Pawing
The arm pushes out on its own, with no step and no snap, so the jab is slow and weak.
What Tori does instead: Foot and fist move together, and the snap back finishes the punch.
Punch lesson 1 of 6 Lead hand
Jab
The fastest, straightest punch there is. The lead hand shoots out down the middle and snaps straight back. It measures the distance, sets up almost every other punch and is usually the first one thrown.
For entertainment only. A robot demo that explains how the punch works. It isn’t training or advice, so don’t try it on anyone. Disclaimer
- Fist speed
- —
- Impact, est.
- —
Now demonstrating
Jab
Frame by frame
Keyboard, with the 3D view focused: Space pause and play, , and . step one frame back or forward, arrow keys turn the camera.
Robot demo for entertainment only. Please don't try it on people, pets or yourself.
At a glance
What the jab is
Fast and straight, with the lead hand. Tori stands orthodox, with its left foot and left hand in front. A left-handed (southpaw) fighter mirrors everything on this page.
- Hand
- Lead hand (Tori’s left)
- Target
- Face and chin (Uke’s visor)
- Range
- Long: the longest-reaching punch
- Path
- A straight line out, the same line back
- Power from
- A short step and the lead shoulder
- Fist at impact
- Turned over, palm down
- Pad call
- “1”
Speed matters more than power here. A jab that lands first and comes back fast is worth more than a hard one that gets countered.
Step by step
What Tori does, frame by frame
These are the same steps as the buttons under the 3D view. Freeze Tori on any of them, then turn the camera to look from every side.
-
Guard. Left foot and left hand forward, rear fist resting at the chin, elbows in, chin down. The grip is loose.
-
Shoot. The lead fist leaves first, straight down the middle, as the lead foot starts a short step forward. On the way out the fist begins to turn over and the grip tightens.
-
Land. The arm reaches almost straight (the elbow never locks), the fist lands palm down with the first two knuckles, and the lead shoulder rises to cover the chin. The rear hand hasn’t moved.
-
Snap back. The fist returns along the same line, as fast as it went out, to the guard in front of the face. The snap back is part of the punch, not an afterthought.
-
Reset. The feet slide back into the stance, hands up, ready for the next punch.
Watch it like a coach
- Camera Top at ¼×: the fist moves in a straight line out and back.
- Camera Close-up and step frame by frame through Land: the fist turns palm down and the fingers clench at the moment of impact.
- Camera Side: watch the lead shoulder rise to cover the chin.
Where the power comes from
From the floor to the fist
A punch isn’t thrown by the arm alone. Each link passes the movement on to the next, from the feet up to the fist.
Feet
A short push from the rear foot moves the whole body forward with the punch. The lead foot lands as the fist lands.
Hips
They stay almost square. The jab doesn’t need a big turn, which is why it’s so fast.
Shoulder
The lead shoulder rolls forward and up, adding reach and shielding the chin.
Fist
Relaxed on the way out, squeezed tight only at impact, relaxed again on the way back.
Checkpoints
What to look for in the demo
Freeze Tori on Land and check each of these.
- Straight out, straight back No wind-up, no pulling the hand back before it goes.
- Rear hand at the chin The hand that isn’t punching guards the face the whole time.
- Chin behind the shoulder The lead shoulder rises as the arm extends.
- Elbow down and in It points at the floor on the way out, not out to the side.
- Never locked The arm stops just short of straight.
- Breathe out A short, sharp breath out with each punch.
Common mistakes
How the jab goes wrong
Robots make these mistakes too, until someone updates their firmware.
Coming back low
The hand drops on the way back and leaves the face open for a counter.
What Tori does instead: Return along the same line, all the way to the face.
Telegraphing
The hand is pulled back or the shoulder dips before the punch, so the opponent sees it coming.
What Tori does instead: Throw from exactly where the hand already is.
Reaching
The head leans out over the front foot to make the distance.
What Tori does instead: Step to close the distance; the head stays over the stance.
The fist
What a proper fist looks like
Tori’s hands have real robot fingers. Watch them in the Close-up camera: the grip is loose in the guard and clenches at the moment of impact.
Four things Tori’s hand gets right
- Fingers curled tight into the palm. No gaps between them.
- Thumb outside, folded across the middle of the index and middle fingers. Never tucked inside the fingers.
- Wrist straight, so the back of the hand lines up with the forearm.
- First two knuckles lead: the index and middle knuckles are the ones that land.
In a fight (between robots)
How it’s used, and how it’s stopped
Punches are called by number on the pads in many gyms: 1 jab, 2 cross, 3 lead hook, and the uppercuts 5 and 6.
Combinations
- 1
The single jab: to measure the distance, keep the opponent busy and score.
- 1-1
The double jab: the first one closes the distance, the second one lands.
- 1-2
Jab, then cross: the most common combination in boxing.
- 1-2-3
- 1 body
The same punch to the body: bend the knees to lower the level instead of punching down.
How Uke could stop it
- Parry
The rear hand taps the jab aside at the last moment.
- Slip
The head moves just off the line, usually to the outside of the jab.
- Catch
The rear glove catches the punch in front of the face.
- Step back
Out of range: the jab falls short.
A robot demo, not a class
This page explains how the jab works so the animation makes sense. It isn’t a martial arts course, and it isn’t self-defense, fitness, medical or safety advice. Tori’s version is simplified and exaggerated for the camera. Don’t hit anyone. If you want to learn to box for real, learn in person from a qualified coach and check with a doctor first.