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TO EXCEL IN BOXING YOU MUST DEVELOP TIMING & BALANCE
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Timing & Balance demonstrated
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Timing and balance is often a lost art; some coaches neglect to focus in these two
areas, because it takes a lot time to teach. Timing and Balance is where fundamentals
are developed and are built from.
Timing comes from learning to relax in training and in competition. When punching, try
not to rush your punches. Create rhythm through proper breathing, jabbing frequently,
using various speeds on your jab.
Move with baby steps and create angles. This will help establish timing to your punches.
It also helps you to become more accurate and to pin-point placement of each of your
punches. Try not to throw with reckless speed and power and with no control.
Get a feeling of the speed and movement of your opponent, the rhythm of the pace he
brings in front of you. This will help time your punches when you throw. Mitt training is
one way to practice.
When performing mitt work, too many coaches just stand in place, trying to imitate a
Mayweather-style to counter-punching. They really miss the concept of real funda-
mentals. Mitts should be used as if you are going against an opponent. Coaches should
relax their fighter, teaching distance, proper footwork, and, of course, timing. A few
words of advice: try not to get real fancy or tricky with mitt training, but instead, work
on establishing the basic fundamentals.
Balance is the next crucial aspect and it begins with a good stance - not standing too
wide or too close.
You must constantly maintain this stance when moving or punching; your hips must
always stay underneath you. When jabbing or throwing the cross, try not to lead with
the chin by falling too far forward. If your center of balance isn’t established, you won’t
be able to throw more than two punch combinations. Creating balance makes a boxer
hard to be pushed around. A good, firm stance gives a boxer the ability to punch, block,
and punch again.
Shadow boxing is the essence of good balance. By not hitting anything, you must throw
multiple punches while moving around. This develops both stability and coordination.
Remember, do not sacrifice timing and balance for reckless speed and power. You may
never be the most powerful or the fastest, but good timing and balance can definitely
beat speed and power.
Joe Leinhauser / Copyright August 30, 2009 © Timing and Balance
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