How to Throw A Ramrod Jab
Follow Us On Social Media for The Latest News
We have all heard the saying a “a right hand can take you around the block but the jab will take you around the world”. Meaning the jab is the most important in boxing and who could argue? Lets start by listing a few of the reasons that the jab is so important.
Scoring Shot
Lets be honest judges love to score the jab, if you land a good clean jab for sure the judge will be scoring the shot. This punch is very easy for the judges to see as the lead arm has quite a distance to travel, once the head snaps back the point is generally scored. If you land a good amount of jabs through the round the round should go to you.
It Helps You Find Your Range
If you are too far back from your opponent your jab will fall short so you need to readjust your feet and move closer to your opponent. If you are too close to your opponent then you will not have space to throw the jab, so using the jab can help you re position your range to ensure the right distance between your opponent is maintained.
Sets Up Your Combinations
A good boxer knows when to throw a combination, the best opportunity is once you have landed your jab and snapped the head back. For you small amount of time your opponent loses his steadiness this is when you come in with your other punches. This sounds very easy but shows the sign of a good boxer in my opinion.
Dictates The Pace Of the Fight
If your feeling the pace of the fight using your jab can buy you some time for you to regain your strength and energy. If used right can dictate the pace of the fight if you want to push the pace and be more aggressive you can start throwing more jabs or doubling, tripling them up.
It Can Push Your Opponent On Their Back Foot
If you are boxing a fighter who is very good on the front foot the jab can be used to push them onto the back foot, once they are there they will not be able to perform as well.
Keeps An Aggressive Opponent Away
If you have a shorter opponent who keeps coming forward to attack you, then the jab can be used against them. If you catch them as they are moving forward you will double the power of the punch as they will be moving into the shot. Eventually you will break their heart, who would want to keep walking into a jab?
Causes Damage
Do you ever see a knockout with a jab? its very rare but can happen, Sergey Kovalev has caused a couple of knockouts with the jab but this is very rare. The jab has much more of a cumulative effect through the fight. The jab might not cause the knockout but it can cause lots of damage both cuts and swelling around the eyes and even a broken nose.
How to Throw A Ramrod Jab
Lets Start Off By Having A Great Stance
Legs Bent
We bend our legs in boxing so if you do get caught the bend in the legs take the impact of the punch like a shock absorber. Also if your legs are bent the you are ready to move faster including attacking and defending (moving your head).
Feet Shoulder Width Apart
Always make sure there is a gap in between your legs so your feet are shoulder width apart. This ensures that when you punch you have a good base and can generate lots of power. If you get tagged you will not fall over as you will have very good balance.
Weight On Back Foot
Your weight should be on the back foot (unless you are very short for your weight). Over time boxing trainers have realised that the way to generate the most power is with your weight on your back foot.
Shoulders Raised
You were graced with two big shields on your body, use them by raising them. Once you raise your shoulders there will be lots of situations when you do not even see the shot coming and your shoulders will protect you from the shot.
Chin Down
Its always important in boxing that you keep your chin down, we do not want to be getting hit in our chin the more we tuck it in the more it is protected.
Elbows Nice and Tight
Remember always to keep your elbows tucked in nice and tight. When they try to land a body shot we want them to hit our elbows this is a great way to damage their hands and wrists.
How To Throw The jab
Arm and Wrist
Push your lead hand out, twisting your fist right at the last second so when the punch lands your palm is down. Twisting the wrist at the last second can cause a cut through the friction of the glove.
Shoulder
Push your shoulder through the shot this will give you more range and power and also more protection from the counter as your shoulder will be against your jaw.
Weight
Keep your weight on your back foot, it is very easy to want to transfer the weight onto your front foot but this causes technical issues:
Your head will be closer to your opponent so you will be open for the uppercut.
When you come to throwing the one two, as your weight is already on the front foot you will not be able to transfer your weight to generate any power on the straight.
Telegraphing
Do not telegraph the punch, this means do not let your opponent know or give him any idea that you will be throwing the punch. Do not drop your hand slightly first this will send a signal that the punch is coming.
Guard
After you have thrown the punch ensure your hand comes straight back to your jaw, this will protect you from the counter. Ensure the hand that you are not punching from is kept tight on your chin.
Breath
Every time you throw a punch you should breath out, if you do not do this you will be exhausted. When you throw a punch this is when you are most likely to be caught by a shot, if you do not breath out and get caught to the stomach you will end up getting winded.
A Great Tip
When you throw a punch you are meant to be relaxed up until impact, nice and loose and then just before the punch lands tense up. This causes a jolt and its the jolt that causes the knockout. If you throw the punch when you are tense this will take all of the power away from your punch and also tire you out quicker.
Follow Us On Social Media for The Latest News
