Amateur Boxing - A Basic Lesson , Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 5:27 AM, in

Each father at some time or other during the "growing" years of his sons sees fit to instruct his protégés in the art of self-defense or amateur boxing.
One of the most important things a dad can teach his son is "how to make a proper fist," in order to avoid future hand injuries. We all know how a painful thumb or finger injury results when a baseball or football strikes the wrong part of the hand.
The same is true if the thumb of your boy's fist is not properly folded, or if on landing a blow the force is centered on protruding knuckles. When the blow is properly landed the knuckles of the fist should be straight across (no protruding knuckles), thereby allowing the whole fist to absorb the force of the blow. The result gives the boy more power to his blow and minimizes chances of injury to his hands.
I suggest that as the next step you (the father) hold your left hand, palm open and inward, and hit your palm with a closed right fist.



In going through this procedure, check to see if the right thumb is properly curled over, and if the fist on contact is landing on all four knuckles, rather than on one or two protruding knuckles. This will ensure that you have a more solid understanding of amateur boxing yourself.
After you have properly trained yourself (preferably the night before giving son a lesson), teach him the same procedure, hitting the open hand with the closed right fist, and stressing the proper points of a "right" and "wrong" fist. Then reverse the procedure, holding the right hand open and hitting the palm with the left fist.
It is true that the average youngster in making a fist without being properly taught, will fold his thumb inside his closed fingers. For some unknown reason he has the feeling his thumb becomes better protected in this manner. This is the surest way to sprain, dislocate, or even break the second thumb joint. Boys also make the mistake of allowing the thumb to stick up instead of properly curling the thumb over the closed fist. Impress this upon your son.
It is surprising how many boys grow to college age without even having been taught how to hit properly. Hence if the father gets no point across to his son other than the proper care of his hands, he has done a good job. A boy who is taught the proper fundamentals at an early age has a distinct advantage over others.
If he chooses to box in high school, college, or in amateur boxing, he has a head start on the beginner. The coach will not have to break any unorthodox or bad boxing habits he has acquired by himself.
Your son, whether he be seven or seventeen (assuming after seventeen you would rather have another "coach" take him over) can be taught just exactly as we have illustrated in previous chapters. However, just to simplify the father-son relationship, get on your knees and put across the points suggested.
When your son has learned how to hit properly and to assume the correct on-guard, put the gloves on with him, get on your knees, and practice the punches with him. Show him how to block as well as to hit, and be sure you know the blocks yourself.
Your son should practice his trusty right with father's chin as target. Father drops his left to allow the right to come across, and blocks with his own right. See that your son snaps the right straight across with a lot of zip, and that he has his fist closed, chin down, shoulder up. Be sure he does not throw a "roundhouse" right.
Punching a light bag is fun. It is great exercise, and increases speed and coordination. Little boys pick up the knack very quickly after a minimum amount of practice. Fathers also find a punching bag excellent exercise, and unlike most exercises, they enjoy it.



Have fun teaching your son to box, and contribute to his increasing self-confidence.

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