I must admit that this is unlikely to be the most exciting boxing tips video that you watch today.
However, it could be the most important boxing tips video that you watch today.
For anyone who is a member of my Boxing Training Foundation you will know that I am fanatical it comes to effective breathing.
Effective breathing results in maximised oxygenation of the muscles which in turns leads to the best possible chance of remaining fight effective.
Check out the video and then below is a bit more information:
Keeping it simple, I find it helpful to put breathing into 3 categories:
- Breathing during the round
- Breathing when punching
- Breathing during the rest period.
Breathing During the Round
When you are tired, or even when the excitement of ‘the fight’ hits you, you can get the urge to breath shallow. Basically you pant like a dog.
Shallow breathing is the least effective way to oxygenate.
Whenever you disengage and move to the edge of range or out of range, take the opportunity to take in a couple of deep, controlled breaths. Breathe in through the nose then out through the mouth.
Same when the referee shouts ‘Stop Boxing’. Move out of range (with your guard high) and take some deep breaths before you re-engage with the fight.
Breathing When Punching
Generally you exhale when you punch, often in the same way that tennis players exhale when they hit a ball.
Boxers often make different sounds, ranging from ‘Hzz-Hzz’ to ‘arghh arghh’ 🙂
When throwing fast combinations this can alter for obvious reasons – you don’t want to hyper-ventilate.
A word of warning though – don’t get too loud!
I have witnessed referees issuing warnings when boxers are excessively loud, so don’t get carried away!
Breathing During the Rest Period
Deep, controlled breathing during the rest period is absolutely crucial.
In boxing being tired is a fact of life.
Even when working the heavy bag you need to work to the maximum rate and therefore you will tire.
The key is that during your rest period you oxygenate and get your heart rate back down.
Controlled breathing is at the heart of remaining fight effective.
As I said, not the most exciting of the boxing tips video series but certainly one of the most important of the boxing tips videos.
Comments or questions below please.
Cheers
Fran
by 
Fran do you make the hzz hzz exhale noise when you are doing stuff like slipping punches and blocking, or only when throwing punches?
Hi Elijah
Not compulsory to make the hzz hzz noise at all.😀 Some boxers to a grunt or just a sharp exhale.
But yes, mostly just with punches.
Thanks Fran, this is invaluable advice and something I struggle with! Despite considering myself fairly fit I tend to gas out and forget to breath effectively, which makes me sluggish for the final 30 seconds each round. Your videos are fantastic. Without doubt the best boxing channel on youtube or anywhere.
Thanks very much Rupert, very glad that I’ve given you an option to try and deal with that final 30 🙂
Plus side, shows you are working very hard during the round👍
Fran your every information about boxing is priceless, keep up the good work.
Thank you Mansoor…will do.
Thanks for the important and helpful information.
I agree it’s essential to remember to breathe properly during a fight and between rounds. And as a trainer to focus on breathing the first 20-30 seconds between rounds in my opinion before coahing the boxer.
You’re welcome Anders. Very much agree with your views.
Dear Fran,
thanks a lot for your advice. I was thinking to ask you for breathing advise before your video. By the way may I ask you for advise of training the eyes. Since head movements are very fast and targets are moving also fast I find hard to see properly. Also the chin down it doesnt help. Are there any exercise or advise about it???
many thanks for your kind attention and help!!!
Hi Vicente
No problem with the breathing video – good timing!
With training the eyes it’s really just practice with someone actually in front of you trying to hit you. You will spot signs. Use feints a lot in the meantime, create the situation where you make the opponent throw their punches – much easier to ‘see’ them coming 🙂
Thanks a lot!!!!
You are welcome Vicente 🙂
Timely advice again Fran. I have just been going over a technique advocated by Dr. Jason Selk, Phd, Sport Psychologist that he calls the ‘centering breath’. Inhale for a count of 6 seconds, hold for 2, exhale for 7 seconds. For a total of 15 seconds. Athletes under the age of twelve he recommends 11 seconds, ie. breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 2 and exhale for 5 seconds. I use this for the rest interval but it is not applicable during the bout or punching when punching where a couple deep breaths, as you describe is all you have time for. So important in boxing!
You know what Ric, this is why I love your contributions to the posts I make. Good science and research, maximum oxygenation and also a mind-settling/relaxation inducing approach. That’s getting tried in the gym next week, thanks very much!
Thank you for all of your information coach!
That’s 90 seconds of gold, Fran.
Cheers David. I do get fanatical about breathing properly, it can make the difference in the dying seconds of an intense round