Maximizing the Power of the Boxer’s Jab
OK, so the jab is not a renowned knockout punch (in 30 plus years in boxing, I’ve only ever witnessed the odd ‘flash’ knock down), but that’s not to say that we shouldn’t seek to maximise the power of the shot on occasion. So how do we do this? Well, read on and I’m sure that by the time you get to the end of the article you’ll see the logic of why this boxing combination guarantees maximum ‘whack’ on the jab, maybe even leading to a jab KO?
The Boxing Combination
This is a simple 3 shot combination, all using straight shots at long range:
- Jab
- Right Cross
- Jab on the attack (moving forward)
I’m sure you’ve guessed that it’s the 2nd jab that delivers the power. But why is this? Well, there are 2 reasons:
- When throwing the right cross, the body has rotated in an anti-clockwise direction around our central axis. This results in a great deal of stored energy ready to be unleashed on the clockwise rotation of the jab.
- The move forward as the second jab is being delivered provides controlled forward momentum which again increases the power potential of the shot.
What do you think? If a jab is ever going to cause a KO, then this might be the most likely configuration of shots to do it! Remember as well that straight shots take less energy to throw than hooks or uppercuts, so this boxing combination is very efficient when you’re feeling tired! Multi-purpose combo! Check out the article on boxing combinations to get more of an understanding of the technical theory behind building effective combinations. In the meantime, leave a question or comment below.
Cheers
Fran
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A similar power can be achieved with just the jab simply by twisting one’s body to the left prior to delivering the left jab (for right handers of course, switch for southpaw). Two variations: One is a simple twist to the left which allows one to throw the jab with full pronation such that the left jab resembles a right cross. The beauty is it is much better at splitting the guard of another right hand boxer than the cross.
A variation I like even more is a twist to the left and a slight drop of the shoulder so that the jab can be delivered as an upjab with tremendous power, almost like an upper cut but straight. It is very easy to land this punch right under the opponent’s nose while moving up, causing significant discomfort, particularly if your oppenent has a nose that sticks out; not as good on flat noses (like mine lol). This one is very efficient and very hard to block as it is also splits the guard even better as the left hand is shot straight up from the guard meaning the hand is turned so that it is narrowerer on the horizontal plain. With bareknuckles or MMA gloves it is nasty shot indeed, rarely used!The power comes from the powerful thrust that comes from moving from the slight dip to straight meaning the legs are involved in the vertical elevation.
Great additional insights there Chucky. It’s important to always look at alternatives to achieve a result. Thanks for taking the time to comment.