Boxing: Can you teach yourself?

[Mu Ryuk]

Hey all,

 

I've been wanting to pick up Boxing for a while, as our Dojang (Tang Soo Do) doesn't focus very much on hands. Unfortunately there are no Boxing gyms closer than Santa Cruz, a forty-five minute drive if there's no traffic.

 

I know the basics of Boxing...keep your elbows tucked in to block body shots, pop your hands to block a punch at the head, make sure you keep your head low and your chin ducked. So my question is: Can I teach myself Boxing with knowledge of the basics?

 

I have permission to Box in the Dojang as long as we don't get out of control, we have focus mitts to do drills with, a heavy bag, and we can get a speed bag. I also know some people who can help me out a little bit. There are at least two other students of the Dojang (both Cho Dan's) who want to do Boxing.

 

Any suggestions, criticism, or calling me an idiot? It's all appreciated

 

Tang Soo!

[Shorinryu Sensei]

It sounds like you've already giot the basic boxing knmowledge. Practice will give you the skills.

 

However, and this is just an observation and question on my part, it doesn't sound like you and those other Cho Dans are real satisfied with your training and what you are learning from TSD. Since you live in a populous area where nearly every type of martial art on the planet is no doubt represented (and some that are no doubt OFF of this planet ), have you considered switching to a martial art that is more to your liking and includes what you feel you are lacking in TSD?

 

It would make sense to me that if I lived in an area where just about anything is available within a 10 mile radius (or less) of where I lived, then I would find an art that was teaching me what I wanted to learn, not feeling I was lacking in some aspect and searching for a secondary supplement to my training. If I wasn't satisfied with a particular school/art/instructor, I'd go to the other one across the street...or down the block. What is sounds like to me is that you and your friends need to seek out and join a system that uses their hands as much as they use their feet. A Japanese/Okinawan system would fill the bill nicely, or a multitude of "American" karate systems that are out there.

 

***donning my Mr. Spock ears*** It seems logical to me.

[Mu Ryuk]

We absolutely love Tang Soo Do and our school. We like what we're learning, it just so happens that our Instructor is a kicking kind of guy. Mr.Beeson (one of the Cho Dans) incorporatres more hand work when he teaches.

 

No, there are very few schools here actually...it's sad really...no Judo, no Muay Thai, no Kyokushin, no Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Nothing I want to do aside from Tang Soo Do, in other words.

 

I will not leave my Dojang. We learn a lot there. I recently recievied permiossion to do hard contact sparring outside of class. Our Instructor encourages cross training. I think we are very fortunate to have the kind of Dojang and Instructor we do.

 

Tang Soo!

[SevenStar]

I would say no. Since you are in a TSD school and TSD has strikes, focus on them more. Trying to learn anything on your own is a no no - boxing is no different.

[Rick]

Yep, once again i end up agreeing with SevenStar - it doesn't matter if u know the basics, u need an instructor to learn it properly and my advice would have been the same. Focus on the Tang Soo Do strikes that u have learned, at least u would have someone who knows how to do them properly always watching over ur shoulder, unlike the complexity of boxing that u might miss without an instructor there...

 

Rick

[cross]

Why not ask your instructor if he/she can teach you more hand techniques??

[Shorin Ryuu]

As someone who boxed in college for a while, I have to agree that you can not teach yourself. Although I changed my views on boxing since then (I think there are too many long term health concerns associated with it), I still respect the degree of skill and knowledge within the sport. Therefore, it isn't simply just hitting the other person (although that in and of itself has loads of theory and technique) and requires an excellent coach (not to mention lots of hard work).

 

At the Air Force Academy, we had coaches that taught the basics over and over and over. And our school has almost always won nationals in the past 25 years (we got second when we didn't win).

[Flying Tiger]

I agree that you shouldn't seriously train in boxing by yourself. By the way, I am in an almost exact situation as you, Mu Ryuk. I take Tang Soo Do also, and I feel that we don't do ebough work with our hands. Luckily though, my dad has some background in boxing and is showing me the basics (jab, cross, hook, and uppercut) and is helping me to tie it in with my Tang Soo Do. The biggest problem I've discovered so far is the difference in stances. In my school we stand in a very closed stance while sparring, so that it is difficult to hit the other person without throwing a round or hook kick, while in boxing, it is usually best to be in a more open stance so you can use that back hand more effectively.

 

Uhh, sorry, I got a little carried away with my post.

[Rick]

Mmm, Tang Soo Do sounds like a very deadly kicking art that lacks a little in the hands department. I've never come across it but it sounds very interesting. I think it's the art that Chuck Norris started in isn't it?

 

Anyway, it doesn't really matter what hand techniques u learn and in which style - it matters more that u practise and practise and practise until u are awesome with those particular moves. Good boxers are only good boxers becuase they constantly work the hands and become good with them, IMO anyway.

 

Rick

[Drunken Monkey]

short answer from me.

 

there is a world of difference between learning how to do something

 

and

 

training to be good in that thing.