Boxing for MMA?

**JimmyZ** · Posted On: 10/31/2007 12:38pm

I'll chime in. My training is mostly MT, but I supplement with one boxing class per week, which is fortunately run out of the same gym, by a true boxing coach who makes us change our stance and forget about kicks and takedowns. I'm not a serious MMA fighter, so perhaps cross training in pure boxing may have more of a confusing effect on your stance and habits than I appreciate, but I've found that boxing supplements my MT and MMA game pretty well with minimal confusion. I tend to take more of a sideways boxing stance when I spar MT, since my hands are my strength, and I've trained MT enough to watch out for the low kicks. If you're naturally light on your feet, you'll find it's not hard to plant and throw boxing style punches when needed and then back off with a more squared stance to check kicks (and avoid take downs in an MMA situation).

Bottom line from me is this: Don't be afraid to train boxing regularly, and completely (meaning use their stance, bob, weave, learn it in its pure form), as a supplemental part of your schedule. The benefits are great, and it's pretty easy to leave out/switch out of its weaknesses during MMA.

**Bolverk** · Posted On: 10/31/2007 1:09pm

Originally Posted by WhiteShark

Did dinnerpig just say that boxing teaches you to hit with your pinky, ring and middle knuckles?

Yes, and this is old school thinking as well. Just read some of the old boxing manuals.

Also, boxing has the best hand techniques, period. End of story. Scientifically proven.

By the way, Happy Halloween. Like my Avatar costume?

**golsa** · Posted On: 10/31/2007 1:42pm

Only thing I can point out is the boxing stance is a bit lower on the knees and the lead foot is pointed inside a little more towards the rear leg than the Muay Thai stance. Nothing is wrong with training boxing, as it has the best punching methods, but if you're training in a boxer stance all of the time then thats how you're going to fight. The left leg pointing a little inside instead of straight out is going to give you some trouble with kicking, especially on teeps/front kicks and the lowered knees will make you easier to take down with angle kicks.

**bob** · Posted On: 10/31/2007 1:52pm

There's nothing wrong with training in a way that's not exactly the way you fight MMA. You just adapt it. Do you train BJJ exactly how you'd fight on the ground in MMA?

The biggest problem sounds to me like the fact that you can't wrestle. If you can wrestle, you'll be able to have a lot more say in what range you fight at.

***WhiteShark*** · Posted On: 10/31/2007 2:00pm

The three "weakest" fingers thing has got to be a school of thought thing as far as modern boxing goes right? I know in the 19th century boxing manuals have a lot of WC like fists going on but all the boxers I've trained with hit with the first two knuckles.

**GIJoe6186** · Posted On: 10/31/2007 2:06pm

The knuckles thing has to do with breaking your hand.

Make a fist and push it up against the wall. First press your two big knuckles then push against your little 3. You have to point your wrist down to use the big 2 knuckles.

***WhiteShark*** · Posted On: 10/31/2007 2:15pm

Originally Posted by GIJoe6186

The knuckles thing has to do with breaking your hand.

Make a fist and push it up against the wall. First press your two big knuckles then push against your little 3. You have to point your wrist down to use the big 2 knuckles.

I've punched thousands of times at people and bags and never broken my hand while hitting with my two bigger knuckles. So, no just no.

I was specifically refering to boxing coaches who recommend punching this way. Who has a boxing coach that has recommended that punch and who doesn't.

So far Dinnerpig's boxing coach says 3 small knuckles and mine says 2 big knuckles.

**Kintanon** · Posted On: 10/31/2007 2:46pm

Boxing coach at Old School Gym down here says big two when he visited HC as a guest coach.

**PirateJon** · Posted On: 10/31/2007 2:57pm

My original boxing coach said the big two as well. The reason was to line up the biggest bones with the force transmitting through the wrist/forearm. The angle was considered correct and desired.

Same thing with the boxing coach at my MT gym.

Anecdote FWIW: years ago I punched a plaster coated wooden slat wall full force (And no, she wasn't worth it). The force ended up being on the bottom three knuckles. I badly fractured the pinky metacarpal and it's crooked to this day. The fracture of that specific metacarpal is the old "boxers fracture".

I think that old boxing advice begat that name.