Want to focus your boxing training on a few combinations each month? Give yourself a combo challenge and practice the combinations below next time you’re shadowboxing, working the pads or hitting the heavy bag.

Key:

• 1 = Jab

• 2 = Cross

• 3 = Lead Hook

• 4 = Rear Hook

• 5 = Lead Uppercut

• 6 = Rear Uppercut

Comments:

Do 10-20 repetitions of each combination through the following stages:

1. The first move only.

2. The first two moves only.

3. The first three moves only.

4. Etc.

January: Block-Counter

• Lead Block, 232

• Rear Block, 323

• Lead Elbow, 523

• Rear Elbow, 632

• Lead Catch, 123

• Rear Catch, 232

February: Head-Movement, Counter

• Rear Slip, 232

• Lead Slip, 323

• Rear Roll, 232

• Lead Roll, 232

• Pull, 232

• Shoulder Roll, 232

March: Double Punches

• 1123

• 2232

• 3323

• 4432

• 5523

• 6632

April: Double Block, Counter

• Lead Block

  • Lead Block, 232

  • Rear Block, 323

  • Lead Elbow, 523

  • Rear Elbow, 632

  • Lead Catch, 123

  • Rear Catch, 232

• Rear Block

  • Lead Block, 232

  • Rear Block, 323

  • Lead Elbow, 523

  • Rear Elbow, 632

  • Lead Catch, 123

  • Rear Catch, 232

• Lead Elbow

  • Lead Block, 232

  • Rear Block, 323

  • Lead Elbow, 523

  • Rear Elbow, 632

  • Lead Catch, 123

  • Rear Catch, 232

• Lead Elbow

  • Lead Block, 232

  • Rear Block, 323

  • Lead Elbow, 523

  • Rear Elbow, 632

  • Lead Catch, 123

  • Rear Catch, 232

• Lead Catch

  • Lead Block, 232

  • Rear Block, 323

  • Lead Elbow, 523

  • Rear Elbow, 632

  • Lead Catch, 123

  • Rear Catch, 232

• Rear Catch

  • Lead Block, 232

  • Rear Block, 323

  • Lead Elbow, 523

  • Rear Elbow, 632

  • Lead Catch, 123

  • Rear Catch, 232

May: Random Punches

• 534612

• 353421265

• 4356

• 353465

• 35341256

• 353412

• 435626

• 354612

• 1 1B 1

• 341 1B 5

• 353416

• 356

• 3531246

• 35364

• 35643

• 353421

• 3564326

• 3534216

• 431265

• 1 1B 134

• 35646

• 3 1B 4

• 35164

• 3645

• 312465

• 3456

June: Random Blocks

• Lead Elbow, Lead Block, Rear Block, Rear Elbow,
  Lead Catch, Rear Catch

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow, Lead Block, Rear Block,
  Rear Catch, Lead Catch, Rear Catch,
  Rear Elbow, Lead Elbow

• Rear Block, Lead Block,
  Lead Elbow, Rear Elbow

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow, Lead Block,
  Rear Block, Rear Elbow, Lead Elbow

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow,
  Lead Block, Rear Block,
  Lead Catch, Rear Catch,
  Lead Elbow, Rear Elbow

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow,
  Lead Block, Rear Block,
  Lead Catch, Rear Catch

• Rear Block, Lead Block,
  Lead Elbow, Rear Elbow,
  Rear Catch, Rear Elbow

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow,
  Rear Block, Rear Elbow,
  Lead Catch, Rear Catch

• Cover, Double Elbow, Cover

• Lead Block, Rear Block,
  Cover, Double Elbow,
  Lead Elbow

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow, Lead Block,
  Rear Block, Lead Catch, Rear Elbow

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow, Rear Elbow

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow, Lead Block,
  Lead Catch, Rear Catch,
  Rear Block, Rear Elbow

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow, Lead Block,
  Rear Elbow, Rear Block

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow,
  Rear Elbow, Rear Block,
  Lead Block

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow, Lead Block,
  Rear Block, Rear Catch, Lead Catch

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow,
  Rear Elbow, Rear Block,
  Lead Block,
  Rear Catch, Rear Elbow

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow, Lead Block,
  Rear Block, Rear Catch, Lead Catch,
  Rear Elbow

• Rear Block, Lead Block,
  Lead Catch, Rear Catch,
  Rear Elbow, Lead Elbow

• Cover, Double Elbow, Cover,
  Lead Block, Rear Block

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow,
  Rear Elbow, Rear Block,
  Rear Elbow

