Personal Defence Academy

Kicboxing Tips - A Good Jab

Jab! Jab! Jab Cross!

This should be a familiar combination by now if you've been coming regularly for kickboxing classes. The Jab is the most common punch, and is a straight punch thrown with your lead hand - the hand closer to your opponent. It is also a very important tool in boxing and kickboxing! A versatile punch, it serves as both defence and offence, and is critical in helping you measure your distance from your opponent. It is important for the Jab to be fast and snappy, so make sure you don't leave your jabs hanging out there in the open!

To throw a good jab, there are several key details you must pay attention to. As with any punch, it's important to stay relaxed and loose, tensing your muscles only on impact. Imagine how you would snap a whip, except that you're now snapping your arm instead. Unlike a whip though, you do not snap your arms in a circular motion. Instead, keep your elbows close to your body and extend your arm straight out. It's called a straight punch for a reason, and the straighter your punch is, the faster it'll reach its target!

As you progress, you'll also learn to create and transfer the snap from your foot all the way up to your fist. That's why you're constantly reminded to twist your hips and pivot on the ball of your feet. This allows you to use your entire body to generate power, and not just your arms. Turning your hips also allows your to turn your shoulders further, increasing the reach of your jab. Add a step forward as you jab, and you'll have your opponent stinging with tears in no time.

Finally, a good jab requires the striking arm to be structurally sound. For example, your fists should be tightly clenched so that it does not collapse on impact. To do this, roll in your four fingers into your palm, and tuck your thumb by the side. Your wrist should also be locked and form a straight line with your forearm. If it is bent, you risk spraining your wrist on impact. And make sure you straighten your elbows almost completely! While you still want to keep it slightly bent to reduce injury, bending it too much will shorten your range and prevent you from hitting anything at all.

One last safety tip is to always strike with your first two knuckles. They are the largest and strongest of your knuckles, and will be less likely to break if you hit something hard accidentally.

So the next time you throw a jab, try to reminder some of these pointers and work on improving them during the session. You don't have to get everything right at once, but at least get one thing right at a time! See you in the studio!

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