"Use your head" has lots of different meanings in training. In this longer video lesson, part of my training tips series, I look at several of them, including speed of movement and power generation, and much more.

It is for martial artists, boxers and self-defence students who want to move better and hit harder, and for coaches looking for a simple idea that fixes a lot of problems.

The Head Leads the Body

Your head is heavy, and where it goes, the body tends to follow. If your head is drifting forward, your balance is drifting forward. If it is pulled back, your weight is on your heels. Good posture and good movement start with where you carry your head.

Watch any good mover and you will notice their head stays calm and controlled. It does not bob around wildly, and it does not stay frozen in one place either.

Speed of Movement

Moving the head first is often the quickest way to start a movement. A small head movement can start a slip, a change of angle or a step, and the body catches up. People who try to move the feet first while the head stays fixed often look stiff and slow.

Head movement is also defence. A head that moves off the line is harder to hit, which is why boxers spend so much time on it.

Power Generation

Power comes from the whole body working together. When your head and spine are aligned and your weight moves with the strike, the shot carries the body behind it. When the head pulls away from the punch, power leaks out. Keep the head over a stable base and let it move with the strike rather than against it.

Using Your Head Mentally

The other meaning is the obvious one: think. Train with a purpose, understand why a technique works, and stay calm enough under pressure to make decisions. The fighter who keeps thinking usually beats the one who just reacts.

How To Practise It

  • Shadowbox and focus only on where your head is
  • Drill slips and angle changes led by the head
  • On the bag, check your head is aligned behind each shot
  • Film yourself and look for a head that drifts or freezes

Take It Further

To build that movement into your striking, see the Learn To Box Online Course. For more power from good alignment, look at Power Black.