Beware of the Shoulder

No, this article does not deal with getting shoulder bumped by an opponent (although, come to think of it, that should be a topic I should cover later on down the road). This article deals with the proper positioning of the shoulder of the non-punching arm.

Boxing is ultimately about the transfer and shifting of weight. This is why hip rotation, loading, etc all play an important factor in terms of being able to make one's boxing game actually work. Probably one of the dirtiest two words in boxing is "arm strength" as the term refers to delivering punches without the body behind it. (Trust me - they really don't hurt)

Arm strength punching is often used to describe a complete lack of weight behind a punch. What needs to be understood here is that putting weight behind a punch is not all or nothing. In other words, improper form and deliver could yield a partial amount of body weight. Yes, this would be better than a complete lack of body weight, but it is still a ways off from being a proper full delivery in body weight.

One of the ways in which body weight is improperly or minimally transfered is because the rear shoulder is out of position. For example, if you are performing a lead uppercut you will want to keep your rear shoulder level with or lower than the front shoulder. If you raise th rear shoulder above the front shoulder (and this is a common mistake people make) then a significant portion of body weight is removed from the front uppercut and shifted backwards and up. This is a major no-no because it weakens the front uppercut considerable. Needless to say, you need to allign that rear shoulder properly by paying strict attention to its positioning when you are working out. Give it a try.