Boxing Angles: The Compass and The Clock
How might the angles of a boxing ring be mapped out?
There are two models: the ‘Compass’ and the ‘Clock’.
The Compass
The Compass model divides the ring into 8 angles:
The angles at North, South, East and West mark the centre of the ropes on four sides.
The angles at North-East, South-East, South-West and North-West mark the corners of the ring.
This is an intuitive way to divide the ring.
The Clock
The Clock model divides the ring into 12 angles:
3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock mark the centre of the ropes on four sides.
1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 11 o’clock mark the corners of the ring, or a specific side of a corner.
This model is perhaps less intuitive, but it maps out more angles than the previous model, and hence gives boxers more options when moving around the ring.
Why is it important to map the angles of the ring?
There are at least three reasons.
First, it allows a boxer to plan their footwork, ring craft, or ring generalship. For example, boxers tend to stay away from corners, and tend to manoeuvre their opponents into a corner. This is done by:
Cutting off half the ring (e.g. from North to South, or East to West, etc.)
Cutting off three quarters of the ring (e.g. placing the opponent between 12 and 3 o’clock)
Keeping the opponent in a corner while remaining free to move in all directions.
Repeating this cycle if the opponent escapes a corner.
Further, a boxer may constantly change angle and circle around an aggressive opponent.
Second, mapping out angles of a ring can help organize bagwork. Imagining the heavy bag swinging around the centre of a ‘compass’ or ‘clock’ will allow the boxer to practice changing angle and attacking at specific angles.
Third, and finally, mapping out angles allows a boxer to shadowbox with more precision. This is because the boxer must think about the angle at which they are throwing punches as well as the punches they are throwing.
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