Depends how you mean illusion..Lol

I mean.. Your jab is your jab.. it'll be hard or not.. If you got your technique okay then its gona be hard..

The stepping isnt making it any harder.. If you ask me i would assume that its just that your stepping with your jab.. which you should do.. its not your jab getting more powerful its just range..

You ever have someone tell you dont punch at his head.. punch through his head.. thats in effect what your doing.. stepping with the jab range gets better and you'l hit harder.

So urr.. Yeah illusion in a way.. but not.. Imo..