Kickboxing: The Jab: From Initiation To Knockout: Kickboxing: From Initiation To Knockout, #1

By Martina Sprague

Although the jab is not your most powerful strike, at long range it is in a sense your most superior strike. Superiority is determined not only by how much strength or power you have, but also by how you use movement to employ that power. Landing a long range technique is difficult without some sort of setup against a skilled opponent. The jab is perhaps the most versatile kickboxing technique available and can be used to set up all other long range techniques. Although not a knockout punch per se, the jab could on occasion be all you need to end the fight. This brief book discusses basic jabbing strategy for sparring and competition, choosing your targets and using the jab as a distraction, and using lateral movement to establish superiority. It emphasizes distance and timing. Understanding distance, and timing your jab correctly to your opponent's movement, allows you to control the fighting arena and create openings for your stronger rear hand. Kickboxing: From Initiation To Knockout comprises a series of short books with focus on learning specific techniques and strategies for the exciting sport of competition kickboxing. With plenty of pictures, each book breaks the material down into bite-size pieces that allow you to practice to perfection. The material in this book previously appeared in Complete Kickboxing, now out of print, and is great for straight boxing, too.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Martina Sprague
• Release date: Feb 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386076766

Martina Sprague

Martina Sprague grew up in the Stockholm area of Sweden. She has a Master of Arts degree in Military History from Norwich University in Vermont and has studied a variety of combat arts since 1987. As an independent scholar, she writes primarily on subjects pertaining to military and general history, politics, and instructional books on the martial arts. For more information, please visit her website: www.modernfighter.com.

Book preview

WHAT IS A JAB?

The jab is a straight punch thrown with your lead hand, normally your left hand, since most of us are right-handed and kickboxers, like boxers, fight with their stronger side to the rear. It is also the most basic and often used punch in kickboxing. Note that all techniques are explained from a left fighting stance. If you are left-handed, also called southpaw, and fight with your right side forward, you need to reverse the following descriptions.

The jab has two primary missions:

1. Seek out your opponent and establish distance. Once this is achieved, you know that you can reach him with your rear hand as well.

2. Create openings for your slower and more powerful rear techniques, like the rear cross and rear leg roundhouse kick.

Since your lead hand is closer to the target than your rear hand, it is naturally faster than most other techniques and should therefore be used often and effectively.

BODY MECHANICS FOR THE JAB

Throw the jab by extending your lead hand straight forward from the guard position along centerline A. Find your aim by sighting down your second big knuckle. Pivot your lead foot with your heel toward line 1. This increases the power by placing the weight of your body behind the strike. The toes of your lead foot should now point toward line 2. Keep your elbows tucked close to your body until it is time to deliver the strike. This keeps your ribs protected against your opponent’s counterstrikes. As you extend your arm, point your elbow toward the ground, and hold your fist in the vertical position until just prior to landing the strike.

Fist in vertical versus horizontal position.

Rotate your fist to a horizontal position palm down just as it is about to impact the target. This gives you more extension for power. Simultaneously, rotate your shoulders into alignment with the jabbing arm. After impacting the target, bring your hand straight back to point of origin.

WHAT IS IN A GOOD JAB?

Untrained kickboxers often throw their strikes using arm power only. A well executed jab, on the other hand, relies on synchronization between your lower and upper body. The punch originates in your lower body, allowing you to use the strength of your legs. Your lead foot pushes off against the floor and pivots to add momentum to your hips, which, in turn, strengthen your shoulders and add power to the punch. The quick jab is used as a feeler, and the power jab is used to hurt your opponent. Rotating your foot and body should be more pronounced when throwing the power jab.

Pivot your body in the direction of the punch for power and reach, as seen in the first picture. Think of it as setting down on your punches. Avoid leaning into the punch and overextending your balance, as seen in the second picture.

It is extremely important that you do not raise your elbow prior to punching. Raising your elbow, leaves your ribs exposed to your opponent's counterattack and decreases the power of the punch, because the mass of your body is no longer directly behind it. Although the jab is not primarily a knockout punch, you should have a precise target in mind. A punch thrown without proper intent is likely to land on your opponent’s glove or arm.

Always aim for a precise target, such as the jaw or solar plexus, when throwing the jab.

A common mistake when using the quick jab as a feeler is to throw it half-heartedly. By twisting your wrist to the horizontal position just prior to impact with the target, your hand becomes like a drill pushing through your opponent’s guard. Not only does this increase the power of the strike but also the accuracy, enabling you to take small and well-guarded targets. Accurate jabbing also causes a lot of anxiety in your opponent. In the following pictures, which kickboxer is throwing a jab?

The punches thrown in these pictures are the four basic punches in kickboxing: jab, rear cross, hook, and uppercut, in that order. The jab is always thrown with your lead hand, and the