Team — before we talk punches, defense, or conditioning, we build everything from the ground up. Your stance is the foundation of your entire boxing identity. Today, I want to break down the footwork portion of the stance so you understand exactly where your feet go, why they go there, and how this creates balance, power, and mobility. 1. Start Neutral — Feet Parallel Begin by placing both feet parallel on the same plane. This is your neutral stance — square, balanced, and centered. From here, you “open up” into your stance depending on your dominant side. 2. Opening Up Into Your Stance - If you open and leave the left foot forward, you’re in an orthodox stance. - If you open and leave the right foot forward, you’re in a southpaw stance. Simple. Controlled. Intentional. 3. Exact Foot Angles (This Is Key) Now the precision: Orthodox - Lead foot (left): pointing toward 1 PM - Rear foot (right): pointing between 3 PM – 4 PM Southpaw - Lead foot (right): pointing toward 11 PM - Rear foot (left): pointing between 8 PM – 9 PM These angles keep you balanced, mobile, and ready to move in ANY direction without crossing your feet or losing posture. 4. Heel-to-Toe Alignment Visualize a surfboard under your feet. Your stance should feel athletic — heels light, toes alive, knees bent, and weight distributed 60–40 (60% on the back leg, 40% on the front). That slight back-leg bias keeps you ready to spring forward, pivot, or slip without overcommitting. 5. The Stance Creates the Footwork Your feet should: - Keep you balanced - Allow smooth forward/backward slides - Let you pivot without lifting or crossing - Support punches so your power transfers from the ground up Every step, pivot, slip, and punch starts with the placement of your feet.

learning to box is an art form and must be taken as so. The best place to start in your journey is with the fundamentals. These fundamentals will build you in the proper order, starting with the feet first.

Breathing is one of the most important parts of boxing, yet it’s the most overlooked. Proper breathing keeps you relaxed, sharp, powerful, and fast. When you learn how to breathe through your nose and control your airflow, your stamina and technique improve instantly. Here’s the breakdown: 1️⃣ Why Breathing Matters in Boxing (The Science) ✔️ Nasal breathing increases oxygen efficiency Breathing through your nose warms, filters, and humidifies the air. This helps your lungs absorb oxygen more efficiently and keeps your heart rate lower during activity. ✔️ Better CO₂ tolerance = better endurance Your body doesn’t fatigue because of low oxygen—it fatigues because it can’t handle rising CO₂. Proper breathing trains your nervous system to stay calm under stress. ✔️ Controlled breathing = controlled power Explosive exhalations activate your core, tighten your structure, and help punches land cleaner. ✔️ Relaxation = speed You can’t be fast if your shoulders, chest, and throat are tight. Breathing properly keeps your body loose, fluid, and ready to move. 2️⃣ The Foundation: Nasal Breathing (Always the Default) Keep your mouth closed when you’re not punching. Why nasal breathing works best: - Improves focus and rhythm - Prevents over-breathing and early exhaustion - Creates better control over your heart rate - Helps you stay relaxed during movement 🔹 Rule for beginners: Nose in… mouth out only when you strike. 3️⃣ Breathing for Punching: The “Sharp Exhale” Every punch should have a small, sharp exhale—like a short “tss” or “shh.” This does three things: 1. Engages your core for power 2. Keeps you from holding your breath 3. Builds rhythm and timing Example: - Jab: tss - Cross: tss - Hook: tss - Combo: t-t-t-tss Short, light, efficient breaths. Never big gasping breaths. 4️⃣ Breathing While Moving & Shadowboxing Here’s a simple pattern beginners should practice: 🟦 Move → Breathe through your nose 🟥 Punch → Sharp exhale 🟦 Reset → Back to nose breathing

If you’re already sparring, or you’ve been boxing for a little while, it’s time to level up the craft of your lead hand. The jab isn’t “just” a punch — it’s your steering wheel, your spacing tool, your defensive shield, and your first line of attack. Fighters who master their jab instantly look sharper, calmer, and more in control. Here’s what I want you focusing on this week: 1️⃣ Get Crafty With the Lead Hand Don’t just throw the jab — work the jab. Feints, touches, double jabs, step jabs, flicks, long jabs… mix the rhythm. Your lead hand should always be doing something. 2️⃣ Control the Spacing A real fighter owns the range. Use your jab to keep your opponent exactly where you want them. When your jab is sharp, you decide when exchanges start and stop. 3️⃣ Use the Jab for Distance, Control & Assault A great jab does ALL three: - Distance: Keep threats outside your comfort zone. - Control: Interrupt their rhythm, break their timing. - Assault: Set up every power shot you throw — nothing lands cleaner than a right hand behind a disciplined jab. 4️⃣ Make It Your #1 Priority Before combos… before fancy stuff… before pressure… Master the jab. It’s the one skill that follows you from beginner to elite. 🥊📚Work that lead hand until it feels like a weapon by itself. 🥊📚If you win the jab battle, you win the round. Let’s get to work. 🥊💨

Inside FightShape Elite, we’re not just building bodies — we’re building mindsets. Getting into top condition and true boxing shape isn’t just about throwing punches or sweating through a workout. It’s about how you show up every single day. Here’s the mindset every member needs to step into: 1. Respect the Craft Boxing is a science and a discipline. Every stance, every step, every punch has purpose. You’re here to learn the real fundamentals — not shortcuts, not Instagram drills. Respect the process and you’ll evolve faster than you ever thought possible. 2. Embrace Consistency Over Intensity Anybody can go hard for one day. Champions show up day after day — even on the days they don’t feel like it. Small improvements stack. Technique sharpens. Conditioning builds. Consistency is your superpower here. 3. Train Your Mind Like You Train Your Body Top condition starts in your head. You need focus, patience, humility, and the willingness to push past your comfort zone. Boxing rewards the calm, disciplined mind. When the mind is sharp, the body performs. 4. Accept That Growth Requires Discomfort You will get tired. You will get frustrated. You will feel awkward learning new movements. Good. That means you’re growing. What we do here is build strength through challenge — physically, mentally, emotionally. 5. Trust the System & Trust Yourself You’re being coached with 40+ years of real boxing experience. Follow the structure, stay coachable, ask questions, and believe in your own ability to transform. You’re here for a reason — remind yourself of it daily. 6. Community is Your Corner Team You’re not training alone. This school is built so we can grow together — learning, training, pushing, and supporting each other. Champions aren’t made in isolation; they’re made in strong environments. This is the FightShape Elite mindset. Show up with discipline. Learn with humility. Push with purpose. Build the strongest version of yourself — inside and out. Let’s work. 🥊🔥