How To Throw An Uppercut (For Beginners)

Learn how to throw an uppercut, one of the most powerful punches in boxing!

This punch adds variety to your offense and lets you knockout opponents!

If you know how to throw a hook, you’ll find that most of the steps are the same!

Keep reading for our guide on how to throw an uppercut.

a man throwing an uppercut
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How To Throw An Uppercut

To throw an uppercut:

  • Start With A Boxer’s Stance
  • Shift Your Weight From Lead Foot To Rear Foot
  • Twist Your Body And Disengage Your Arm To Connect The Punch
  • Bring Your Fist Back To Your Face

This attack is especially handy in close-range fighting and against opponents who like to drop their head when attacking the body.

Start With A Boxer’s Stance

First, start with a boxer’s stance to throw an uppercut.

The boxer’s stance will be the beginning and end point of the uppercut (To start we’ll go over the lead uppercut).

Keep your hands up, chin and elbows tucked, and eyes up.

Lead with your weak foot and tilt your body slightly off center. This will make your body smaller as a target.

Relax and breathe. Don’t clench your hands and forearms.

Shift Your Weight From Lead Foot To Rear Foot

The next step to throwing an uppercut is to shift your weight from your lead foot to your rear foot.

This has the same movement as throwing a hook.

Start by putting weight on your lead foot. Lean slightly on your lead foot and plant it on the ground, while keeping your rear heel off the ground.

Next, transfer the weight from your lead foot to your rear foot by pivoting your rear heel inward and plant it on the ground. At the same time, pivot your lead heel off the ground and outward.

(Tip: Only one heel is on the ground at any time!)

Twist your lead hip outward following your lead heel. This, combined with the weight transfer, is where the uppercut’s power comes from. Your arm is only used to transfer the force to the target.

You do this at the same time as the punch, but focus on the footwork first: moving your weight back and forth by swinging your heels inward and outward.

Twist Your Body And Disengage Your Arm To Connect The Punch

Next, twist your body and disengage your arm to connect the uppercut.

As your body is rotating, throw the uppercut straight up from your face by keeping your elbow down and below your fist.

(Tip: The foot that is pivoting is the same side that’s throwing the uppercut.)

Your hand should end up in front of your face with your elbow at a 90-degree angle.

As your uppercut reaches its target, clench your fist and brace for impact.

a man with bandages on his hand throwing an uppercut
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Bring Your Fist Back To Your Face

Lastly, bring your fist back to your face after throwing an uppercut.

After reaching your full extension, return your arm, hip, and foot to their original positions.

Doing this makes sure that your face is always protected, in case you miss and your opponent tries to counterattack.

You should be balanced and ready to dodge or throw another punch.

Common Mistakes When Throwing The Uppercut

Some common mistakes that beginners make when throwing an uppercut include:

  • Overextending The Punch
  • Winding Up The Uppercut
  • Leaning Too Far To The Side

Overextending The Punch

The first mistake you can make when throwing an uppercut is overextending the punch.

If you miss, you’ll be off balance with your ribcage open for attack.

Winding Up The Uppercut

The next mistake you can make when throwing an uppercut is winding up the uppercut.

Beginners tend to do this by dropping their arm before launching the punch.

If you do this often, your opponent will be able to read your punch before you throw it.

When you’re fighting in close range, each millisecond and millimeter makes a big difference in whether you land your uppercut or not.

Leaning Too Far To The Side

The last mistake that you can make is to lean to the side too far when throwing the uppercut.

This will make it harder for you to throw a hook right after, as your body isn’t centered and fully balanced.

Instead, the rotation should be generated from your hips and feet, while the rest of your body follows.

Why Should You Learn To Throw An Uppercut?

The uppercut, along with the hook, is the next punch you should learn after the cross.

Note that your footwork for an uppercut and hook are the same! That’s why it’s great to learn these punches at the same time.

Remember that when you throw a cross, your rear toe will be planted while your heel will be off the ground. This creates the perfect opportunity to plant your rear heel to transfer the weight.

If you master the uppercut, you’ll maximize your punching power. The weight transfer and the rotation of your hips results in a devastating punch, enough to knock out your opponent.

Also, learning the uppercut will add variety and angles to your offense.

For example, if your opponent is using a high guard to block your jabs and crosses, you can cut through it with your uppercut.

It’s also useful if your opponent is bent over after you land hard body shots.

Conclusion

If you want to throw knockout punches, master the uppercut!

To throw a rear uppercut, do the same steps on your body’s other side.

Practice this technique when you shadowbox to get used to the footwork.

Give it a shot on the aqua bag to train your endurance and the double-end bag or wall bag to train your accuracy.

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