The Right Uppercut at Short Range – A BIG Shot!

About the Short Range Right Uppercut

If this is the first article that you are viewing, take some time to look at the ‘short range’ section within the Fight Tactics – Range article.  Fighting at close range, or ‘infighting’ as it is known, is tough and unforgiving.  Technical shortcomings in shots and defences are amplified, and the stakes are very high as serious damage can be inflicted in short bursts of shots.  Put simply, the ability to fight at short range is an absolute must for anyone seeking to become a high quality boxer.

The short range right hook and short range left hook are very effective; much power can be generated and the shots can be thrown in very quick succession.  A natural addition to these shots are the short range uppercuts, but why is this?  The difference is not one of power, as both short hooks and uppercuts have equal capability in this department.  The difference is the angle that the shot takes toward the target i.e. perfectly vertically through the middle of the opponent’s guard.

Watch the video, read the point by point mechanics below, and as always leave comments or questions as you see fit.

The Mechanics of the Short Range Right Uppercut

The mechanics of the punch can be explained as follows:

1. From the boxing stance position, the first action is an explosive thrust from the back foot which in turn drives a major rotation of the the hips and therefore the upper body.  The front leg bends in order to accommodate the rotation of the body.
2. As the rotation is taking place, the right arm (backhand) accelerates toward the target at a 90 degree angle or perfectly vertically.  This vertical trajectory maximises the chances of the shot finding the channel between the opponent’s guard.
3. The acceleration takes place over a very short distance, with the fist travelling no more than 3 to 6 inches, and is generated as the result of a ‘whiplash’ action.
4. As the shot approaches the target (palm facing towards you), the fist clenches as ‘snaps’ onto the target.
5. After the shot lands, the arm returns to the ‘home’ position as quickly as possible, as per the stance.

Common Faults with the Short Range Right Uppercut

The common faults that can occur when throwing a short range right uppercut are:

1. The boxer allows their body weight to transfer ‘over’ the front leg. Whilst there is a redistribution of weight, allowing the momentum of the shot to ‘pull’ the body behind it will result in a loss of balance.
2. The left hand can drop as the shot lands. This is a common fault with inexperienced boxers as their focus is on the right hand and not the left hand in the guard position.
3. The boxer allows the punch to become an upper-body movement. Ensure that the rotation of the upper-body is generated by the thrust from the back leg.
4. The boxer allows the arm to loop very low before bringing the shot up towards the target in the mistaken belief that this will generate additional power.  In actual fact, all that this drop achieves is the creation of a large gap in your own guard.
5. The boxer should not ‘lean’ on the opponent when fighting on the inside. This is not only against the rules but will reduce the potential for throwing effective combinations.

It stands to reason then that a boxer can often throw as many as 4 or 5 alternated short range shots per second.  These shots will not only be delivered at a rapid rate, but also carry quite a bit of ‘punch’ and the opponent will know that they’ve been hit!

Again, leave a comment with your thoughts.

Cheers

Fran

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