Three hard-hitting workouts for a better bod,
and we've even tapped some top fighters to act
as your cornermen.
Don't just pummel the bag. "A great boxer has
to have focus, coordination, power, speed and
endurance," says Michael Olajide Jr, a former
championship middleweight boxer. To help you
hone your skills, we've tapped some top
fighters to act as your cornermen. Hit these
workouts to improve your staying power.
Hit these workouts to improve your staying power.
THE WORKOUTS
1. UFC Power Punches
Whether you're facing Wanderlei Silva in a cage match or a 35kg heavy bag in your gym, the same rules
apply: "Once you're warmed up, you should be throwing each punch at full blast," says Frank Mir, a
former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champ. He uses this demanding six-round routine
to build mental and physical tenacity.
Grow your intensity: Clock each round at 3 minutes, resting 1 minute between rounds. With each
round, you'll add one punch to your sequence.
Punches Per Round
1. Warm up. Strike the bag at 50 per cent with a variety of punches.
2. Up your power to full strength and launch jabs.
3. Jab, throw a cross and repeat.
4. Jab, cross, hook and repeat.
5. Jab, cross, hook, uppercut and repeat.
6. Jab, cross, hook, uppercut, body punch and repeat.
2. Police Precision Punch
The perfect pop is built on posture and bone alignment, not fist strength, according to the Los
Angeles Police Department's Arrest and Control trainer Tim Collins. Use this routine to refine your form.
1. Set the stance: Leading with your non-dominant leg, position your feet shoulder-width apart, with
the toe of your dominant foot in line with the heel of your non-dominant foot. Your head extends
over your shoulders and your shoulders over your hips. Your knees are slightly bent.
2. Throw the blow: Step forward with your lead foot and extend your non-dominant arm so that your
shoulder, elbow, wrist, and front two knuckles are in alignment. Your punch and your foot should land
at the same time. Follow up with a cross, regaining with your rear foot the distance you took in your
first step. Then come back to your original stance.
3. Connect the punches: Repeat the sequence, shadow boxing for 3 minutes. Then do another 3-
minute round of the same sequence, this time on a heavy bag. That's 1 set. Complete 3 sets, building
speed each time. "When you master the strike, it should feel like you're snapping your target with a
wet towel," says Collins. Rest 1 minute between each exercise.
3. Middleweight Lightning Hands
Shadow boxing allows you to rack up high reps without the resistance of a bag to slow your punches.
"You'll tone your shoulders, back and core, which will help you throw faster punches," says Olajide.
Hit on beat: Play five songs that have strong rhythms and last 3 to 4 minutes each. On every fourth
beat (count out loud to keep yourself on track), unleash one of the punch combinations below and
then bring your hands back to your starting stance before the next beat. The shifting tempo of some
tracks may require you to punch continuously until the song slows.
Combos For Each Song
1. Left jab, left jab, right cross.
2. Right cross, left jab, right uppercut.
3. Left body punch, right body punch, left uppercut.
4. Right uppercut, right cross, left hook.
5. Right cross, left hook, right hook.
>> Recover Quicker, Get Stronger
>> How Long Can You Last In The Ring
>> Skipping - A Boxer's Essential Warm-Up
>> The Best Muscle-Growing Food
>> Be A Lean, Mean Fighting Machine
>> Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - MMA's Most Effective Weapon
>> Power Up Your Punches
>> An Introduction To Mixed Martial Arts