Using boxing combinations allows you to throw multiple punches at your opponent without breaking stride. Your opponent may be able to avoid individual punches, but he will find it harder to get away from several. If you keep him busy defending your punches, he will have less time to respond with his own. Of course, if you fail to properly recover after delivering a series of blows, his return strikes will catch you with your guard down. Any advantage that you gained by using a combination may then be lost. So dont forget to put up your own guard once youve completed a combination.
Combinations may be only a couple of punches put together. They may also be five or six punches in a row. The important thing for a combination is that it has to flow. Each punch must transition smoothly to the next. Otherwise, combinations are useless. Any pause or awkward delivery gives your opponent an opportunity to recover and strike back. Of course, its not necessary to hit your opponent with every punch in a combination. Some of the punches are used to adjust your opponents defense and create an opening for the next punch. You may be trying to hit your opponents face so that he will put his hands up, leaving his torso wide open for the more powerful blow that you plan to land there. Or you may aim low to bring his hands down and follow with a strike at his head.
If youre just learning how to throw punches correctly, its best not to try creating combinations. Its more important for you to be able to execute each punch effectively in the beginning. You also have to learn the numbers that are associated with individual punches. A trainer may give you direction for a combination using only numbers. If you dont know them, your sparring partner can take the opportunity to hit while youre confused. Once you are comfortable with the punches and their numbers, begin adding combinations to your training. Dont exceed more than three new combinations a week. You will have to perform drills with each combination to keep up your skill level. Once you are ready to move onto the next set of combinations, you still have to practice the ones that youve already learned. They will help you the most when you are able to deliver them flawlessly without stopping to think. Boxing combinations are a powerful technique to have in your skill collection.