Jesse's Boxing Manual of 'Advanced' Techniques

[Chris Nagel]

Lesson # 6:
“Variations of the ascending jab”

(See definition of the ascending jab in lesson #5).
The variations of this jab are many. Julio Cesar Chavez, the great fighter of the 80s and 90s often used these techniques.

When throwing the ascending jab your upper body usually won’t lean (see figure 1).



Figure 1.- This jab carries explosive power.

But if your opponent wants to surprise counter you with a straight right when you throw this jab you can lean your upper body to avoid his counter or even use classic blocking with it. (see figure 2 and 3).


Figure 2.- Compare your upper body position with this one on the previous picture.


Figure 3.- Leaning and blocking simultaneously.

Depending on the distance that your target is at you can throw and ascending jab:
-Keeping your feet well apart from each other while in the air.
-Letting them get closer until they almost touch each other.
-Not letting them get close as you can see in pictures above and picture 4 of lesson #5.
-Crossing them.

Depending on your abilities and tricks you can “load” (pull back) your left shoulder before throwing the ascending jab (see figure 3 in lesson #5).

When you’re practicing this jab to start with, you should try to:
-Not let your feet get close together while in the air (hitting a target not too far away will help).
-Don’t load your shoulder too much.
-Bend your knees a lot before throwing it.
-Once you’ve gotten more practice you should start trying variations.

Also you should practice:
-The 1-2 with the ascending jab.
-The ascending jab as a weapon of an offensive attack when you are backing up,
-Throwing it after you’ve allowed to your opponent’s jab to go over your shoulder simultaneously avoiding and attacking forcing your way to the inside (in this case your opponent is a tall one stepping back with each jab he throws).