Short answer. Pick two or three combos per session, drill them slowly in shadowboxing first, then on the bag, and use something that calls the combo out loud (a partner, a recording or an audio app) so you react instead of reading. Reaction is the part solo training usually misses.
Why combos fall apart when you train alone
Three things go wrong: you forget the sequence halfway through (the hook disappears from 1-2-3), you throw the same favorite combo every round, and you look at a screen or notes between combos, which drops your head and your guard.
Method 1: tape on the wall
Write two combos on tape at eye level next to the bag, one combo per round. Simple and free, but it does not train reaction.
Method 2: record your own calls
Record yourself saying "one-two... one-two-three... slip... two-three-two" with gaps, and play it during the round. Free, but it gets predictable after a few sessions.
Method 3: a combo-calling app
An app calls the combo while you work. What to check:
- Voice, not text. If you have to read the combo, you are looking at the phone.
- Timing. Calls that land on a steady beat are easier to follow than random gaps.
- Your own combos. You want to drill what your coach taught you, not only presets.
- Random calls. A reaction mode makes you respond instead of running a memorized sequence.
- Kicks, knees and elbows if you train Muay Thai or kickboxing.
FightNome, the app this site is part of, is built around this: a recorded human voice calls every strike on the beat of the music, punches by number or name, kicks, knees, elbows and teeps with lead or rear, and you can write combos strike by strike or switch to random calls (6 to 45 per minute). It is on iPhone and Android, with a subscription.
Method 4: video follow-alongs
Good for learning new combos, worse for drilling, because you are watching the screen.
A simple weekly plan
| Day | Session |
|---|---|
| Mon | Shadowboxing: 3 rounds, two fixed combos, slow and clean |
| Wed | Bag: 4 rounds, the same combos at pace, plus 1 reaction round |
| Fri | Bag or shadowboxing: 2 fixed rounds, 2 reaction rounds, 1 conditioning round (rope or bodyweight) |
Change the combos every week or two. For a full bag session to put them in, use the 30-minute punching bag workout; for kicks and knees, the solo Muay Thai plan. Rounds run on a round timer, and hand wraps come before any bag work.
FAQ
Can you learn boxing combos without a coach?
You can drill combos you have been shown. Get your technique checked by a coach, or film yourself and compare.
How many combos should I practice at once?
Two or three per session.
Is there an app that calls out boxing combos?
Yes. FightNome (iPhone and Android) calls each strike with a recorded human voice on the beat of the music, with your own combos or random calls.
More conditioning guides
- Jump ropes for fightersSpeed vs beaded vs weighted, and a length chart by height.
- Round timers3 on, 1 off: wall timers vs apps, and what to look for.
- Kettlebells & resistance bandsStarting kettlebell weights, band types, and what to buy first.
- 30-minute punching bag workoutWarm-up, six bag rounds with numbered combos, and a finisher.