I am a big fan of using boxing techniques that help make things safer.
There’s bunch of boxing techniques videos that cover the ‘cool’ stuff, but as a boxing coach I find it hugely important to teach individuals a range of boxing techniques that they can use as a ‘safe space’.
These boxing techniques allow you to give yourself breathing space in those tough moments, the kind of boxing techniques that allow you to keep pressure on an opponent whilst using minimal effort and finally they are the kind of boxing techniques that allow you to keep control in the eye of the storm.
This boxing techniques video focuses using 3 different techniques to throw a safer jab.
Whilst the jab is the safest punch that we throw as boxers, it can be used alongside other boxing skills to develop a really effective punch that further reduces the risk of taking incoming punches.
The 3 ways to a safer jab are:
- Combine the jab with a rear hand block
- Combine the jab with an (outside) slip
- Combine the jab with a front foot step.
The first of our boxing techniques involves using your jab and at the same time deploying a rear hand block.
This has the effect of reducing the risk of taking an incoming jab delivered at the same time as you throw yours.
This is really the simplest of boxing techniques that combines 2 individual boxing skills and that combine offence and defence.
Combining the jab in a similar way with the outside slip has a similar effect and is again one of the really effective offensive and defensive boxing techniques.
This is about taking your head off the centre line as the shot goes (and comes).
Nice and safe.
If you want to see a great exponent of this type of boxing technique, check out Bernard Hopkins.
The final of our 3 boxing techniques is using a very sneaky footwork trick to drift into range (from the edge of range), deliver your jab and then drift back out again.
You can of course allow the rear foot to follow the front foot and this allows you to drive home the pressure, again with minimal energy used by you.
So that’s 3 boxing techniques that increase the effectiveness of your jab at the same time as limiting the risk of you taking incoming shots. Really, what’s not to like?
Cheers
Fran
by 
Just catching up Fran. Excellent vid. I learned the jab-block from some Irish boxers back in the 90’s. It works great and the chances of your opponent changing up to a hook mid-flight of a return jab are slim. Likewise, virtually no opponent is going try to counter a jab with long range, left hook, and expose their face, unless your Tommy the Duke Morrison, flying in with triple left hooks. May he RIP. LOL!
Hello Pug, thanks for the comment.
It’s a neat use of the 2 skills – and yes, might be a drawback against someone like The Duke!!!
Hello Fran,
Another great video on the jab.
One great point you make is about moving only your front foot in and out when jabbing forward with power from the back foot.
Planting the back foot adds great stability as far as I can tell from practicing in shadow boxing and will be great to try this in sparring. It is a great way to pull back out the road of incoming shots without losing ground as I would normally do jumping back with both feet! Really great video! This will hopefully let me hold my position whilst moving back.
Thank you for great advice!
All the best,
Robin.
Hello Robin
Thanks for your comment and for staying engaged with this stuff. Yes, it’s a really neat trick I think, just stretching out that stance as the jab goes – greater reach and greater power.