say "lead uppercut to the body," that is a lot of syllables and sounds like a lot of things to do. But it is just one punch. And a relatively small movement at that. But I have seen many people's faces change when they hear a lot of words. It is like that self-talk I mentioned in Part I. They hear the words and think, "Oh wow, this is going to be really hard" and defeat themselves before they even try. Some punches/combos have more words than others, but don't allow yourself to be triggered just by words.
Some boxing systems use numbers to call out punches to cut down on the number of words. For example, jab is 1, cross is 2, lead hook is 3, etc. This can be useful when constantly changing combos, particularly during padwork, but not as much during more technically-focused classes that we do. Plus most systems only number 1-6, which doesn't account for punches to the body or other punches thrown in boxing, like overhands, liver shots and the mighty, mighty bolo punch.
#5) Don't Add Stuff
This is a phenomenon I have only noticed recently. Someone isn't sure what the combo is, or maybe they even are sure, but they add additional punches (usually body hooks) for some reason. While we do always say that if you are not sure what punch to throw next, just throw anything, adding multiple punches will only make it much, much harder to follow along. Especially if we add on to the existing combo.
What is extra strange is that I will see people do this when we are throwing even a 2-punch combo. If they want to make it harder on themselves, I would recommend throwing that 2-punch combo faster and/or harder and/or with footwork and defense. There are plenty of ways to increase the challenge of your boxing workout but adding extra punches is not one of them.
#6) Try to Listen In Between Rounds
This can be tough, as sometimes we are out of breath, thirsty and go into somewhat of a shutdown mode when the round is over. We're just happy to survive. The most important thing is to catch your breath and recover but with a little practice, you can stay switched on and listen to how we describe the next round, what we're going to work on, etc. You can even start saying the combo out loud to yourself, like I describe in Part I of this post, but do it in between rounds to put it in your head. Oh, and it's a simple thing but make sure to always bring a water bottle and fill it up before class so you don't have to to the water fountain as much in between rounds.
#7) Think About the Theme Of Each Class
Every week, we have a different focus point. Something specific we spend more time working on. You can see each week's focus points on our Facebook, Instagram or YouTube channels but even if you don't pay attention to any of that stuff, we will always state it before the class and reinforce it during the class. There may even be a theme within a theme.
This can actually help you a lot when it comes to getting lost. For instance, we just had a week where our focus was to throw a punch to the body and follow it with a head shot on the same side. We did different versions of that in every round. So if we were to throw a jab-cross-liver shot, there is a good chance that the next punch would on the left side and going to the head. Being able to anticipate, makes everything easier to understand and easier to follow. If you think that it could just be anything at any time, that seems daunting and can lead to self-defeat.
#8) Think About Patterns Too
This is a big one and will help you other ways too. Along the lines of what I just mentioned and also touched on in Part I, we design these classes to flow together in a certain way. It's not just random changes every 30 seconds or so. It might feel that way but even just by telling yourself that there is a pattern related to things you've already done may help you feel like you can do it, as opposed to just thinking it is chaos.
A lot of the patterns are pretty simple, maybe simpler than you think. For instance, here is a very common pattern in my classes:
- Throw a combo (Ex: Jab-cross-left hook to the body-left uppercut)
- Punch burnout (Ex: Overhands-Liver Shots)
- Add something we did in the burnout to the original combo (Jab-cross left hook body- left uppercut + overhand-liver shot)
There are a lot of different variations of this, some certainly more complicated - involving defense and footwork - but the basic principal remains the same. There are times where we might change a combo entirely, of course, but it almost always relates to theme of the class, as mentioned above, and anything we do may come into play later.
#9) Don't Try to See the Whole Combo At Once
I touched on this already in Tip #3 but it is worth re-mentioning as it's own thing. It's kind of like that electronic game, Simon, where it flashes a pattern using 4 different colors and then you have to press the colors in that order. If you were to wait for the Simon sequence to end and then try to think about the whole thing, you would never be able to get any of the patterns beyond a few very short ones. Instead, as the colors flash, you try to remember them one at a time.
It is the same thing with punch combinations. So if someone told me to throw a jab-cross-liver shot-right-uppercut-lead hook-overhand, I would not try to imagine what that whole thing looks like. Instead, I would say to myself, "Okay, jab, then a cross, then a liver shot, then an uppercut, etc.". Just think of it as one strike at a time as opposed to a whole thing. I throw a punch and think of nothing other than that punch, then the next punch, then the next one.
I don't know if this distinction makes any sense but I can sometimes tell from looking at people that they don't do this. They try to envision what the whole thing is supposed to look like all at once. I think this makes thing much harder and as familiar as I am with our format, I would never attempt it.
#10) Watch Out For Distorted Perception
This is true with pretty much everything in life and certainly boxing. I have heard people express that they felt especially lost during a class and had no idea what they were doing. But in reality, they were lost one time, maybe twice. They threw their left hook instead of their right. But hundreds of times in the same class, they were following along perfectly. I have even heard people even say something like, "I literally had no idea what I was doing. I just punched." Again though, having watched them in the class that I made, I know this to be false. Either they didn't know they were generally following along just fine or are blowing things way out of proportion.
