The Arena

One of the biggest mistakes fighters can make is stopping the moment they get touched.

The Arena Gym’s kickboxing and Muay Thai coach Steve Marchione demonstrates realistic pad work. If a shot comes back in the middle of your combination, don’t flinch, don’t freeze, and don’t pull away. Stay defensively responsible, keep your eyes on the target, and commit to finishing the combination. Building that habit in training gives you the confidence to stay composed under pressure when it matters most.

The Arena offers a variety of Combat Sports, Fitness, Martial Arts and Self-Defense instructional videos in Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, Strength & Conditioning, and Wrestling. Watch our videos and learn to fight!

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🥊 Can’t Get To The Body? HERE’S HOW YOU OPEN IT UP

Your opponent figured you out. He’s gluing that elbow to his ribs every time you load up — so Coach breaks down the setup that gets you there anyway.

The key is making him react before you strike. In this boxing training breakdown, The Arena’s Boxing Coach Joe Vargas shows his fighter how to throw that first hook slightly higher — closer to the abdomen — not to hurt him, but to make him flinch. That subtle hunch, that tiny elbow dip... that’s your window.

Now you’ve got the liver exposed. That’s the shot you wanted all along. The first hook is fast and sneaky. The second one is hard and purposeful. This two-punch boxing technique to the body is one of the most effective combinations you can develop when your opponent starts over-protecting the ribs.

But we don’t stop there. Coach caps the combo with a sharp hook and a straight to keep the pressure on — and if he’s still standing, a quick one-two to the chest to make him think twice about ever tightening up again.

The body shot isn’t just a punch. It’s a trap.

The Arena offers a variety of Combat Sports, Fitness, Martial Arts and Self-Defense instructional videos in Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, Strength & Conditioning, and Wrestling. Watch our videos and learn to fight!

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Your uppercut game at close range just got an upgrade. In this clip, The Arena’s Boxing Coach Joe Vargas breaks down one of the most misunderstood punches in boxing — the short uppercut in tight space — and why most fighters are throwing it wrong.

The biggest mistake? Loading up the arm before you throw. In boxing training, that telegraphs the punch and kills your power before it ever lands. Instead, Coach teaches his fighter to drop the hips and drive force from the ground up — glutes and legs do the work, the hip follows through, and the fist arrives last. That’s real power generation.

The key boxing technique detail here is staying low throughout the entire punch. The moment you rise up, you lose leverage and your punch becomes arm-punching with zero snap behind it. Stay compressed, stay tight, and let the hip rotation do the heavy lifting.

What makes this drill even more valuable — Coach demonstrates that this works equally well off the lead hand or the rear hand. Same mechanics, same explosiveness, both sides.

If you’re serious about inside fighting and want to land punches with real pop in the pocket, this is the fundamental you need to drill every session.

The Arena offers a variety of Combat Sports, Fitness, Martial Arts and Self-Defense instructional videos in Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, Strength & Conditioning, and Wrestling. Watch our videos and learn to fight!

For more info about us, check out our website: https://thearenagym.com/

The Arena Gym’s kickboxing and Muay Thai coach Steve Marchione breaks down an old school kickboxing combination where you use your punches to blind your opponent setting up the high kick.

Blinding your opponent gives you more chance to land the power shot as they will not see it coming. Your opponent will not be able to brace themselves for the power shot making the shot more dangerous.

The Arena offers a variety of Combat Sports, Fitness, Martial Arts and Self-Defense instructional videos in Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, Strength & Conditioning, and Wrestling. Watch our videos and learn to fight!

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The Arena Gym’s Muay Thai and kickboxing coach Steve Marchione shows you how to turn a bad position to a good position using the spinning back fist.

As fighters create angles and attack the leg it can leave you vulnerable. The spinning back fist gets you into a better position whilst turning defense into offense. This can be used as a counter from either angle and is more effective if your opponent is throwing as they will be wide open to take the punch.

The Arena offers a variety of Combat Sports, Fitness, Martial Arts and Self-Defense instructional videos in Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, Strength & Conditioning, and Wrestling. Watch our videos and learn to fight!

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Boxing training session: how to break down a tight, guarded opponent 🥊

In this clip, the The Arena’s Boxing Coach Joe Vargas calls out a five-punch combination while his fighter executes it live — real boxing technique built entirely around timing and reaction. The coach starts the fighter off simple: a right hook to the head, just enough to rattle the guard and draw a flinch. Then comes the setup — on the coach’s cue, the fighter resets his hips, sinking his weight onto the back foot, loading up like a spring before exploding straight up the middle with a vicious uppercut. That uppercut does more than land — it forces the opponent’s hands up and his body wide open underneath.

That’s the window the coach has been waiting for. He calls for the left hook to the body, and when the fighter lands it clean, the imaginary opponent folds forward, guard collapsing instinctively to protect the ribs. The second that head drops into range, the coach barks the finish — no pause, no reset, just rapid-fire left hook, right cross thrown back-to-back on command.

