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The Arena EST. SAN DIEGO 1949. AMERICA’S ORIGINAL COMBAT SPORTS GYM.

10/17/2026

Two Liver Shots + the Double Jab Exit 🥊

In this boxing training session, The Arena’s Boxing Coach Joe Vargas works with his fighter on a nasty body-attack boxing combo built around two liver shots. He starts by showing exactly where the liver sits on the right side of the body. A clean shot anywhere in that area will hurt, but for maximum damage he wants the punch landing just under the chest, tucked beneath the ribcage. That small adjustment in boxing technique can turn a good body shot into a fight-changing one.

After the second body shot, the fighter doesn’t just stand there admiring his work. Coach has him step to the outside behind a double jab. The double jab keeps him safe as he resets his angle, and it buys him a second to read his opponent. Is he folding, wincing, dropping his elbows? If the body work landed, that’s the moment to pounce and finish. If not, he’s already out of range and ready to go again.

Small details like target placement and smart exits are what separate a basic boxing combo from one that actually breaks people down. Save this for your next session and try it on the bag or with a partner.

👊 Follow for more boxing training, boxing technique breakdowns, and real fight-ready combos.

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/

10/16/2026

Coach Joe Vargas put amateur boxer Dylan to the test in his final round of sparring because Dylan wants to have his first bout for the gym.

Dylan had to dig deep at the end of the session sparring 5-0 professional featherweight Matthew ‘Rooster’ Jacinto. Dylan showed heart and finished the round strong despite taking big body shots and being physically exhausted.

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!

10/15/2026

The Double Uppercut Combo That Splits the Guard 🥊

In this boxing training session, The Arena’s Boxing Coach Joe Vargas walks his fighter through a six-punch combo built around one goal: landing the uppercut. The sequence is left hook to the head, reload the left for an uppercut, pivot out, right uppercut, left hook, right cross. If you’re working on your boxing technique on the inside, this is one to drill.

That opening left hook is the setup. Whether it lands clean or not doesn’t really matter. Its job is to get your opponent reacting so you can load up the hip and snap that left uppercut right away. Don’t hesitate between the hook and the uppercut. The reload has to be quick and tight.

Here’s the key detail in this boxing combo: if your opponent’s hands are up, there’s a good chance he blocks that first uppercut. That’s where the pivot comes in. Pivoting out gives you the angle you need to fire the right uppercut straight up the middle and through the gloves. Without the pivot, you’re punching into a closed door. With it, you’ve got a clear lane. Finish strong with the left hook and right cross to close out the combo.

Drill this on the mitts and the bag until the pivot and the second uppercut feel like one motion. Small adjustments in boxing technique like this are what separate a combo that gets blocked from one that lands.

👊 Save this for your next boxing training session and follow for more combos and coaching breakdowns.

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/

10/15/2026

The Arena Gym’s kickboxing and Muay Thai coach Steve Marchione breaks down a combination to cover distance and set up a powerful knee to the body.

Starting with a left hook and right knee, he then steps forward with the right hand, deliberately overextending the punch to gain distance. That extra step closes the gap, putting him in position to finish with a powerful knee to the body.

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/

10/12/2026

The Arena Gym’s kickboxing and Muay Thai coach Steve Marchione breaks down a dangerous elbow combination: advance with three elbows to close the distance, then establish hand control as you enter clinch range. That hand control helps manage the opponent’s guard before creating an opening for a final strong elbow at close range that could finish the fight.

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/

10/10/2026

Roll with the hook and fire right back! In this boxing training session, The Arena’s Boxing Coach Joe Vargas breaks down a slick boxing defense move that turns an incoming punch into your best opportunity to counter. Instead of blocking or rolling under the hook, the fighter rotates his head and upper body with the punch, rolling right out of its path while staying in position to strike.

The key to this boxing technique is that the rotation does double duty. As the fighter turns away from the hook, he’s also winding up his cross, so he can use that built-up momentum to snap back with a quick, powerful counter. Coach makes sure the fighter keeps his other hand glued to his cheek the whole time so he stays protected and ready for whatever comes next.

Once the mechanics are dialed in, coach works it into a combo: the fighter throws a couple of punches, rolls the hook, and fires the cross right back. It’s a great drill to add to your boxing training if you want smoother boxing defense and sharper counters.

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/

10/09/2026

The Arena Gym’s kickboxing and Muay Thai coach drilling powerful elbows and knees

When fighting in close range these shots cause serious damage whilst switching levels

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/

10/08/2026

Missed Your Right Cross? Throw It Again (The Right Way)

In this quick boxing training session, The Arena’s Boxing Coach Joe Vargas works with his fighter on a smart combo to throw right after a missed punch. The fighter starts with a right cross, and Coach slips it. Most fighters would reset or go straight to the hook, but here’s where the real boxing technique comes in.

Instead of loading up again, the fighter brings that right hand straight back to the cheek and fires it again immediately. The key detail is that it’s pushed out like a jab, not thrown like a power shot. No wind-up, no dropping the hand, just straight from the cheek. When you load up a punch, your opponent sees it coming. Keep it short and tight and it gets there before they can react.

To finish the sequence, the fighter follows that short right with a hook and a cross, then steps back and fires one more cross.

Why does this work? After you miss a cross, most opponents expect the hook to come next. That little push right hand catches them off guard. It isn’t meant to do damage. Its job is to confuse them and set up the power punches that follow. This is the kind of boxing training detail that separates good fighters from great ones.

The Combo:
Right cross (slipped) → short right from the cheek → hook → cross → step back → cross

Save this for your next boxing training session and try it on the bag or the mitts. Drop a comment if you want more boxing technique breakdowns like this one! 🥊

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/

10/08/2026

The Arena Gym’s kickboxing and Muay Thai coach Steve Marchione breaks down a two phase combination setting up a knee to the liver.

Start with a fast jab–cross–left hook–low kick, then edge forward slightly to close the distance. Sell a big Superman punch to bring the guard high, then drive the knee into the liver as you land.

10/05/2026

How to Beat a Fighter With an Iron Chin 🥊

Some fighters can eat clean shots to the chin all night and keep coming forward. In this boxing training session, The Arena’s Boxing Coach Joe Vargas shows his fighter exactly how to break down an opponent like that. The secret? Stop aiming for the chin. Raise your target a few inches and land the right hook on the temple instead.

But we’re not done there. Coach has his fighter reload that right hand for a quick uppercut straight up the middle, then finish the combo with a devastating left hook to the liver. It’s a smart piece of boxing technique that attacks three different targets in one fluid sequence, forcing a durable opponent to deal with damage he isn’t built to absorb.

Remember: a strong chin doesn’t mean a strong temple, and it definitely doesn’t mean a strong liver. Add this combo to your boxing training and give tough opponents a problem they can’t walk through.

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/

Address

3350 Sports Arena Boulevard
San Diego, CA
92110

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Thursday 7am - 9pm
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