Throwing a Jab in Boxing

Part of the Video Series Boxing Lessons for Beginners

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Tips for throwing punches. Make sure Learn how to throw a right jab in boxing.

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Posted by joesteph on Saturday, 05 July, 2008 at 1:04 PM

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Leo mentioned in the stance video that he's a rightie, so his left hand is forward, stronger/right arm back. I'm rightie also, but when I did Tae Kwon Do, I was encouraged to put my stronger--therefore right--hand/arm forward for speed as well as power. The idea was to hit hard with the jabs, and the lesser strong (not really "weak") arm, in my case the left, was going to have extra power from it's position and body twist. When I did Isshinryu, I did contact with a friend, and sometimes it was an advantage, but other times not. When I do Soo Bahk Do now, I use the arms and the legs, and, sure enough, my right leg has more speed and flexibility for technique (Power? I don't know). I'm putting it forward with the right arm, so I'm fighting as a leftie with both arms and legs. I'm not so sure I should be fighting southpaw if I'm a rightie, and I wonder if I should shift from rightie to southpaw and back again. Maybe sparring as a leftie when I'm not one isn't helping me if I want to prepare for an actual situation, when holding back isn't for on the street.

Video Transcript

Throwing a Jab in Boxing
The jab is the most important punch in boxing, it will help you in your defense it will help you in your offense. The jab will get your opponent off his rhythm and at the same time it was set you up for your own combinations. I’m going to show you how to properly throw the right jab, the correct jab, whether you’re right or left handed. The correct jab. First off let me explain. For the jab, you’re getting your stance, your comfort zone, your stance, the jab is going to come out and the jab is the only jab where you don’t step or you don’t cork your body but it’s still a body punch, and you still throw it with your body. So you’re going to extend out from right here you’re going to extend out from right here it’s going to come out you’re going to rotate and at the very end you’re going to do like a little cork screw action where the thumb is going to be toward the grounds. The reason you do that is to snap the power and snap through the target and at the same time your shoulder turns over and you protect your chin. So that way if your opponent counter punches you you’re always protected in the vulnerable places. So if you throw your jab, you turn it over, you’re nicely protected there and you bring it back. And remember you don’t move your body but you extend up with your shoulder and bring it right back, rotate it and bring it right back. As you practice and develop your jab you’ll be able to throw a high jab, a medium jab and a low jab, but that’s with practice right now let’s just get down the jab. The jab, right here again, you’re just going to step, you’re going to snap you’re not going to step. Snap. Turn it over and bring it back. Over, back. Over back. Now to demonstrate it at full speed you always want to wear your gloves, these are light back gloves, for mitts. And just to show you the nice demonstration on the jab, this is how you do the jab and you notice I’m in my stance, I have my hands high to protect me, and I’m going to release it from here and it’s going to go right back. So go.

About the Expert

Expert: Leo Cardenas is a professional boxer. He went pro at age 21, and boxed professional for 4 years. Read More