This is the core idea behind elite boxing training: the first two punches aren’t about power, they’re about manipulation — forcing a reaction, breaking the guard’s shape, and creating an opening. The last three are about speed and finishing instinct, called out the instant that window appears. Watch how the fighter responds to each cue — the footwork, hip rotation, and punch sequencing all come together in real time. This is boxing technique you can take straight to the gym. Save it, study it, and add it to your arsenal 👊🔥



The Arena offers a variety of Combat Sports, Fitness, Martial Arts and Self-Defense instructional videos in Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, Strength & Conditioning, and Wrestling. Watch our videos and learn to fight!

For more info about us, check out our website: https://thearenagym.com/

Watch as The Arena’s Boxing Coach Joe Vargas breaks down one of the slickest counter punch combinations in boxing. It all starts with a roll under the hook — slip that punch and suddenly your feet and hips are already loaded and set to fire back hard. That’s boxing technique at its finest.

Most fighters instinctively pull their hand back to their cheek after missing a hook, which opens up a straight lane right up the middle. Coach capitalizes immediately with a powerful uppercut, driving it hard by exploding through the hips — because the power doesn’t come from the arm, it comes from the body.

From there, the boxing training fundamentals kick in: follow the uppercut with a hook, but here’s the key detail coaches always stress — bring that hand straight back to your cheek before you reload. Defense first, always. Reset those hips, stay disciplined, then unleash the hook with everything you’ve got.

Cap it all off with a sharp, powerful cross to finish the combination clean.
This is the kind of boxing technique that separates fighters who just throw punches from fighters who think and strike at the same time.

🔥 Roll → Uppercut → Hook → Cross 🔥

Drop a 🥊 if you want more combos like this!



The Arena offers a variety of Combat Sports, Fitness, Martial Arts and Self-Defense instructional videos in Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, Strength & Conditioning, and Wrestling. Watch our videos and learn to fight!

For more info about us, check out our website: https://thearenagym.com/

Southpaws Have a SECRET Weapon 🤫🥊

Most fighters don’t realize just how dangerous a southpaw’s body shot truly is. When a right-handed fighter hits the body, they’re landing on the left side — uncomfortable, sure, but survivable. When a LEFT-handed fighter throws that same shot? They’re going straight to the liver — and a clean liver shot will drop almost anyone, no matter how tough they are.

In this boxing training breakdown, The Arena’s Boxing Coach Joe Vargas is showing his southpaw fighter one of the sneakiest ways to set up that devastating body shot. The setup? Slip the cross. Yes, it’s a risky move — but the reward is massive. As you slip outside that right hand, your weight naturally shifts to your back foot, loading you up like a coiled spring. From there, you drive through with your hips, rotate hard, and unload that power shot straight to the liver. A well-placed shot at the right moment is almost guaranteed to put your opponent on the canvas.

Here’s the key boxing technique detail that makes this whole thing work — stop watching the hands. Hands can lie. Instead, lock your eyes on the shoulder. The shoulder will always tell you when that cross is coming, giving you just enough time to slip and fire back with everything you’ve got.

Master this timing, trust your hips for power, and your liver shot becomes one of the most dangerous weapons in your arsenal. 💪



The Arena offers a variety of Combat Sports, Fitness, Martial Arts and Self-Defense instructional videos in Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, Strength & Conditioning, and Wrestling. Watch our videos and learn to fight!

For more info about us, check out our website: https://thearenagym.com/

The Arena Gym’s boxing coach Joe Vargas gives advice to two boxers after today’s sparring session. It’s better to have 2-3 hard rounds than be comfortable for 8-10 rounds. Being uncomfortable is good and the extra pressure in sparring will translate well under the bright lights

The Arena offers a variety of Combat Sports, Fitness, Martial Arts and Self-Defense instructional videos in Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, Strength & Conditioning, and Wrestling. Watch our videos and learn to fight!

For more info about us, check out our website: https://thearenagym.com/

That elbow clip you keep seeing in boxing? Here’s the technique behind it 👊

If you watched Benavidez vs Zurdo, you already know what we’re talking about. When a fighter throws a big looping hook and follows through heavy, that trailing elbow can clip the chin on the way back — right before the second hook lands. It’s illegal, it’s usually accidental, and it happens more than people think. In this clip, The Arena’s Boxing Coach Joe Vargas breaks down exactly how and why it occurs, and more importantly, what fighters do wrong trying to avoid it.

Here’s the dirty boxing reality most trainers won’t talk about: when you throw that first big hook and miss or over-rotate, your instinct is to tuck that elbow in on the way back so you don’t catch your opponent illegally. Sounds disciplined, right? Wrong. That tucked elbow telegraphs hesitation, kills your rotation, and leaves you wide open. In boxing technique terms, you just handed your opponent a free counter hook — and they will drop you with it.

Coach’s boxing training take? If you’re already committed to that first hook, stay committed. Keep that elbow up, stay aggressive through the combination, and trust your volume over your caution. The fighters who get hurt aren’t the ones throwing — they’re the ones second-guessing mid-combination.

Train smart. Know the dirty boxing moments that happen in the sport, understand why they happen, and don’t let the fear of them make you timid in the pocket.



The Arena offers a variety of Combat Sports, Fitness, Martial Arts and Self-Defense instructional videos in Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, Strength & Conditioning, and Wrestling. Watch our videos and learn to fight!

For more info about us, check out our website: https://thearenagym.com/