Stage 1 - Proper Stance, Balance and Movement
Stage 2 - Throwing Strikes Properly, With Your Whole Body
Stage 3 - Boxing vs Just Punching a Heavy Bag
So, that brings us to Stage 4, which I like to call The Smooth Criminal. It is somewhat of extension on Stage 3 but to a much deeper level of style, strategy, understanding, discipline, self-correction and yes, smoothness. Whether someone is boxing for fitness or not, The Smooth Criminal treats every round on the heavy bag like they are in the ring with another absolute killer, where every punch and every movement means something. It is a mental state that translates to physical. The Smooth Criminal is also constantly trying to get better, looking for cracks in their own armor, and understands that just learning something is not enough. That we are in a constant state of maintenance and polish.
It starts with discipline. We all get tired, we all get sloppy sometimes, we may be less self-aware than other times but the Smooth Criminal has that voice inside their head that is always reminding them to keep their eyes on the ball, to remember this or that, to stay focused, stay sharp, don't lose the technique and to push themselves to work harder. This affects every aspect of training and here are a few videos that highlight different areas where we can always stay more disciplined:
Staying Defensively Responsible
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6vcv-46a9I&list=PLN0PPf0o8X6X1Te2zEgHrqy-BtyI-RAg3&index=2
Staying Disciplined With Feet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WRjUMlrsHw
Pushing Yourself to the Next Level
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYUx4_ssCeU&t=22s
Performing a "Systems Check"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bsrFwMBhMg
It should go without saying that no matter how smooth of a criminal you are, you will always need a coach, as they can see things that you do not, but at this stage, Smooth Criminals are able to also spot problems with their own technique and holes in their game as well, making corrections along the way. There is a much higher level of self-awareness and analysis, being open to change. It is very easy to get comfortable in Stage 3, as it is such a big step that takes a lot of work to get to. Making it to the next stage will require you to be uncomfortable again, not just in developing new skills but also realizing that you still haven't necessarily mastered the basics and can always get better.
Remembering to Tighten Those Punches Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBT0cahg_TQ
Flow the Combos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQty9Ufjqnw
Changing Rhythms Between Combos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYnY53p6q58
Eliminating Tells (and staying disciplined in watching for tells)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZZnHBWTt8w
Counter Faster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klgQCQqgpPA
As you continue to better understand boxing, the "Why" behind everything becomes clearer and you start to think more strategically. What is each punch used for? How is it defended? How can one punch set up another? What punches am I open for at each time? What other strategies can I employ? Even if you are just punching a heavy bag, this understanding and approach will improve your skills and workout. You will stay much more generally focused too. Here are just a couple of examples:
Visualize Fighting An Opponent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3yde8ddd_s
Set Ups
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIc6akt8HuU
Controlling Your Opponent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT_ha3aEO0k&list=PLN0PPf0o8X6X1Te2zEgHrqy-BtyI-RAg3&index=9
There are 4-5 generally-recognized, main styles of boxing. Sometimes people even brand new to the sport are able to naturally fall into one of these styles right away. It can even be somewhat automatically determined by body and personality type. But it also may change throughout their development. The Smooth Criminal not only has a pretty set fighting style but also has a deep understanding of the other styles and is comfortable switching for training purposes. They understand too that beyond the physical, there is a mindset behind each of these styles too and may even take it to a new level of actually developing their own boxing alter ego.
Styles of Boxing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEyG8uaIb_I
Finding Your Alter Ego
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBo7TmwLS70
Not only are Smooth Criminals able to correct many of their own mistakes on their own but also able to adjust and change their game, strategically. Even a non-competitive boxer can (and should) develop these skills. Besides giving someone a deeper understanding of the "Why" behind boxing but it helps them to adjust and adapt smoothly to different protocols.
Plan B
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydi8HWlrFDE
Marking Adjustments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2JELt0wki4&t=50s
Despite having the highest level of skill versus any of the other stages I have detailed, no one better understands that you can always get better at everything than the Smooth Criminal. It kind of reminds me of a Google map view. When you first start off boxing, you can see this big map below and some of the main states or cities. Then as you get a little closer, you start to see the smaller cities and landmarks as well as main highways. Then when you get closer still, you see so much more detail. Individual roads and houses, little towns and plazas. The closer you get in boxing, the more you see. If someone wanted to get into competitive boxing or even non-competitive sparring, I would say this is the stage they need to be at. Sure, plenty of people start sooner but it becomes harder to develop these skills for the vast majority of the population. Some never do develop them. But if you are able to develop a very solid foundation first, everything you build on top of it will be sturdier and your opponents will know that they've been hit by, they've been hit by, a Smooth Criminal.
