How to Throw a Jab in Boxing

"Gil Clancy explained a jab to me this way: you're standing in front of a rack of bread and you reach straight out for the loaf you want, grab it, and pull it back quickly." -Joe Guson, pro boxing trainer

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Boxing Trunks
• Boxing Gloves
• Boxing Hand Wraps
• Boxing Mouthpieces

1. 

   Hold your hand up high with your elbow in close to your body.

2. Push off your back foot like a pitcher.

3. 

   Step forward and extend your arm straight out at your target.

4. 

   Rotate your fist over (thumb turns inward) as you reach full extension.

5. Drop your chin to your shoulder to protect your head.

6. Connect with your hand at the same time the toe of your front foot touches the ground.

Tips & Warnings

• "A jab is used to keep an opponent wary of coming in close and to check distance. But a strong jab can really do some damage to a boxer not expecting it." -Joe Guson

Who Can Help:

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[djjohnson]

on 1/11/2007 - - my name is david johnson i am a 22 year old father with all the ambition,hard work ethic and drive it takes to be the next great boxer i want a trainer to take me as a lump of clay and mold me to my full potential. Im 6'0'' 180 with a 76'' reach and fight left and right handed i love to box i just need direction. id like to contact joe guson. anyone with feedback contact me a [e-mail]
thankyou

on 8/8/2006 When jabbing a heavy bag or one of more moderate weight, there should be a crisp snap as your fist turns inward. If you do not hear something similar to this--and with excellent jabs it sounds like a firecracker exploding against the bag--you're probably not doing it right, so keep practicing the jab until you hear the precision with that sound.

on 7/13/2006 Use wrist weights daily on a punching bag to make your jabs quicker.

on 11/22/2005 When you hit an opponent using the jab, don't stop when you hit the face. Hit through it.

on 11/22/2005 Without stepping forward into the jab, the boxer is only throwing a straight left hand. A better weapon to keep another boxer away from you (or to set up a right hand cross) is a "long jab."
To lengthen your jab, try this when shadow boxing (or hitting the mitts or heavy bag):

Take a normal stance with your hands up and your legs at shoulder width. Extend your left hand straight out in front of you. Touch the bag, mitt, or imaginary target. Now, step back 18 to 24 inches with your right (back) foot, and then the left foot. You're now ready to lengthen your jab. Step forward into your jab with your front (left) foot (without moving the back foot), connect with bag, and then return to the original position. You've lengthened your jab by a foot and a half. It will take many rounds of heavy bag work to get the distance and timing of the "long jab" right, but remember one of elementary truths of boxing training: everything works off the jab! Good luck, and I hope this helps!