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Step 1
Begin in a traditional fighting stance, with one side back and your feet moving laterally, shifting your weight constantly while maintaining your balance and center.
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Step 2
Keep your hands up in a guarded position, shoulders loose and relaxed, ready to move at a moment’s notice. The jab comes off your front hand, directly towards an opponent’s face or head area and it is often the first strike in a series of punches and kicks.
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Step 3
Jab quickly and powerfully, allowing your lead shoulder to move into the punch. Your upper body maintains a steady balance but leans slightly towards your opponent to lengthen the striking distance of the jab.
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Step 4
Make impact with your fingers of your fist downwards and your forearm up and parallel to the ground. The target of the jab is usually the nose, jaw or eye area since a straight line from the shoulder is needed for impact.
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Step 5
Retract your jab even quicker than you extended it. It’s not a power strike but it can still deliver quite an impact when thrown correctly. The retraction phase of your jab increases the snap of the strike. In addition, the jab leaves your body open for an opponent's strike so it is imperative that you return your arm back to a guard position as quickly as possible.
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Step 6
Land your second punch as you are withdrawing your jab for maximum effect. Alternately, use more than one jab in a row to keep your opponent off balance.
