The Straight Right Hand

[Chris Nagel]

Good post. I like how you brought up the idea of slamming a door. I was just looking over an old boxing manual from the 40's that advocates the same execution of the straight right hand as you have described, yet ironically they favor the squared (both feet pointing forward approach) which as you know has become the stance that most of today's fighters use.

Anyways here's an excerpt from the book about the execution of the straight right which mirrors what you've already said:

STRAIGHT RIGHT TO THE CHIN---TECHNIQUE

The straight right hand is a power blow. It is delivered wth a twist of waist and the forceful extension of the right arm. At the moment of impact the weight shifts over to the straight left leg, which gives the power necessary to for the use as a finishing blow.
The secret of power is using the left side of the body as a hinge, and allowing the right side of the bodyto swing free. It is the same idea of slamming a door shut.

ANALYSIS OF THE STRAIGHT RIGHT

The straight right is a very easy blow to execute properly. In principle, for any power or force in the blow, the bodystructure must be aligned as to form one straight body side or line. This enables the bone structure to support the weight of the body, freeing the musculature for purpose of pivoting or turning the other side of the body forward. Thus Terrific power is created.
The straight right is executed by shifting the weight of the body directly over the straight left leg. The left side of the body now forms a straight line. Now turn the right hip and shoulder through the to the center line of the body and drive the right hand into forceful extension. The arm drives out at shoulder height. At the moment of impact the knuckles of the hand are turned up. The arm then relaxes back to the on guard position. Propulsion of the blow comes from the twist of the waist, the shifting of the weight forward and forceful arm extension. The movement in it's final execution should be relaxed and easy, the arm driving out with such force that it pulls on both the shoulder and the elbow joint. It is like the snap of a whip. The right hand should be driven through the target, not at the target.

REVIEW

1. Body weight must be shifted directly over the straight left leg.
2. Hip and shoulder must turn through the center line.
3. The right arm is then driven into complete extension.
4. At the moment of impact the knuckles are up and the thumb side of the hand is turned inward.
5. The plane of the fist does not vary. The blow is delivered in a straight line and returns on a straight line.
6. All force is away from the body. The arm relaxes back to position.
7. The left arm folds to the body in the position of guard.
8. The right hand is driven through the target, not at one.

One thing point that I would like to see brought up is the simple idea of when you throw your left so that the weight shifts back to your right leg, which in turn allows to throw the right hand with maximum weight and torque behind it. This also goes both ways which can be easily understood by throwing left hooks followed by right hands in succession. This is better than the beginner's mistake of pulling their arm back in attempt to put more power into their punches. I think that a decent fighter would be aware of the punch that follows after the weight shifts. Let's say for instance you made your opponent's left hook miss, now if he's going to throw another punch from this current position it's naturally going to be a right hand (he can't throw another left hook unless he cocks it back again).