Improve Your Jab

Date: Weds, 21 June 2006

Your jab is your most important punch.

Why?

Several reasons - it's closer to your opponent than your back hand, thus faster to land than your back hand.  Also, it's both offensive and defensive.

Keep in mind, I'm not saying your jab is your most powerful punch, I'm saying it's your most important.

Defensively, it keeps your opponent guessing.  Keep throwing random jabs and he'll never know when to close the distance.  Offensively, you can not only use it as you're moving in, it also sets up your cross - your knockout punch.

Here are 7 things you can do for a good jab:

1. Throw it from the shoulder
2. Snap it - that makes it faster and prevents hooking it
3. Step with your jab and try to land the punch a tad before your foot hits the floor so your weight is still in your punch
4. Hit with the hand vertical so you're more likely to land with 3 knuckles
5. Turn your front shoulder as you jab and turn your waist too
6. Keep your elbow in - that defends your ribs and again prevents hooking it
7. Don't drop your jab - bring it right back to shoulder height

A final tip is something I already mentioned above . .  . throw it at random.  By that I mean use it a lot.  Keep it busy and you'll keep your opponent busy and guessing.

That's all for now on the jab.  You can learn more on the subject in an excellent book titled Championship Streetfighting, by Ned Beaumont.

A  final announcement - my son graduates from Elementary School this evening!  Will I cry?  Doubt it, but I am very proud of him . . . and I get a whole summer to prepare for being the parent of a junior high student.   Hmmmmm.

Take care, train like you mean it.

Rob LaPointe