Punches

There are four basic punches in boxing, namely the jab, cross, hook and uppercut.

JAB - The Jab is the most significant punch in a boxer’s arsenal. It is a quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand from the guard position. When using the jab, the knees of the boxer should be bent and his chin down, making sure that the arms are twisted in a corkscrew like motion just before the impact. The jab has the longest reach among the punches and does not require large weight transfer. The best jab should be quick, straight and precise.

CROSS – The Cross is a powerful straight punch thrown with the rear hand generally right after a jab. The cross should come from the face, right by the chin where the hand should be when in a “ready stance”, crossing the body, and thrown directly to the opponent’s face. For additional power, the torso and hips are rotated counter-clockwise as the cross is thrown. Weight is also transferred from the rear foot to the lead foot, giving the punch much power. After the cross is thrown, the hand is retracted quickly and the guard position resumed.

HOOK – A hook is a semi-circular punch thrown to the side of the opponent’s head using the lead hand. The elbow is drawn back from the guard position with the knuckles pointing forward and the elbow bent, making sure that the rear hand is tucked against the jaw to protect the chin. The torso and hips are rotated clockwise, propelling the fist through a tight, clockwise arc across the front of the body and connecting with the target. At the same time, the lead foot pivots clockwise, turning the left heel outwards. Upon contact, the hook's circular path ends abruptly and the lead hand is pulled quickly back into the guard position.

UPPERCUT – The uppercust is one of boxing’s most dangerous punches, especially when thrown as part of a multi-punch combination. It is a vertical, upward punch thrown with the rear hand. From the guard position, the torso shifts slightly to the right, the rear hand drops below the level of the opponent's chest and the knees are bent slightly. From this position, the rear hand is thrust upwards in a rising arc towards the opponent's chin or torso. At the same time, the knees push upwards quickly and the torso and hips rotate anti-clockwise and the rear heel turns outward, mimicking the body movement of the cross.