My crappy Jab

you dont

 

The only time you REALLY turn ur hip into the jab is if your straight hand leg has moved out front, which actually turns the punch into a straight n not a jab. Ex. mosley vs margo is a good example just before the first knockdown. A stiff jab is mostly throwin whilst stepping or shooting forward while throwing. However if ur looking for more crank with ur straight hand, u can slight extend ur jab hip a tad.

 

Try stepping into the jab differently. I found out that I was leaning forward to land jabs, which takes a lot of snap off them.

If you focus on driving your body into the punch and landing at the very end of it, it lands better and you stay on balance. I worked on trying to move my CoG (hip area) straight forward and back a few inches with the step. It's hard to explain, but try moving both feet slightly when you jab. two quick little steps. Main thing is not getting yourself leaning out over your CoG.

This kind of jab doesn't feel that powerful, but if you learn to counter with it it can be extremely hard-hitting. There's a vid of Sam Langford training where he has dudes run at him like a football drill and quickly repositions himself to spear them with a jab in the chest (he just extends his arm and steps forward to stop them).

 

What is the intention for your jab though? As a space maker, to gauge distance, a power one, constant ones to wear someone out? All these things will and should affect how you throw it, your footwork when you're throwing it, hand placement, and all that. Be more specific and I'll try my best to aid.

 

Very little if none.

 

I would suggest not committing to it in terms of power or even speed at times. Make sure you focus on timing it more and slightly shifting your weight to the back leg so you can unleash a strong right hand afterwards. Aim it at the nose so the guy's vision is obscure during which you can hit him with whatever.

 

What i do is i tend to focus more on stepping into the jab and not on hip rotation. The only time i focus on my hip rotation is my straight, hooks, uppercuts, body shots. Another great idea is to practice hitting the bag throwing jabs. Get the bag to.jump up and not sway. My jab was crappy, but now it has enough.power to drop people. Only thing.is remember the jab is used to set up other punches, and for distance not for knocking people out.

 

You already recognized your problem, don't rotate the hips with the jab.

 

lots of people want to "drop in" with their front leg, when they step for the jab. instead, "push" forwards using the back leg. and some people want an extra umph when they jab so they turn their front foot like a hook to get their hip into it. while you're cleaning up your skills, watch you're NOT doing this because you'll risk spraining and twisting your ankle. practice stepping to gain distance.

 

How are you using hip rotation with a jab? This may be your issue. From that I can see a few possibilities.

Your stance is too square resulting in the jab traveling extra distance and your rotation being a "tell" warning guys to avoid you. If your lead shoulder is where it should be the jab should be nothing more than a spring off of your rear foot, step forward with your front foot, and a piston like screw motion with your jab arm.

You aren't properly aligning yourself with your opponent, i.e., the other guy's footwork is better than yours and he is circling away from your favored punch (jab), so you end up square on your opponent. That could be a few things. Your sparring partners are superior. You aren't establishing respect of your rear hand. Your footwork is inferior. Two of those it is in your power to fix.

I think the key is in your stance and understanding the mechanics of a jab. Revisit those and I think you will have your answer. :good

 

Another thing, when you step and jab, make sure that your timing is right, and that you're not throwing your jab before your lead foot touches down. That's a problem I used to have, where there was zero power in my jab when I would step forward. Your front foot should be on the ground when you start to throw.

 

Try and throw it and imagine you are trying to squeeze out a **** at the same time. Remember to snap it back quickly, minimal rotation and weight even distributed.

 

Oh, and another thing, try not to turn over your wrist until the last moment. You should be doing that with crosses too. I find it gives extra snap.