The jab is the most important punch in boxing, and it is the one most people get wrong. In this video lesson I look at common jab mistakes. They apply to boxing, to traditional martial arts and, more importantly, to self-defence.

It is vital that you keep mistakes to a minimum, for obvious reasons. A mistake in training costs you a point. A mistake in a real situation can cost you a lot more.

Why the Jab Matters So Much

The jab measures distance, sets up your other punches, keeps an opponent busy and gets you out of trouble. It is the punch you throw most often, so any flaw in it gets repeated hundreds of times. Fix the jab and a lot of other things improve with it.

In traditional martial arts, the front punch does a similar job. The same mistakes show up there too.

Mistakes I See Again and Again

These are some of the most common problems with the jab in general:

  • Pulling the hand back before you throw, which tells your opponent it is coming
  • Dropping the hand on the way back, so a counter comes straight over it
  • Flaring the elbow, so the punch loses its line and power
  • Leaning forward from the waist instead of stepping, which puts your head out front
  • Leaving the chin up and in the air
  • Letting the rear hand drift away from the face as the jab goes out
  • Throwing with a tense arm, which makes the jab slow and easy to read

Any one of these will get you hit sooner or later.

How to Fix Them

Most jab mistakes come from trying to make the punch longer or harder with the arm alone. The fix is to let the body do more of the work. Step with the jab when you need distance. Keep the chin down and the shoulder up to protect it. Bring the hand back along the same line it went out, and bring it all the way home to your face.

Stay relaxed. A relaxed jab is faster and harder to see. Tighten the fist only at the moment of impact.

How to Practise

Shadow box in front of a mirror and watch for each mistake, one at a time. Then work the jab on the bag, paying attention to the return as much as the punch. On the pads, have your coach throw light returns to check that your hand comes back. Video yourself if you can. You will be surprised what you see.

Take It Further

The jab is built properly, step by step, in the Learn To Box Online Course. For more on the punches in detail, see The Boxing Series.