How to throw the jab
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The jab
The jab is the boxing Swiss Army Knife. It is:
an offensive and defensive punch
a range finder
an anchor — to set up other punches
an irritant — to distract and deceive
a disruption — to break your opponent’s rhythm
Throw the jab with confidence and authority. A poor jab will get you hurt. It is your first line of attack and defence and must earn your opponent’s respect. If an opponent can walk through your jab with impunity, you are in deep trouble.
Throw the jab like a frog catches a fly. The frog’s tongue is its primary weapon, moving quicker than a human eye can blink. It extends and rotates to catch its prey. Our amphibian friend is selective in attack. It only uses its tongue when it means business and spots an opportunity. If frogs were boxers, they wouldn’t throw lazy jabs.
The jab to the body uses the same technique with a small but important change. Throw the punch from a level so that your chin and shoulder are in direct line with the target. To get in line, dip your rear knee and drop your weight, making sure you don’t pitch towards your opponent.
Jab to the head
Stay in guard.
Push off your rear foot.
Slide your lead foot into range
Turn your lead hip and shoulder towards your opponent.
Pull your rear hip and shoulder away from your opponent
Punch in a straight line, rotating your fist palm down before impact.
Return to guard.
Concentrate on your:
chin — keep it down
lead elbow — don’t let it flare out like a chicken as you throw the jab
lead hand — make sure it returns to guard in a straight line
rear hand — protect your chin
rear arm — protect your body
Jab to the body
Throwing the jab to the body
Stay in guard.
Flex your knees and dip.
Slide your lead foot into range
Turn your lead hip and shoulder towards your opponent.
Pull your rear hip and shoulder away from your opponent
Punch in a straight line, rotating your fist palm down before impact.
Return to guard.
Concentrate on your:
chin — keep it down
opponent — as you dip, don’t look down or away
lead elbow — don’t let it flare out as you throw the jab
lead hand — make sure it returns to the guard in a straight line
rear hand — protect your chin
rear arm — protect your body
Study
Like many of his fundamental skills, Mike Tyson’s jab deserves more appreciation. Short by heavyweight standards, in his prime, he out-jabbed taller opponents. Mike’s jab is a perfect study. It’s fast, efficient and thrown from a high guard. Many American boxers use a more languid jab, throwing with a low front hand. They are worth studying too, but with the understanding that they developed that style over a long time. For our purposes, let’s keep that jab hand high.
Throwing multiple jabs in a row has many benefits. For an excellent practitioner, see Masahiko “Fighting” Harada. This Japanese force of nature found success in the 1960s. Harada used multiple jabs and aggressive footwork to force opponents to the ropes. There he would unload fearsome power shots. The repetitive rhythm of his jab had a hypnotic effect. It conditioned opponents to expect it, making his rear hand punches more unpredictable.