Why is a back-hand punch illegal?

[ross]

For a large part of his career, Ali used a back knuckle instead of a jab. If you watch his jab, he flicks it from the back side actually using a short back knuckle instead of a traditional jab. It had a lot more power and he could actually really hurt people with it.

A back hand is basically an arm punch there will be no body or weight behind it. There is no way a back handed jab would hurt as much as a jab from Holmes.

I'm not sure that this is correct. Consider that bringing the laft hand up and under- I think the term is a 'rising jab'- lands on the back of the knuckles. That, given the push off the rear foot, is a harder punch. That is why the old timers used it. When I was first learning about boxing, when I was 10 or so, I met a guy that had fought in the 1920s, and he showed me how to slip in back hand blows and how damaging they could be.
Of course, in those days they fought for real, with 4oz gloves, as opposed to the pillows they wear today. Given that, I can't see that there is any point in using the back of the hand.

Thats basically just a slap though. Yeah through thin gloves that would sting as the knuckles crack but you still wouldt be able to put as much force in as an uppercut or straight jab.

[brocktonblockbust]

true but i can see what he means about pushing off the back foot whilst swinging upward using all the top of the shoulder strength. shite, those shots could even clip you in the throat.

[ross]

I dont know about everyone else but I dont get any more power from pushing off the backfoot when using the jabbing hand. Im left handed and find and teach people to drive upwards on the leading foot for power in the jab. Theres a sequence that needs to be followed to make the most on the momentum and not waste the energy that could go in to a simple jab.

I broke my right hand by punching a wall in temper in my last season and couldnt use it even lightly for months. So I only used my left for months on the bags and the pads. My left got as good as I think it could get. I learnt how to drive properly to get force through it and it was sharp and had a loud clap sound sound when it landed on the pads or bag because the distance was right. I know not everyone is a big puncher but in my gym my jab was harder in the end than some of the other lads rights. My major problem was arm length. Holding a tape measure between the top of my right bicep where it meets the pectoral muscle down to the wrist is only 19" and im 5,9" which I think is disproportinate arm length?

If someone was taught how to use the jab so it actually hurt an opponent they wouldnt bother using it to flick out with.

[0james0]

Spinning back hand would generate some considerable power, although I expect you'd have a haymaker waiting for you by the time you had done your spin.

[greynotsoold]

I dont know about everyone else but I dont get any more power from pushing off the backfoot when using the jabbing hand. Im left handed and find and teach people to drive upwards on the leading foot for power in the jab. Theres a sequence that needs to be followed to make the most on the momentum and not waste the energy that could go in to a simple jab.

I broke my right hand by punching a wall in temper in my last season and couldnt use it even lightly for months. So I only used my left for months on the bags and the pads. My left got as good as I think it could get. I learnt how to drive properly to get force through it and it was sharp and had a loud clap sound sound when it landed on the pads or bag because the distance was right. I know not everyone is a big puncher but in my gym my jab was harder in the end than some of the other lads rights. My major problem was arm length. Holding a tape measure between the top of my right bicep where it meets the pectoral muscle down to the wrist is only 19" and im 5,9" which I think is disproportinate arm length?

If someone was taught how to use the jab so it actually hurt an opponent they wouldnt bother using it to flick out with.

You can hurt somebody with the jab: it is a matter of distance, timing and pushing off the back foot. A real simple example is, for orthodox fighters in this example, slipping or parrying a jab over the left shoulder and bringing the counter "jab" up while pushing off the back foot. Very damaging. Short arms are actually an advantage here as it may encourage your opponent to step with his jab. Very stiff counter.
But the point here is backhands...The obvious use is after a miss with either hand. But those are very obvious. More subtle are the uses inside, and very damaging. Example: using your right hand to slap his left out of the way and then backhanding across the nose with your left. The guy that taught me this in 1974 or so had had his nose smashed this way. Again, with the padding of today's gloves, the effect would probably be much less.

[ross]

Spinning back hand would generate some considerable power, although I expect you'd have a haymaker waiting for you by the time you had done your spin.

Also get you disqualified

[brocktonblockbust]

Ross: i dont think that measurement of yoyurs is disproportionate at all. one thing a trainer told me in your case you can try to get a bit lower maybe by slightly bending your forward leg (your right leg, you're a southpaw you said right?) which can get you just an inch or 2 closer to your opponent. Also, you'll be about an inch LOWER as well due to the slight bend in the knee, which can give you even more leverage off the back foot to put into the jab. As the frward knee bends it automatically takes you lower and closer to the opponent and the back leg will automatically push off the floor giving the jab more stiffness.

[Spicoli]

I can't believe I just read all of that

[ross]

I can't believe I just read all of that

Then commented

[Spicoli]

I can't believe I just read all of that

Then commented

Twice. May have been a late night but was seriously wondering if a tennis player could help in teaching an effective backhand slap-punch

[brocktonblockbust]

no but a squash player can