Punches or kicks?

[AndrewSimonsen]

For kickboxing, do you feel that it is more important to spend time training on punches or on kicks? From what I've seen when watching kickboxing matches, some schools seem to favor kicks while some seem to favor punches. A few schools looked like they did an equal mix of both though. Where would you fall in these catagories and why? Do you feel that the extra range of kicking is enough to offset potential risks, or do you feel that punches should be used because of their simplicity? Or is their another reason for a preference if their is one. How much (%) of your class time is devoted to punches, how much to conditioning, and how much to kicks?
Basicly: Which do you favor (or not) and why?

[Jeff Burger]

I have seen guys who were mediocre boxers waste kick boxers.

The leg in general takes more work.

I don't stretch my class much. Reason being thats for high kicks. The extra time spent stretching would be better spent on low and middle kicks and conditioning.
I let high kicks come naturally.

I don't use high kicks until I have them reacting the way I want to low kicks.
Thats a ring thing not a street thing.

I'm also fond of flurries. Single techniques are more easily countered / defended.

When defending against kicks it easy to put your opponent in a bad position.

Kicks have their moments... but they are just moments. When we start to come into range and as the range opens again.
If your a better kicker than them try to keep that range.
But if your a good kicker and they are a good boxers in for a rough time.
If you can play the ranges than make them guess wrong.

Jeff

[Chrono]

I'm also fond of flurries. Single techniques are more easily countered / defended.

That's so true. That's one of my weak areas is that I don't use combos as I should.

[Jeff Burger]

Thats a bad habit alot of Karate people have (maybe TSD as well). Very good singular technique but not very good combonations.
I think it comes from a point fighting and Ikken Hassatsu (kill with 1 blow) mentality.

When of few of my Karate schools brothers took boxing we would often get there first with a clean technique but then lose in the total exchange.
We were used to throwing 1 or 2 shots and they were throwing 8-10 shots or more.

Getting in that first shot can be the hardest cause you have to close the gap. But once your in your in for him too.
I'm not usually a stick and move kind of guy (unless I need to for that particular opponent). Getting in is more skilled work and I don't want to keep working. Get in and do some hurt and think about maybe staying in a continuing hurting. I'm not trying to be malicious but that is the nature of the beast.

Actually I try to avoid the long and middle boxing ranges. Most people (especially on the street) are dangerous at that range (any unskilled idiot can punch well enough to hurt you).
I like to go from the kicking range to the close boxing (upper cut, hook) or better yet clinch (knees and elbows).
Not because I'm good there but because most people are not good there.
"Go where they ain't" is a good strategy.

When practicing combos think of flow, it needs to connect well.
Find flow from...
hand to hand
hand to foot
foot to hand
foot to foot
These can be offense and defense (a block with a hand is still a hand and so on).

Look at your evasions...
snap
slip
bob
bob and weave
If your snapping back you probably don't want to punch cause your weight isn't there, its going back.
Well if your weight is going back than its probably coming off your front foot so kick.
A side kick flows well off a boxer's shoulder roll.

That takes you to The 16 CONNECTIONS
Hand attack = HA
Hand defense = HD
Leg attack = LA
Leg defense = LD
Now connect them...
HA - HA
HD - HD
LA - LA
LD - LD
From any one go to all the others.

HA to HA, HD, LA, LD
HD to HA, HD, LA, LD
LA to HA, HD, LA, LD
LD to HA, HD, LA, LD

This doesn't have end at your basics. Any attack or defense you know or learn should be thorwn into the mix.

If you have Thai arm and belly pads try to include there combos.


Slow your sparring down. Move like its fast but slowly, like your watching a fight video in slow motion. Both partners need to move at the same speed.
Then gradualy pick up the speed until you can handle full speed.
Its like learning ping pong or tennis. We start off slow so the other person can play back and then gradually pick up the speed once we have a certain skill.

Jeff

[Good advisor]

Wow, being a beginner to Muay Thai, thanks for the Tip