The problem with this is something I touched on in Part I. Negative self-talk. It's not helpful in any case but especially bad when the negative self talk isn't even based on reality. You are just bumming yourself out for no reason instead of celebrating the good thing you just did.
I know that people often do this as somewhat of a defense mechanism, to almost excuse themselves from having to be perfect. The problem is that it can hold you back as well. Don't be overly hard on yourself but don't give yourself an out either, by saying that you just aren't getting it today. Try not to overreact to being lost once or twice or feeling like you did the wrong thing. Avoid all-or-nothing type of thinking. Instead, be objective, honest, unemotional and accountable. I promise it will help.
#11) Don't Overthink or Second-Guess Yourself
I can't tell you how many times I have seen someone struggle with something so simple, something even that they have done before, and something even easier than things they were doing just 5 minutes ago. It happens to everyone. 9 times out of 10, this is because they are overthinking the combo and doubting themselves.
This is yet again, why non-negative self talk is so important. As soon as you tell yourself that something sounds very hard, you will start to overthink it and never feel confident in doing (or just give up entirely). Try instead to tell yourself that while this may seem hard, it's very possible that you've done it before and may not be as challenging as it may seem. Take it one step at a time and if you think you haven't got it, so what? If that is what you think the combo is, so be it. Don't continue to wonder if you are doing it right and start to second guess yourself.
#12) Don't Let Other People In Class Affect You
At least, not as it relates to understanding and throwing combos. It's another case where I have seen very experienced, good boxers struggle with something that they have done a million times. Energy can be contagious. In positive ways and not so positive ways. Sometimes when we have newer people in for their first ever boxing class, they are definitely going to be lost at times. I tell every single one of them that too. And it's okay. It's natural. We teach to all levels and trying a first class at our club is kind of like jumping into the deep end and learning how to swim. You will learn fast but the first class and some of the subsequent classes will be mentally challenging. As long as you know that and just kind of roll with the situation, you will start clicking really quick.
Whether it is a new person or even a veteran boxer that gets confused at times, you can't let that affect you. I have seen this go hand in hand with Tip #11 above. One person is confused, another person has it down but that person starts to doubt and wonder, "Wait, do I really have it down?" which throws a wrench into the whole process and then they get confused. Then it spreads even more! I can't tell you how many times I have seen this happen.
How do you not let it affect you though? You can try to tune it out but remember all of the other tips - be confident, don't second guess, say the combo out loud, don't pause, watch the negative self-talk, take it one step at a time, etc. Also, tell that voice in your head questioning if you have it right to shut up.
#13) Can't Hear the Combo? So What?!?
Sometimes it can be hard to hear a combo too. Because it's hard to hear and when you are tired, it gets harder. Just like everything else, don't let that derail you or lead to negative self-talk. Throw anything you want and keep listening because we will repeat it. If you only hear the word "cross" and something else you can't make out, throw a cross. You can also use context clues to figure it out based on some of the things mentioned above. You can look at other people too and it may help but it may also hurt. They could be lost too or you trying to translate their movements leads to more confusion, especially if they are facing you.
#14) "But I Am a Visual Learner, I Have to See Things To Understand"
Everybody learns differently but just be careful about making that a self-fulfilling prophecy and limitation. You might be able to start picking up more and more audio cues as you keep learning the sport. We are always learning, always getting better, and that applies to how we learn as well.
But it makes total sense that it is much easier to understand new movements when you actually see them performed. If that's you or even if you find yourself struggling with combinations in general, here is a big tip - pick a bag in the middle of the class, closer to the coach's bag/home base. It always perplexes me when people who are new and even tell me that they are a visual learner, stand as far away from me as possible and sometimes even turn their backs to me during class (especially the turning their back). Instead, try to get yourself in the best position to see the coach and the coach to see you. You will likely get more attention this way too. As an instructor, I try to walk around to everybody but there is no way I won't make more eye contact with the people who stand nearest to my home base and generally in the middle of the club. I know some people like to stand on the edge so others can't see them but if those other people are following along, they will barely notice you. I don't even pay much attention to anyone near me when I take a class myself. Sometimes I tell myself to try and do this so I can help that person with what they are struggling with the next time they are in my class but I always just end up focusing on my own bag and workout.
Again, and I cannot stress this enough, I guarantee that this will all help. All you have to do is be mindful of these tips and try them out and will make your life easier and your workout better. Will it help you master every combo and never get lost or be confused ever again? Probably not but you will certainly be better off. And like everything else, things have a way of snowballing. Once you start to follow a few of these tips, it becomes easier to do more and get more engaged. Don't think of it as extra work. You are already doing work. You have showed up and set aside time for yourself to exercise. Setting aside the time is the hardest part. So you might as well make the most out of it when you are here, right?
