Master Holding Boxing Mitts: 3 Expert Tips From From Tony
The 3 Most Important Tips for Holding Boxing Mitts (w/ Tony)
3 Expert Tips From Tony Jefferies
As a boxing coach, one of the most important skills you can develop is the ability to properly hold and work the mitts with your clients. Mitt work is a crucial component of any boxer’s training regimen, as it allows them to practice their punching technique, timing, and power in a dynamic, interactive setting. However, many coaches and personal trainers struggle to provide an optimal mitt holding experience for their athletes.
In this comprehensive blog post, we’ll dive deep into the 3 most important tips for holding boxing mitts, as demonstrated by world-class boxer and coach Tony Jeffries. By mastering these key techniques, you’ll be able to elevate your mitt work sessions and help your clients reach new heights in their boxing development.
Tip #1: Mirror Your Boxer’s Stance
The first and most crucial element of proper mitt holding is to mirror the stance of the boxer you’re working with. As Tony explains, “if I’m working with an orthodox boxer or a right-handed boxer, I’m going to stand in that exact same position. I’m going to stand in an orthodox stance. That way, if he throws his jab and his left hand, I’m meeting it with my left hand. If he throws his right hand, I’m meeting it with my right hand.”
This stance mirroring serves several important purposes:
Proper Range and Extension: By matching the boxer’s stance, you ensure that they can fully extend their punches and maintain the correct range and distance. This allows them to practice their technique with maximum effectiveness.
Realistic Targeting: When your stance matches the boxer’s, the mitts become a more realistic target, as they are positioned in the same relative location as your opponent’s head and body would be.
Improved Timing and Rhythm: Mirroring the stance helps the boxer develop a better sense of timing and rhythm, as they are able to anticipate the movement and positioning of the mitts.
Whether you’re working with an orthodox or southpaw boxer, it’s essential that you adjust your own stance accordingly. This small but crucial adjustment will pay dividends in the quality of your mitt work sessions.
Tip #2: Position Your Mitts Properly
The second key element of effective mitt holding is the positioning of the mitts themselves. As Tony points out, a common mistake made by many coaches and trainers is holding the mitts too wide, especially when catching a 1-2 combination.
“If I’m trying to catch a one-two, I’m not going to hold them wide like this,” Tony demonstrates. “That’s a common mistake we see with a lot of trainers, personal trainers doing boxing who don’t know boxing as well as they probably should. They’re trying to catch a one-two wide like this because they think it’s the best thing to do.”
The problem with this wide mitt positioning is that it forces the boxer to punch across their body, rather than straight down the line. This not only compromises their technique, but it also puts unnecessary strain on the coach’s elbows, shoulders, and wrists.
Instead, Tony recommends keeping the mitts about shoulder-width apart, with the elbows tucked in towards the ribs. “What we want to do instead is make that target realistic and keep the mitts about shoulder width apart. Drive those elbows into your rib cage and keep that target realistic for the boxers, so they can punch straight down that line.”
By positioning the mitts in this manner, you create a more natural, linear target for the boxer to strike, allowing them to develop proper punching mechanics and technique. Additionally, this mitt positioning puts less stress on your own body, enabling you to work with your clients for longer periods without fatigue or injury.
Tip #3: Focus on Timing and Resistance
According to Tony, the third and most important element of effective mitt holding is the timing and resistance you provide to your boxer. “This is something that comes with technique and a lot of practice and experience,” he explains, “but if you can always think about meeting that punch nice and solid and creating a good amount of impact for your boxer, that’s the most important thing.”
To achieve this optimal timing and resistance, Tony recommends a few key techniques:
Rotate with the Punches: As the boxer throws their punches, rotate your body slightly to meet the mitt with the punch, rather than trying to pull the mitt away. This creates a solid, impactful connection between the boxer’s glove and the mitt.
Bounce the Mitt off the Glove: In addition to rotating with the punch, Tony suggests “bouncing the mitt off the glove” to generate a sense of resistance and impact for the boxer.
Breathe with Your Boxer: Timing is crucial, and one way to help your boxer develop better timing is to “breathe with them” as they throw their punches. This helps you synchronize your movements and reactions with theirs.
The key is to find the right balance of resistance and impact, without going to either extreme. “I’m not going to try and pull the mitt away, where he’s going to hyper-extend his elbow,” Tony explains. “And on the flip side of that, I’m not going to come in too much where it’s going to jam and shorten up that punch. I’m going to allow him to punch through that mitt, but meet it with a good amount of resistance.”
By mastering the timing and resistance of your mitt holding, you’ll not only provide a more challenging and rewarding experience for your boxer, but you’ll also help them develop crucial skills like power, timing, and rhythm.
Putting it All Together
Effective mitt holding is a fundamental skill for any boxing coach or trainer, and by mastering the three tips outlined in this article, you’ll be well on your way to elevating your mitt work sessions to new heights.
Remember, the key elements are:
Mirror your boxer’s stance to ensure proper range, targeting, and timing.
Position your mitts shoulder-width apart, with elbows tucked, to create a realistic and efficient target for your boxer.
Focus on timing and resistance, rotating with the punches and bouncing the mitt off the glove to provide the optimal level of impact and feedback for your boxer.
By incorporating these techniques into your mitt work, you’ll not only help your clients improve their boxing skills, but you’ll also protect your own body from the rigors of prolonged mitt holding sessions.
For more tips and insights on effective mitt work, be sure to check out these additional resources from the Box n Burn Academy:
By mastering the art of mitt holding, you’ll not only become a more effective boxing coach, but you’ll also be able to provide your clients with a more engaging, challenging, and rewarding training experience. So get out there, put these tips into practice, and watch your mitt work sessions reach new levels of excellence!
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