The Issue of Stances

If there was one thing that is irksome about hobbyist boxing training, it would be how some folks rush through proper stances and footwork and rush into punching drills. It is understandable why they do this. People who are new to boxing may not appreciate the value of a good stance or proper footwork. This is because their benefits are not revealed until the student gets involved with regular sparring drills. However, the importance of a stance and proper body alignment can never be overstated.

With proper body alignment you acquire:

- Maximum efficiency in your striking with little wasted movement.

- The elimination (or reduction) of bad habits such as dragging, pawing, or overextending.

- The ability to get your whole body behind a blow as opposed to mere arm strength.

- You reduce the number of open lines for attacks and counterattacks.

In short, if you start to employ proper body alignment and stances, you game will automatically improve. This is because you are doing things the correct way and that is always a huge plus.