Basic Boxing Punches

Boxing requires that you are able to move well, keep your hands up, stay strong throughout the game, and be tougher if your opponent is tough. But most of all, boxing requires you to learn how to thrown a punch properly. Below are the things you must first learn:

Straight – A straight punch is the quickest and most direct way to hit an opponent. Since it can be executed on the traditional stance, a boxer can use a straight punch at his disposal - more often than any other type of heavy punches in his arsenal. A straight punch is also the strongest and the most preferred knockout punch by many boxers.

It usually targets the head of the opponent and provides a fairly good amount of damage when set up by a job or used in combos. A (right/left) straight punch is also known as a (right/left) cross punch since it is thrown from the chin that produces a crossing motion across the body. A straight punch is usually thrown by the rear hand with power. When it follows a jab, this move is called the "one-two" combination.

Hook – There is no exact opposite to straight but hook is probably it. If a straight punch normally goes right in the middle of the face, a hook is usually aimed at the chin. A hook can only be done effectively by swinging the arm in a horizontal arc. It is best when set up by a jab and followed by an uppercut or another hook. It possesses a knockout power.

Uppercut – An uppercut is considered to be the most dangerous punch in boxing since it is the least used punch and thus the least practiced punch to avoid. It is a vertical punch that rises when thrown and usually targets the chin and torso. Uppercuts can be set up with a jab or thrown in combination.

It is the most effective punch to use during "inside fighting" or when boxers are close to one another. When executed properly, an uppercut can severely inflict great damage to your opponent. The manner which an uppercut is done is like curling your arm to pick up a bucket of water.

Jab - I have mentioned this last for a reason. Jab, while it is the least powerful, is the most important punch than any other punches known to boxing world. I didn't make this one up. The great Mohammad Ali used jabs more than 90% of the time. If jabs are the low-power boxing punches, how can it become the most important?

Jab has several purposes: it wears down the opponent gradually, it gives him a little sting, it keeps him away from you, and it can be used to set up stronger punches. In other words, jabs can be used both as an offense and as a defense.

A single punch is not enough to bring your opponent to the canvas. Once you learn the basic punches, you need to learn how to use it properly. Combination is crucial as it allows you to throw several punches, which increases the odds of hitting your opponent.

In theory a boxer should be able to thrown several punches in succession without losing his balance. By learning different combinations, not only you throw punches, you also throw it without making yourself vulnerable by your lack of balance.