jab right hand

[Chris Nagel]

okay so it should cross youre centre line,Is this where the term right cross comes from?But the thing is most fighters i see on the heavy bag dont seem to cross that centre line instead the right hand seems to just land right beside it but not crossing it.Or is that the difference between the term right cross and straight right??

It should cross your center line but that's not where the term came from. "Right cross" originated from "right hand cross-counter". Simply it's a counter that crosses over your opponent's left hand lead. Recently some people have made the generalization that a right cross is the same as a right hook, that is not so. Say for instance, I slip inside of your jab and throw a right hook to your body, in no shape or form can that be called a right cross, this is because my right hand is not crossing over your left arm. Knowing this both a straight right and right hook can be a right cross if it crosses over your opponent's left arm. The term is a little confusing because it used to refer to a counter to your opponent's jab/straight-left, nowadays it can be any right hand that crosses your opponent's left shoulder.

Another reason why you'd want your jabs and rights to cross the center line is defense. If you're shoulders are square to your opponent and you throw your fist straight out like doing a bench press, you'll notice that you're very exposed on both sides of your body. Now on the other hand, if your jab occupies the center line, you're then removing that path for your opponent's jab. Getting your head behind your lead shoulder, and your right hand in guarding position takes away those openings that your opponent would have otherwise. Also when you throw your right hand, you're chin should be brought in slightly under protection of your right shoulder.