Importance Of Quick Reaction Time In Boxing (Improving Tips)

Everyone knows that speed plays a big role in boxing. The faster the punch, the greater the chance that the opponent will not have time to react to it and will get hit. Besides, the reaction time is very important for high speed.

So, how important is the quick reaction time in boxing? In general, a well-developed boxer’s reaction in the ring is the key to victory in the fight. After all, it is very important to quickly perceive and process information, to be able to quickly build attack tactics and defense. You should also be able to make a lightning counterattack and attack as well. Using very fast punches, you deprive your opponent of the opportunity to defend himself and dodge the attack. In this way, you significantly increase your chances to win. That’s why during training you should pay a lot of attention to improving your speed and reaction time.

As we have already found out, the importance of speed in a fight is extremely important. One who knows how to use it correctly in his fighting strategy always has an advantage over his opponent. Speed in the ring depends not only on the ability to make any move quickly but also on the ability to be oriented.

It also depends on quick reactions. It will help ensure that you can make a variety of swiftly changing movements. Speed in the ring depends not only on the ability to make any move quickly but also on the ability to be oriented. It also depends on quick reactions. They will help provide quick execution of a variety of movements like dodging or blocking punches.

How Can You Improve Your Reaction Time In Boxing

Boxing and brain activity are very closely tied together. Active brain activity helps during an attack. Thanks to this the fighter notice faster the opponent’s open defense points. Thus, by losing the least energy it is possible to win the fight faster.

In general, to develop such skills, the boxer builds up entire training systems. These systems require the constant development of the boxer’s reaction speed. For this purpose, there are all types of punching exercises in attack, defense, and counterattack.

These are performed with the help of a sparring partner or coach. In addition, there are additional helping exercises, such as throwing a tennis ball against a wall to catch it. Also juggling tennis balls or bouncing them against the floor in a fighting stance. In addition, you can use different equipment, such as a fighting ball (reflex ball).

Muhammad Ali’s Exercise

This exercise helped Muhammad Ali in his childhood to improve his reaction speed. This method was found to be very effective. To perform this exercise, you will need several tennis balls and a partner. One athlete stands against a wall and the other throws the balls to his head.

The task of the person standing at the wall is to dodge the flying balls. The difficulty of the exercise depends on the distance the athletes are standing from each other and the force with which the balls are thrown. It is clear that the shorter the distance between the boxers and the larger the force of the throws, the more difficult it is.

Development Of Reaction Speed In Attack

The best exercises for the development of reaction speed on an open target are exercises in a free fight. By working randomly with different punches and defense techniques, the boxer chooses and creates attack opportunities. At the same time, he must have time to choose the attacking tactic.

It needed to deliver a fast and accurate punch before the opponent’s body position changed. To develop the boxer’s ability to react quickly to an open target, a boxer can work on punching pads. In these exercises, the coach silently sets up a position of pads that requires an exact reaction punch from the boxer.

For example, to improve the attack, the coach defines the specific moves of the boxer by the position of the pads. Wishing to trigger a straight left punch to the head, the coach raises the right pad to the height of the head, holding it flat to the boxer.

Or, wishing to trigger a left hook to the head, the coach puts his right pad sideways. With the help of boxing pads, you can learn not only single punches but also double punches and combinations.

Development Of Reaction Speed In Defense

All defensive actions of a boxer are based on his quick reaction time. The success of the defense depends on the boxer’s ability to expect the type of upcoming attack. Also to notice the beginning and direction of the opponent’s punches, and to respond to them fast and at the right time.

Sparrings with a partner are the main method of developing the boxer’s quickness and accuracy of defensive reactions. These exercises are unilateral. In unilateral exercises, one partner attacks and the other defends. In bilateral exercises, both partners randomly perform attack and defense moves.

At the beginning of the exercise, the boxer’s task is eased by the slow attacking partner’s punches. In the final stage, the punch is thrown unexpectedly and at full speed. The defending boxer must have time to respond to a punch with one defensive move. It must be done without losing the right technique.

To develop a reaction time speed, boxers use exercises that are focused on two, three, or more defensive moves. More difficult exercises need a boxer’s good developed reaction. It’s needed when he does not know in advance with which hand his partner will throw the punch.

The defending boxer must have time to determine which hand will be thrown and choose a defense movement.

Development Of Reaction Speed During A Counterattack

The boxer’s reaction during a counterattack is more complicated. It’s because by defending, he must have time to detect his opponent’s unprotected places (open defense). After that, he needs to deliver there a counterpunch. It needs a lot of hard work to improve such a complex reaction of a boxer.

Sparring serves as a basic fighting exercise where defense is combined with counterattack. As you know, counterattacks are separated into counterattacks and return attacks. Counterattacks require a more accurate and quicker reaction. Because they are applied at the same tempo as the movements of the defense.

A return punch is less complex. If the defensive movements are well practiced by the boxer, it is not difficult to throw a return punch after blocking the opponent’s attack. Sparring is the best exercise for practicing counterattacks. In it partners randomly use all the punches and defensive movements.

Other exercises to develop the boxer’s reaction in counterattacks are pads work. The coach uses one pad for his attack and uses the other to catch the boxer’s counterattack. It creates a different fighting position that helps to improve the boxer’s reactions.

Important To Know

Any action done in a fight always has the risk of getting a prepared counterattack from the opponent. The proper technique should reduce the risk of risky boxer moves. Also to protect him from surprises and unexpected attacks. Boxer should always keep in mind that he can get an unexpected punch during his attack.

He must secure himself against it. Every opponent’s counterpunch is almost always disguised and surprising. It is difficult to expect such a punch. It would be impossible to dodge a fast and powerful attack. Even the fastest reaction time won’t help you with such unexpected counterpunch.

I advise you to never forget about the defense against counterpunches. hope this article was helpful for you. Good luck in boxing!