Boxing Padwork: Non-Verbal Cues
How are boxing coaches able to command multiple punch combinations while seeming to say little to nothing at all?
Unless they are working on a fixed routine, the answer is through the intelligent use of verbal and non-verbal cues. Verbal cues have been discussed in a previous post, which you can find here. This post will be about the non-verbal cues.
Below is a list of boxing techniques (in bold) with their non-verbal cues from the coach (in italics), grouped according to the type of technique they are meant to cue. Each section is also grouped according to whether boxer is moving opposite or parallel to the coach.
Stance Cues:
Guard Up: Guard up or ‘attack’.
Switch (Southpaw): Switch.
Switch Forward (Southpaw): Switch forward.
Switch Back (Southpaw): Switch back.
Switch Left (Southpaw): Switch left.
Switch Right (Southpaw): Switch right.
Punch Cues
Opposite-Hands:
Jab: Lead hand, target facing forward.
Cross: Rear hand, target facing forward.
Lead Hook: Lead hand, target facing inward (thumb up).
Rear Hook: Rear hand, target facing inward (thumb up).
Lead Uppercut: Lead hand, target facing downward.
Rear Uppercut: Rear hand, target facing downward.
Lead Overhand: Lead hand, target facing upward.
Rear Overhand: Rear hand, target facing upward.
Parallel-Hands:
Jab: Rear hand, target facing forward.
Cross: Lead hand, target facing forward.
Lead Hook: Rear hand, target facing outwards (thumb down).
Rear Hook: Lead hand, target facing outwards (thumb down).
Lead Uppercut: Rear hand, target facing downwards.
Rear Uppercut: Lead hand, target facing downwards.
Block Cues
Opposite-Hands:
Rear Catch: Throw a ‘Cross’.
Lead Catch: Throw a ‘Jab’.
Rear Block: Throw a ‘Cross’ (palm on the back of the glove).
Lead Block: Throw a ‘Jab’ (palm on the back of the glove).
Parallel-Hands:
Rear Catch: Throw a ‘Jab’.
Lead Catch: Throw a ‘Cross’.
Rear Block: Throw a ‘Lead Hook’.
Lead Block: Throw a ‘Rear Hook’.
Rear Elbow: Throw a ‘Low Lead Uppercut’.
Lead Elbow: Throw a ‘Low Rear Uppercut’.
Cover: Throw a ‘Jab’.
Head Movement Cues
Opposite Head Movement:
Lead Slip: Raise rear hand before throwing a ‘Cross’.
Rear Slip: Raise lead hand before throwing a ‘Jab’.
Lead Roll: Extend rear hand to side before throwing a ‘Rear Hook’.
Rear Roll: Extend lead hand to side before throwing a ‘Lead Hook’.
Pull: Show the back of the pad before throwing a ‘Jab’.
Sit: Show the back of the pad before throwing a ‘Jab’.
Constant Slips: Constant slips.
Constant Rolls: Constant rolls.
Parallel Head Movement:
Lead Slip: Raise rear hand before throwing a ‘Jab’ (the boxer slips on the inside).
Rear Slip: Raise lead hand before throwing a ‘Cross’ (the boxer slips on the inside).
Constant Slips: Constant slips.
Constant Rolls: Constant rolls.
Footwork Cues
Moving Opposite to Coach:
Step forward: Step back.
Step backward: Step forward.
Step left: Step left.
Step right: Step right.
Pivot clockwise: Pivot clockwise.
Pivot anti-clockwise: Pivot anti-clockwise.
Skip forward: Skip back.
Skip backward: Skip forward.
Skip left: Skip left.
Skip right: Skip right.
Moving Parallel to Coach:
Step left: Step right.
Step right: Step left.
Skip left: Skip right.
Skip right: Skip left.
Control Cues
Head Control: Move forwards.
Guard Control: Guard up.
Lead Shoulder Control: Turn lead shoulder.
Rear Shoulder Control: Turn rear shoulder.
Lead Elbow Control: Step at an angle to show lead elbow.
Rear Elbow Control: Step at an angle to show rear elbow.
Feint: Point to side.
The Future
Progress in padwork happens as verbal cues become short enough to communicate quickly, and varied enough to cover a range of techniques and combinations.
The challenge for coaches is to come up with more sophisticated ways of communicating combinations of punches, blocks, head movement, footwork, and perhaps even styles.
If you are a coach and wish to take your padwork to the next level, a good place to start is to write down all your verbal cues and then brainstorm.
If you are a boxer, learning verbal cues may help you become conscious of your combinations and avoid predictable patterns.
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