• There are many boxing exercises that a person can do individually.boxe 20 image by Nathalie P from Fotolia.com
  
  By doing individual exercises, you can go through the same kind of training that professional boxers do, but at your own pace. While boxers often train with other people, there are many exercises they must do alone in order to get faster and stronger. These exercises also can help the average person with no intention of fighting get into great shape because they combine strength and conditioning.
  
  

Shadow Boxing

• Shadow boxing is a technique where you mimic being in a fight. You can do this either by watching a fight and reacting to the other fighter's moves, or by going through a set of moves on your own. To try the first method, put yourself in the place of one of the fighters you're watching, and react to the other fighter's punches as he throws them.
  
  To shadow box by yourself, practice your various punches, jabs and combinations, but do so with the intensity and variety you would use if there were a fighter in front of you.
  
  

Cardio and Conditioning

• Cardio and conditioning are keys to becoming a boxer or simply training like one. This is physical work in which you must push yourself. Cardio exercise raises your heart rate, and conditioning builds endurance that allows your body to compete at a high level, under stress, for a long time. The longer you train, the longer you will be able to fight.
  
  Running is a great way to condition your body. Start with running for 10 minutes and gradually work your way up to more time. When running, sprint for short amounts of time--30 to 60 seconds--as this will help build endurance. Jumping rope is another important exercise for boxers because it both builds muscle and also teaches timing, which is needed to land and dodge punches. Practice deep breathing while you are doing your cardio exercises.
  
  

Boxing Bags

• When not sparring, you can improve your technique, power and speed by using boxing bags. Using a heavy punching bag will allow you to punch hard over and over--you may want to have someone there to hold the bag so it does not swing or fall over.
  
  Practice a variety of punches on the bag for two minutes, such as jabs, hooks and uppercuts. At the end of two minutes, hit the bag head on as fast and hard as you can for 30 seconds. This will help you build up strength and endurance that will be needed at the end of fights. While using the bag, practice bobbing and weaving as if an opponent were there fighting you.
  
  To improve speed and timing, you can train by hitting a speed bag. Start at a slow speed, working on accurately hitting the bag, then gradually become quicker.
  
  

Weight Training

• Since boxers need to be quick but strong, they weight train differently than a weightlifter. Resistance training exercises will extend and contract your muscles. Perform a high number of repetitions with lower weights. This will make you stronger, but your muscles will not get so big that they take away from your speed. For example, if you bench press, do not try to max out the weight you can press; instead, focus on doing more reps and less weight. When squatting, focus on your form and being able to move the weight up quickly and many times. To train your core, do 60 to 80 sit-ups on an incline bench while holding a 5-lb. weight.