10 Reasons To Jab, Jab and Then Jab Some More

Few boxing critics will argue against me, when I say, "Larry Holmes (69-6-0) made the best use of the jab in boxing history, bar none".

At the height of his tenor he ruled the heavy weight division by systematically breaking his opponents down primarily with a single punch; the jab.

Unfortunately, a lot of fighters today have not learnt from the lessons of their predecessors. They grossly underestimate the effectiveness of throwing a straight lead hand punch.

In my opinion, the jab is the most important and versatile punch in a boxer's arsenal. It manages distance, disrupts your opponent's combinations, sets up your offense, is the fastest and least risky way to score points, allows time to feel out your adversary, and helps control tempo.

The jab can be strategically used to pave the way to victory in a variety of competitive scenarios:

1. 
   
   Use the jab to get on the inside of an opponent. Jabbing while moving forward effectively occupies your opposition's attention, which allows you time to move into position and work in shots at close range.


2. 
   
   To exit from an inside position perform a back-step-roll followed by an immediate jab to help keep an opponent from readily following you and/or counter punching.


3. 
   
   Keep a bully fighter or bigger opponent at bay by setting up quickly, and then throw 2-3 explosive jabs before speeding off. Do this at the moment your opponent attempts to punch to disrupt their offense.


4. 
   
   Throwing jabs while in transition is a great way to safely change your attack angles relative to your opponent. It is the same for changing angles during retreat.


5. 
   
   Use the jab to draw your opponent's attention away from a desired target. Example, jab to the body to induce another fighter to lower his/her guards to protect the midsection, which then leaves them open for a head shot.


6. 
   
   It's a customary practice in boxing to lead with the jab. Play on this expected practice by occasionally pump faking the jab, and then lead with another punch instead.


7. 
   
   Probe with the jab to gauge when you are in punching range.


8. 
   
   Intercept incoming punches with the jab as a defensive measure. Essentially you use a punch to deflect a punch.


9. 
   
   Mark a spot on an opponent with the jab, and then follow with a power punch to the same location.


10. 
    
    Score points quickly with a rapid series of jabs to the head and body, and then follow up with more hard bruising shots to stop an opponent dead in his tracks.

Pro-Boxing In Malaysia

Samson and I, after his pro-boxing debut at Cheras Badminton Stadium, Malaysia, March 25, 2011.

Samson didn't win his 4 round bout, but he put in a valiant effort considering he had no experience of an amateur career to draw from. That is a very difficult way to enter the ranks of professional boxing.

Hopefully, he will gain strength from the disappointment to train harder in the gym and improve his technical skills.

Although I didn't train Samson for his match, I coached him in the corner that evening. After the first round, I was reminded how mentally frustrating it can be to coach. Once the bell rings, you are virtually powerless to help your fighter. Thus this emphasises the great need for preparation beforehand. Practice is when a coach has the most impact over what happens to their fighter during competition.

Heavy Bag Drill With Resistance

Attrition in the ring often determines the victor. Barring a knockout, it will not matter that your skills are on par or even superior to your opponent, if you cannot maintain a competitive intensity the entire bout. Competitive intensity for a boxer means he/she can sustain constant intervals between doing high levels of aerobic work (80% or better of maximum heart rate) and explosive anaerobic movements for 2-3 minutes over as many rounds necessary.

The drill I am doing in the video is an advanced progression to heavy bag training. The aim of the exercise is to increase strength endurance to the point of combat readiness. Before attempting the exercise or one of its likeness, one should have a base level of cardiovascular fitness [ability to maintain an elevated heart rate (80% of MHR) for 30 minutes or more, 3 days a week]. If you meet that prerequisite, then gradually work the devices featured in the video into your heavy bag routine one item at a time over the course 6-8 weeks.

The exercise is quite strenuous to do for 3-12 rounds, but the surplus on stamina that you'll gain makes it worth the effort.

Enjoy_

Up Coming Event

This event features MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), Muay Thai, and my personal favorite Pro Boxing. The competition is from March 25-27 at the Stadium Badminton Cheras. Action starts at 8:30 P.M. each evening. Cost of attendance is: Ringside - RM50/night, General Seating - RM30/night. Discounted tickets available for members of TNT Kickboxing

Boxing Challenge For Trainers

I have not submitted a post in over a month. I've been a tad bit busy. I just completed a collaborative effort with Fit Malaysia offering a professional development workshop on how to integrate fundamental boxing exercises and techniques into personal training programs.

The 12-hour course unfolded over a two day period, in which I took 12 personal trainers through a rigorous barrage of drills to teach them the basic components of boxing involving footwork, speed, agility, conditioning, defense, safety tips, mitt work, and of course punching.

Day one was almost completely physical; experience is the best teacher. Participants learned to perform all the basic punches, movements and defensive maneuvers, and then combine the techniques to carry out multi-facet partner exercises.

On day two the trainers learned how to use the experience gained from the previous day and apply it to exercises suitable for a variety of clients with various fitness levels and goals. Again, this is an activity that begs to be done; not just talked about. So the hands on approach proceeded until lunch break. Now that 9 of the 12-hour workshop was primarily spent on 'doing', I knew the class would appreciate a break from the physical and welcome a intellectual discussion on how to incorporate the boxing drills into their clients' standard exercise programs.

The graduating activity was to divide into 3 groups of 4, and then design a exercise regime which incorporated boxing. Next, each group presented the details of their plan for an observational review and critique for safety and thoroughness.

A lot to accomplish in one weekend. By the end of the workshop, I was completely wiped out. But it was a great group to work with, and I enjoyed teaching them. I'm looking forward to the next round; just not too soon.