Sorry if this is kind of a newbish question, I haven't joined a gym yet (don't have the money) but am having a problem with this punch. When I throw it the conventional way (palm down) with full power, it feels like I am jarring the side of my head and neck. I don't want to contribute to a stroke by training this way, haha. When I throw it more vertical using the power line like Tyson does, I don't have this issue. My question is, how do you train this punch? Can you recommend some good videos? Also, I'm 5'8"/160 and have short gummi bear arms. Should I be emulating Tyson, or more traditional swarmers like Duran and Qawi?
Just checkout “World Class Boxing” Thomas Yankello is about as good as you’ll find on YouTube he worked with RJJ, Medalist’s and contenders… find a PDF of Edwin Hasilet’s boxing and just get the fundamentals down as best you can it’s the best book on boxing… if you insist on learning moves by yourself realise it takes longer then you think, of lower quality and you’ll overestimate what you know much quicker… I suggest you get into a good gym and compare your learnings to what you see in the book to determine if your coach is any good if it isn’t obvious… If you must watch any fighter to copy don’t watch Tyson you’ll be at odds with 99% of what you’ll learn in a gym I think because that style isn’t something you’ll find on any street corner, plus you don’t want it… checkout Juan Manuel Marquez for a shorter sort of guy with good fundamentals, just overall a good fighter him or maybe McGirt, Qawi is a good pick though.
I suspect the reason why your neck hurts is because your movement is kind of herky jerky. Slow it down. Make it very slow. If you are orthodox (right handed), take a step to your left and gently throw the right. Do not try to generate force with your shoulder. Instead let your legs and hip rotation generate force. Try to make it a smooth and slow movement. Nice and slow. I wish i had a proper camera but i will get one in a few months and post a video for you. Remember force comes from legs and hips. If your legs and hips aren't going into the punch, your body will try to overcompensate for it using other body parts which then leads to injury. One step to your left while bending down and gently throwing the overhand right. If the movement is smooth, then the neck won't hurt. If the legs and hip rotation is generating the force, it reduces strain on side of head and neck.
Hi, I think this was it. I was throwing too much with the arm, as opposed to more from the shoulder and waist, and stepping in (like a swimming stroke). Hence the jerkiness. Kinda frustrating if you have limited training space, to avoid accidentally hitting something and f***ing your hand up! But I'm a klutz like that.
Glad it helped. I had the same issue a while ago. Slowing it down and trying to generate the force with legs + hip rotation will do the trick.
I would think that you have to set down on the shot, similar to the hook, to bring the power. What's the use throwing an over hand right if you're using only your back leg to sturdy up a straight punch? Get down in it!
Yep, good call — to maximize an overhand right in particular from my learnings/teachings, the key is to really put the weight on your back foot. And, of course, get the hip and shoulder rotation and not just flail the arm out there. It’s more intuitive to lean in/forward as you do it, but that robs power AND if you’re in a pro fight it’s going to lead to a lot of head butts … not only are you moving forward, but the opponent is probably going to want to duck inside the arc of the punch. I just work the bags a few days a week for exercise now, but I’ve been practicing Bert Cooper’s sneaky right hand (being a southpaw it’s a left for me) which is sort of a chopping, almost downward short looping punch from the back hand. Finding the right range (somewhere between mid-range and inside for me) was hard but after I while I could feel the pop in that thing when I threw it properly and I really love this punch. Key is getting the shoulder up a bit as you uncork it.
First off, good question, it’s smart you’re thinking about mechanics early instead of just muscling punches. That "jarring" feeling you’re getting with the conventional overhand is probably because your body alignment’s off when you throw it, maybe over-twisting your shoulder without letting your hips and feet carry the force properly. An overhand needs your legs, hips and shoulder rotating together smoothly. If it feels like you’re snapping your neck, you’re forcing the punch too much with just your upper body. Training-wise: Focus on throwing the overhand after slipping inside a jab, you want it to be tight, not a big looping swing. Punch over your lead knee, not straight down the middle. Start slow on the bag, don’t go 100% power until your balance feels right. Tyson’s "power line" (vertical) version is safer for compact builds like yours, so it makes sense it feels better. As for style, at 5'8" with short arms, you're naturally going to have to close distance anyway. Tyson’s mechanics are good to study, but also look at guys like Duran, how he shifted weight when throwing right hands tight inside, not always wild swings like Tyson. Qawi is great too for a shorter fighter, he used smart pressure, small steps and tight punches that didn’t open him up. Basically: stay compact, drive from your legs and don’t force big swings you can’t balance.