• Lead Block, Double Elbow, Rear Block

• Lead Block, Lead Elbow, Cover,
  Rear Elbow, Rear Block

• Lead Block, Rear Elbow,
  Rear Block, Lead Elbow

• Lead Block, Lead Catch, Rear Catch, Rear Block,
  Rear Elbow, Lead Elbow

• Lead Block, Rear Block,
  Lead Elbow, Rear Elbow

July: Mixed Punches and Blocks

• Lead Block, 12, Rear Block
  Lead Catch, Rear Catch

• 1, Lead Block, 12
  Rear Catch, Lead Catch, Rear Catch
  Rear Block, Lead Block

• 21, Lead Block, Rear Block

• 1, Lead Block, 12
  Rear Block, Lead Block

• 1, Lead Block, 12
  Lead Catch, Rear Catch
  Lead Block, Rear Block

• 1, Lead Block, 12
  Lead Catch, Rear Catch

• 21, Lead Block, Rear Block,
  Rear Catch, Rear Block

• 1, Lead Block,
  2, Rear Block, 12

• 1 Cover 1

• 341, Cover, Lead Block

• 1, Lead Block, 1
  2, Lead Catch, Rear Block

• 1, Lead Block, Rear Block

• 1, Lead Block, 1
  Lead Catch, Rear Catch
  2, Rear Block

• 1, Lead Block, 1
  Rear Block, 2

• 1, Lead Block, Rear Block, 21

• 1, Lead Block, 12, Rear Catch, Lead Catch

• 1, Lead Block, Rear Block, 21, Rear Catch, Rear Block

• 1, Lead Block, 12, Rear Catch, Lead Catch, Rear Block

• 12, Rear Catch, Lead Catch, Lead Block, Rear Block

• 1, Cover, 134

• 1, Lead Block, Rear Block, 2, Rear Block

• 1, Cover, 2

• 1, Lead Block, 2, Rear Block, 2

• 1, Rear Block, 2, Lead Block

• 1, Lead Catch, Rear Catch, 2
  Rear Block, Lead Block

• 12, Lead Block, Rear Block

August: Variety

• 1, Tap the Chest, 4, Roll, 232

• 1, 1B, 232

• 2, 2B, 323

• Check Hook (Pivot with the Lead Hook)

• 43, Slip, 532

• Touch the Shoulder, 2, Roll, 232

• Lead Block, 232, Skip to the Right

• Rear Block, 323, Skip to the Left

September: Feints

A feint is a false move designed to distract or control the opponent.

• Jab-Feint, 123

• Cross-Feint, 232

• Lead-Hook-Feint, 323

• Rear-Hook-Feint, 432

• Lead-Uppercut-Feint, 523

• Rear-Uppercut-Feint, 632

October: Body Shots

• Rear Slip (Jab to the Body), 232

• Lead Slip (Cross to the Body), 323

• Rear Roll (Lead Hook to the Body), 232

• Lead Roll (Rear Hook to the Body), 323

November: Switch Stance and Counter

• Step Forward (Orthodox to Southpaw), with a jab, lead hook, or lead uppercut.

• Step Forward (Southpaw to Orthodox), with a jab, lead hook, or lead uppercut.

• Step Forward (Orthodox to Southpaw), with a cross, rear hook, or rear uppercut.

• Step Forward (Southpaw to Orthodox), with a cross, rear hook, or rear uppercut.

• Step Back (Orthodox to Southpaw), with a rear straight, rear hook or rear uppercut.

• Step Back (Southpaw to Orthodox), with a rear straight, rear hook or rear uppercut

December: Openings

An opening may be:

1. A strike to the opponent’s arms to create a gap.

2. A pull on the opponent’s hands after throwing a punch above or around their guard.

Openings are usually practiced in sparring but may also be practiced in shadowboxing and bagwork. Simply visualize the opponent’s guard, practice the opening technique, and continue with punches and other techniques as normal.

• Open with the Jab, 232

• Open with the Jab, 432

• Open with the Jab, 632

• Open with the Cross, 323

• Open with the Cross, 123

• Open with the Cross, 523

• Open with the Lead Hook, 432

• Open with the Lead Hook, 232

• Open with the Lead Hook, 632

• Open with the Rear Hook 323

• Open with the Rear Hook 123

• Open with the Rear Hook 523

Aim the opening punch at the inner or outer side of the opponent’s hands, or the inner side of their elbows.