Do you want to know the secret behind all the best boxers? They spent countless hours learning how to throw a jab!
When used with good head movement and footwork, the jab is responsible for your win.
Keep reading for our guide on how to throw a jab!
How To Throw A Jab
To throw a jab:
- Start With A Boxer’s Stance
- Step With Your Lead Foot
- Extend Your Elbow And Rotate Your Fist
Many people think that the hook or uppercut is the most important punch in boxing. It’s true that these punches are responsible for a lot of knockouts.
However, none of these punches would have landed if the boxer didn’t use his jab to set up those shots first.
Start With A Boxer’s Stance
First, start with a boxer’s stance to throw a jab.
The boxer’s stance will be the beginning and end point of the jab.
Keep your hands up, chin and elbows tucked, and eyes up.
Your weak foot should be your lead foot and your body should be tilted slightly off center. This will make your body smaller as a target.
Relax and breathe. Don’t clench your hands and forearms.
You are now ready to throw a jab.
Step With Your Lead Foot
The next step to throw a jab is to step with your lead foot.
To the average person, it looks like this step and the punch happen at the same time.
Think about the steps of how to throw a hook. Imagine using all your power without first stepping to set your base. You’d be completely off balance and vulnerable to a counterpunch!
In boxing it is a common pattern that a step will come first before a punch.
Extend Your Elbow And Rotate Your Fist
The last step to throwing a jab is to extend your elbow and rotate your fist.
When your lead foot touches the ground, unlock and extend your elbow and rotate your fist 90 degrees.
This rotational force is what drives the power and snap of the jab.
As you extend, exhale sharply. This will add power and encourage you to incorporate proper rhythm into your breathing.
Your shoulder should be raised to protect your chin from any counter hooks.
When your arm is fully extended, now is the time to clench your fist and brace it for impact. Then return it and your lead foot to its original position.
You should be perfectly balanced and ready to throw another jab.
A proper jab should feel like whipping a wet towel; its purpose is to sting and stun, rather than to knockout.
Common Mistakes When Throwing The Jab
Some common mistakes beginners make when throwing the jab are:
- Constantly Clenching The Hands And Arms
- Throwing The Jab Without Taking A Step
- Dropping The Arms Before Throwing The Jab
- Dropping The Shoulder
Because the jab can be repetitive and seem so simple, many boxers tend to get lazy and not focus on proper form.
Constantly Clenching The Hands And Arms
The first mistake beginners make when throwing the jab is that they constantly clench their hands and arms.
Though you may think that this will make you punch harder, it will only tire you out faster.
By staying loose and relaxed, you’ll be able to save energy and throw faster jabs.
Throwing The Jab Without Taking A Step
The next mistake beginners make when throwing the jab is doing so without taking a step.
While this might not matter with a light jab, it is important to start with good habits.
Doing this with a cross or a hook will cause your body to overextend and become off-balanced.
Dropping The Arms Before Throwing The Jab
The next mistake beginners make when throwing a jab is dropping their arms before throwing it.
If you make it a habit, your opponent will notice this and will be able to time your jabs.
The jab should come straight from your face and come straight back.
Dropping The Shoulder
The last mistake beginners make when throwing a jab is dropping the shoulder.
Imagine that as you throw the jab, your opponent decides to throw a right hook aimed at your chin.
With all your punches, remember to incorporate defense into your offense!
Why Should You Learn How To Jab?
The jab is the most important punch in boxing.
Although it is not your most powerful punch since it is done with the weak hand, there are many types of jabs, each with a different purpose.
On offense, setting up a combination or finding your range can all start from a jab.
On defense, keeping your opponent at a safe distance or disrupting your opponent’s rhythm both give credit to the jab.
Any good boxer will tell you that the majority of your punches should be jabs.
While your rear hand is used primarily for power, your jab can easily be used with different strengths.
If you want to put power in your jab, hop forward and put the weight of your body behind the punch.
You can also keep the jab light to use it two times in a row or use it to block your opponent’s vision.
Think of the jab as your Swiss army knife, able to be used in any situation.
Conclusion
Now you should make the jab is the foundation of your offense.
From here, you have options. You are ready for defense by doing a pull to dodge a punch, slip a punch, or a roll under a punch. You are also ready for offense to throw a cross, hook, or throwing a second jab.
The key to having these options open is to relax and treat the jab like a whip, rather than a sledgehammer.
Make sure to go slow and focus on form if you’re shadowboxing as a beginner!
Read this article to learn how to the heavy bag!
If you’re having trouble deciding what boxing equipment to get, check out these articles: