Introduction
Starting boxing is exciting, but most beginners repeat the same mistakes that hold back their progress. I’ve seen it as a fighter and now as a coach. The good news? Once you know these mistakes, they’re easy to fix. Here are the 5 most common beginner boxing mistakes, and exactly what to do instead.
1. Standing Too Tall
The mistake: New boxers stand bolt upright, making it easy to lose balance and get hit.
The fix: Bend your knees slightly, keep your weight centred, and stay athletic. Think of it as being ready to spring in any direction. Balance comes before punches.
2. Dropping Hands After Punching
The mistake: Beginners admire their shots and forget to defend.
The fix: Build “automatic defence.” After every punch, bring your hands straight back to guard or roll/step out. Punch and protect — both should happen together.
3. Holding Breath While Punching
The mistake: Tensing up and holding your breath makes you gas out in minutes.
The fix: Exhale sharply with each shot (“tss, tss”). This keeps you relaxed, explosive, and saves energy for later rounds.
4. Throwing Arm Punches
The mistake: Only using arms, which wastes power and feels weak.
The fix: Power starts from the ground. Push off your rear foot, rotate the hips, then let the shoulders snap through. Chain: Feet → Hips → Shoulders → Fists.
5. Neglecting Footwork
The mistake: Planting feet and swinging, or crossing legs while moving.
The fix: Footwork first. Step and slide without crossing your feet. Move in small steps to keep balance. Remember: good feet = good defence and good offence.
Conclusion
Avoiding these 5 mistakes will fast-track your progress in the gym. Master balance, defence, breathing, mechanics, and footwork, and you’ll already be ahead of most beginners.
If you want a clear structure to improve step by step, grab my Free Boxing Guide here: https://payhip.com/b/o3Ui7
Or explore the Marksman Digital Hub for training plans, sparring guides, and more: www.payhip.com/marksmancoaching
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