Front kick followed by same side punch

This combination works when my opponent stays as I kick. I use my opponent’s reaction to my kick to land the jab.

I find the change in my target from lower abdomen to face an effective tactic.

I also use the change in rhythm from a kick to a punch to be a surprising move that often allows me to land the jab against a blocker or a slugger.

Without prejudice

A flurry of punches

I have to be careful when I punch because I have a tendency to drop my hands when working the heavy bag. Oddly enough I haven’t done this when sparring or during two man drills. Perhaps it’s the presence of another person that helps keep me sharp.

There are times when practicing a flurry of punches is an interesting activity. The first punch (the jab) is a quick move that doesn’t require any hip torque. It is the second and third punches that drive home with body torque power. It is this rhythm that I work on as much as anything.

Without prejudice

Jab Hook

The left jab followed by a short step in and a left hook is another effective combination that allows the puncher to use the jab effectively.

Now I have trained for a while and my fists are quite hard so I don’t use bag gloves as often as I once did. However, I do use them and I encourage my students to, as well.

Without prejudice

Jab Cross

Although I have blogged about heavy bag work for several days (and will for several more), I actually prefer Haslets (?) idea that heavy bag work should be done no more than ONCE a week. Otherwise I notice I have a tendency to slow down and push the bag instead of snapping my punches out crisply.

The lead jab followed by a rear cross punch is one of several basic combinations I like to practice when performing bag work. The jab performs several important functions like measuring distance, distracting the opponent, forcing him (or her) to react and the like.

All these things allow my read hand cross punch to land more effectively after the jab has done its work.

While I try to make the jab a powerful punch that damages an attacker all by itself, I also work on flowing smoothly from the quick jab into the more powerful cross. I find the smooth flow from one punch to the other is vital for the use of this combination.

Without prejudice

Doubling up on the Jab

One of the ways I practice my jab is to double up on it, literally, to throw two jabs in a row.

Sometimes the first is a real strike and sometimes it’s a fake. In either case the point is to make the other guy react to it.

There are many ways my opponent might react to the jab but they all have something in common; the other guy must react.

This also applies to taking the punch. Simply taking the punch (known as ‘eating it’), forces the other guy to take the time to ‘eat it’. This gives me the time necessary to land a harder shot.

There are many other combinations off of the jab but I find that doubling up on it a necessary basic tactic.

Without prejudice

Drilling the Jab with ‘Catch Me If You Can’

The exercise called ‘Catch Me If You Can’ is demonstrated at YouTube.

It has a lot of benefits but it is much harder to execute properly than it looks.

Both parties call out that they are ready. It is a case of speed, range and a lack of pre-movement.

Done correctly, the drill teaches the puncher to punch fast, hard, in range and without a wind up.


Without prejudice

The Jab and The Slide In Front Kick

I think it was John Lennon who said, “Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.”

That is accurate enough and in this case but I’ve dealt with the life part. It’s time to get back into the swing of things. To that end, I’m going to be posting a short journal every day from now on until Christmas Day when I’ll break for the holidays.

Today (at YouTube) I posted a very short demonstration of me executing a jab and a slide in front kick. I put a great deal of emphasis on these two techniques, especially when teaching beginners. Both techniques, when properly done, have real power. However, they are mostly used to set up other more powerful strikes. The jab and the slide in front kick have a way of making any opponent react defensively.

Someone once remarked, "A good left jab can be a boy's best friend."

A girl's too...

Without prejudice