It’s often said that boxing is the art of “Hit and Not Get Hit.” True enough. Besides being impossible to land on your opponent with your butt on the canvas, not getting hit will extend your ring career. While there are myriad ways to employ defense, the first is to keep your chin tucked. This rudimentary skill, hopefully learned as part of a correct boxing stance, allows a fighter to be aggressive while minimizing his/her opponent’s target.

If your head tends to pop up like a Pez Dispenser when you throw punches, try this drill. Before shadowboxing, put on a pair of cheap sunglasses (anyone else hearing ZZ Top in their head right now?). This will force you to peer over the top of the lenses in order to see clearly. To help things along, cover the lenses with masking tape. The same can be done for heavy bag work, though you will need to add one of those nerdy elastic straps to prevent the glasses from flying off.

This should go without saying, but it shall be said anyway; don’t try this while sparring.