Quote Originally Posted by wytster View Post
Thanks Fran and HerbM for your replies,

...put my weight behind it so I think unfortunately I have adopted a bad habit from then on where I step forward and try and put my weight behind the jab every time I throw it.
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Would you recommend using some small weights to strengthen muscles for more of an 'arm punch' jab ?
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There is nothing AUTOMATICALLY wrong with putting your weight behind a jab -- how do you do this (besides stepping) -- but you need to to do it properly and probably should not have this as you "only jab". There are range finding jabs that just flick out and there are power jabs (Dempsey calls this the "left jolt" to distinguish it from an arm jab.)

But in general, you are going to be throwing far more jabs than anything else, probably 3-1 jabs to straight rights, etc

As to weights, I am not the best person to ask (haven't tried it) but I have seen recommendation to do this AND recommendations to avoid it like the plague (easy to screw up your elbow).

IF you do it, I would recommend lying on your back (on the weight bench is best but floor should work). By lifting/punching the weight UPWARDS you will get more resistance from gravity and this will also help you STOP the weight without having to either put tension into your opposing muscle OR by hyperextending your elbow.

That "tension in the opposing muscle" is precisely (part of) what we wish to avoid for a fast, snappy, hard jab.

If you are punching with weight SOMETHING has to STOP all of that MOMENTUM when you punch. It's either your muscles OR you elbow joint that must do that.

When we punch hard against a bag, we can let the BAG STOP the PUNCH.

Personally on the bag, I don't ever "stop my punch" -- the BAG does. I yank it back but only after the bag absorbs all of the forward momentum.

Now, some of this comes from Russian Systema hitting, and I can occasionally get accused of pushing the bag, but I assure you this is a much harder punch. When sparring with me, it is common for my partner to say, "Your punches are JUST HEAVY".

Systema is known for producing deep, hard, destructive punches, even from a short distance and without (needing) weight transfer. You can add weight transfer to a Systema punch, but usually that is not a necessity.

Systema (and Boxing) both emphasize relaxing as much a possible at all times, especially when hitting. The only tension you need in a punch is the muscle(s) which powers the punch AND MAYBE right at the moment of impact you tighten the wrist and hand enough to protect the joints.

The good thing about relaxed hitting is that it is now only faster (and deeper) it is also far less tiring.


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HerbM