Should I have weak or strong jabs?

**bitparity** · Posted On: 5/16/2008 7:37pm

So usually when I'm doing pad work at my muay thai gym, some of the other guys are always telling me to put some more energy into my jab.

Well the other day, I was holding pads for this guy who'd done MT for 3 years, boxing 5 years before, and I noticed his jabs were fairly light. As he explained the way he did it, he said jabs were primarily for measuring distance so that you can follow up with a cross. Lead with speed, devour with power basically. Although he did mention that's just the way he prefers, and how generally he's been told in MT they want everything to be strong, from the jabs to the crosses to the kicks.

So I wanted to ask to get a consensus, how much power do y'all put into your jabs? Do you follow with the lead for speed or do you go all out on everything?

Also newbie question: when you jab, how much hip movement do you use? If you use hip movement, how do you move your hips AND keep your shoulders square to the opponent at the same time?

**G-Off** · Posted On: 5/16/2008 7:47pm

Depends on what you're using your jab for. There are some schools of thought who say the jab is useless entirely and you should instead use a left straight, or left "jolt" as Dempsey called it. I believe Bas also said the jab was useless in MMA.

Personally, I use the jab only to measure distance, as a distraction/to make my opponent react or as part of a 1-2. Nick Diaz, for example is great at using his jab to frustrate his opponents into sticking their chins out so he can capitalize. There's a few fighters with a good front hand punch, I dunno if you could call it a jab.

Machida and Bonnar are two in particular, Machida because he steps with his front hand punch (I call it a stop-jab) and Bonnar because of his boxing experience.

I'd say snap is more important in terms of having an effective disrupting/annoying jab rather than shoulder rotation.

**TheMarquis** · Posted On: 5/16/2008 8:35pm

In my (pretty limited) experience... jabs are good for 2 things.

1) As a 'shocker' to get the opponent to move to give you a bit of space to close into and follow up with something more forceful...
2) As a 'stopper' - when an opponent comes in to attack (especially if they're leading the left)...
the slight opening this makes means as the gap is closing you can plant a jab to the face which disrupts their steps.

Course, both of the above require an opening to be of any practical use and a good sense of timing to take full advantage of each scenario.

**maofas** · Posted On: 5/17/2008 12:20am

It depends, but my default is a jolt. I'll break out a lighter jab to try and set something up if they're trading shots from a distance, but if they're trying to rush/crowd me I prefer the jolt to give them second thoughts.

**3moose1** · Posted On: 5/17/2008 4:34pm

You shouldn't be going for the KO with the jab, if thats what your asking. That will just leave you in a world of trouble.

I use it to keep distance, stop an attack, and set up other stuff (cross, hook, etc)

I make it sting, though...

as for hip rotation...on a jab? No.

I'm going to say it like this, and its going to sound bad, and i will get flamed, but idc. Its like a "lunge" type motion. (not to be confused with a lunge punch)

You don't lunge at your opponent, you just sort of...lunge, but don't move at all? like...when you throw the jab, follow it a little bit with yoru upper body...

**gallantknight** · Posted On: 5/17/2008 8:33pm

As everyone else has already mentioned, you're probably not going to be KOing with your jab.

That being said, if you've got a lot of power in your jab, it sets up a nice little mindset for your opponent. "If his jab is already this strong, what about his cross?"

That, or you vary it up. You throw some weak ones, then suddenly launch forward with a really strong one. If you've got no power in your jab, then there's going to be no fear behind recieving it. On the other hand, if you throw them around for a loop and throw in a nice, crisp jab with some stopping power in once in a while, it keeps them guessing.

So really, both have their uses.

You can also use the jab for keep away, I suppose, and it helps establish distance, along with being a nice distracting tool to set up other things... just to reiterate what the other guys said.

**maofas** · Posted On: 5/19/2008 4:29pm

Originally Posted by 3moose1

as for hip rotation...on a jab? No.

I'm not going to flame, but I'll admit my first reaction was "ick".

**E-Van** · Posted On: 5/19/2008 4:46pm

Originally Posted by G-Off

Nick Diaz, for example is great at using his jab to frustrate his opponents into sticking their chins out so he can capitalize. There's a few fighters with a good front hand punch, I dunno if you could call it a jab.

.

Nick Diaz should not be mentioned in this thread. His jab is on a whole nother level. He should patent that thing. Its like a jab/swat/grasping thing that I have been trying to emulate for years.

Can anyone who is familiar with what Im talkiong about think of any other fighters who employ this same method?

**Ryno** · Posted On: 5/19/2008 4:53pm

It depends, you can throw a quick cover/set-up jab to set up something else or distract your opponent. Or you can step in hard, roll your shoulder, drop your weight, and turn your hips for a power jab. It is possible to KO an opponent with a jab, but only if you have a very special jab. I've seen some boxers do it.

I will not commit with an aggressive power jab right out of the gates. There's simply too much risk. But if I'm throwing a bunch of quick light set-up jabs and am consistently connecting, then sometimes I'll throw a hard one just to make him think. Occasionally you'll set the guy on his can if he isn't expecting this.

**G-Off** · Posted On: 5/19/2008 5:12pm

Originally Posted by E-Van

Nick Diaz should not be mentioned in this thread. His jab is on a whole nother level. He should patent that thing. Its like a jab/swat/grasping thing that I have been trying to emulate for years.

Can anyone who is familiar with what Im talkiong about think of any other fighters who employ this same method?

Well, he does that whole grabbing/catching thing with both his front hand and back hand. But his jab actually, silly as it sounds, looked like a money paw/snake fist thing, at least in his most recent fight in DREAM. It looks like he starts with his wrist bent at an upward angle and does a downward snake kung-fu motion to actually pop people with it.

You're right though, his jabs are something completely different from anything else on the planet.