Quote Originally Posted by WayneFlint View Post
I wasnt arguing either m8 maybe it sounded that way because of how i wrote it? sry if i sounded a bit harsh, The left jolt, i can definently remember the word from reading his book, if i remember correctly his 'left jolt' was basically dropping into a big step with a jab on the end, if so then there are 2 main reasons i know of not to do this as i have a problem doing this myself, first problem being if your opponent moves backwards it is easy to dissolve the power or completely move out of range of the shot, and 2 for risk of being countered, a good fighter will see you doing this and get you to reach for him then counter you knowing you will be slow to evade any on coming punches. however i may be wrong ive read a lot of boxing manuals in the past year and may have the left joltconfused with somthing else.
It did NOT sound like *YOU* were arguing; I used that word to make sure that was not *MY* intention, but rather to further develop these ideas with you and with everyone who has knowledge and interest.

I was mildly concern that my request for specifics and facts we can discuss would be seen as argumentative.


When I first read Dempsey, I thought perhaps that a) the drop step might be criticized as you do here and/or b) it might actually be bad for those reasons.

None of the more experienced boxers or trainers who have so far answered my request on this subject (in another thread about the "perfecting the jab") have suggested this, nor has my actual experience.

Dempsey warns it will take a bit of practice to master the step, that it will look awkward at first, and that others will criticize it.

Then he goes on to assert that once the step is mastered it can be used with VERY LITTLE movement -- the key is to just drop the weight into the punch, not actually how far you move to do that (except that a longer drop gives gravity more time to accelerate your body and fist.)

I actually ADD the drop at the END of the jolt -- my thinking and experience here is that I can jab for range finding, distraction, or other purposes without the drop and ONLY when I know the punch will land do I add the drop -- so this happens right before or at contact.

The other reason for loading the drop at the end is that I want to punch to FINISH moving faster, not start that way.

Dropping to initiate would imply always committing to the drop AND the force might be dissipated long before contact is made.

If the punch were to miss, then my foot is ready to hit the ground (it never is more than a tiny bit above the floor.)

Ideally, I want to accelerate (using all my small movement methods and muscles) as close to contact as possible.

I think this is true for any hip twist or shoulder whirl as well. Getting these muscles "into the hit" is better than using them to start the movement. (These are typically short range moves compared with extending the arm.)

But by now I have led us off topic in this thread....


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HerbM