Why is boxing so effective?

**bwhite77** · Posted On: 6/27/2011 3:39am

Boxing uses only the hands and only four basic attacks. The jab, the straight right/cross the hook and the uppercuts. While these attacks can be varied logic would say that boxing would do terrible against the majority of other styles due to the fact that they use much more variety. I believe that what makes boxing effective is the movement and stance. As someone with experience in boxing as well as tkd I can tell you that even when kicks start getting thrown I am usually able to angle, get in close and and go to work with my hands. (yes she did say that thank you for not putting it in the comments.) There is also the added factor of space. When you train a style that allows for lots of space your movement does not have to be as good as when training in a very small ring. I also mentioned stance. While there are quite a few styles popping up that use the basic boxing stance I am still amazed by the quantity of videos that can be found with people getting hit in the face/head area. PUT YOUR HANDS UP! When I trained in tkd all I had to do was push in close and work the face because people just refuse to bring their hands up. I realize that you do not need to have your hands up constantly, you can use high and low blocks and things like that but once you start getting into good combination punching this becomes very difficult. Thank you for your time I realize as a boxer I am probably pretty biased on this subject so any comments/criticism are welcome.

**bwhite77** · Posted On: 6/27/2011 3:40am

Also remember that while those blocks can be used most fights are won by lucky shots and it is much easier to eliminate those by just bringing your hands up and getting your elbows in.

**stealth_monkey** · Posted On: 6/27/2011 5:13am

While these attacks can be varied logic would say that boxing would do terrible against the majority of other styles due to the fact that they use much more variety

Actually, that's unsound logic.
Logically, training 4 things that work would be far more effective than training 10 things that don't.

**lklawson** · Posted On: 6/27/2011 8:31am

Originally Posted by bwhite77

Boxing uses only the hands and only four basic attacks. The jab, the straight right/cross the hook and the uppercuts.

[snip]

This looks like the beginnings of an article. You should expand it.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

**bwhite77** · Posted On: 6/27/2011 10:01am

I am not saying that the other ten things that you are training are ineffective in every situation. My point is that it is good to have an arsenal of things that DO work and because there are plenty of styles that do that now why has boxing still stuck around and why is it still effective?

**atomicpoet** · Posted On: 6/27/2011 12:56pm

Boxing is effective because it is based on sound principles that work. It isn't just about the punching -- it's about the rhythm, the head movement, the footwork, etc. Boxing didn't just teach me how to hit, but more importantly when to hit.

You can punch any way you want. If you watch a lot of boxing, you see lots of fighters pull off crazy shots that still work. The basic shots, and the ones that work most often, are jab, cross, hook, and uppercut -- sometimes overhand. But these are by no means the only punches allowed in boxing.

**Tom Kagan** · Posted On: 6/27/2011 1:50pm

Originally Posted by bwhite77

When I trained in tkd all I had to do was push in close and work the face because people just refuse to bring their hands up.

You're either cheating or lying. Either way, I think you are full of **** without original thoughts on the boxing strawman you're propping up.

**bwhite77** · Posted On: 6/27/2011 2:26pm

Yes I agree boxing is very effective due to it's rythem and movement and it is much more in depth than it seems on the surface. If you think I am either cheating or lying I have two things to say. One I do not cheat and two watch this video

granted it is boxing versus a few guys who do karate however at around 37 seconds you will see the tactic im talking about. At first the karate guy does pretty well with his feet but then his hands drop, the boxer pushes in and he is knocked down. He also beats his next opponent very easily. (note the fact that his next opponent is fresh while he is not) O and by the way when I did tkd i trained with a guy that worked with the U.S. Olympic team, believe me there was no cheating going on.

**Snake Plissken** · Posted On: 6/27/2011 2:35pm

Originally Posted by Tom Kagan

You're either cheating or lying. Either way, I think you are full of **** without original thoughts on the boxing strawman you're propping up.

In TKD, it is referred to an "Aunt Sally" and not a strawman....to prevent further confusion.

**Rivington** · Posted On: 6/27/2011 3:16pm

Boxing's trained well—live training, and plenty of conditioning and whatnot too. Put a boxerciser throwing "fitness punches" in against a TKDer and it won't go nearly so well.