The Uppercut
Goodkill
that the Federation has worked to create) and Judo. However, I'm
interested in practical use of the martial arts, as well as their
application in mma competitions. This interest has lead me to look into
boxing techniques, among other things. I know that, because of the
thick gloves and lack of anything but strikes with the front part of
the glove, boxing isn't the best system when it comes to real
situations and mma. However, while not perfect, it seems to me that the
system that boxing uses for hand techniques does have some real value
(mostly in terms of dynamics). Now that that's over with (it was, most
likely, a completely useless paragraph), I'll get to the real question.
I've been working with the basic boxing techniques--the jab, cross,
hook, and uppercut. My jab, hook, and cross all feel like they have
some power in them, and I have tested them on my heavy bag. They have
that snap that you get to feel in a punch. My uppercut, however,
doesn't feel powerful it all. It has no snap--it just feels like an
empty movement. I have not tested it on anyone yet, and it's hard to
test on a vertical bag. Does anyone have any recommendations, other
than getting formal boxing training, or is that just the way the punch
is?
Dan Winsor
Goodkill wrote:
> My uppercut, however,
> doesn't feel powerful it all. It has no snap--it just feels like an
> empty movement. I have not tested it on anyone yet, and it's hard to
> test on a vertical bag. Does anyone have any recommendations, other
> than getting formal boxing training, or is that just the way the punch
> is?
OK, well, I'll skip the "TKD" and "need boxing training" talks since
you said you said to do just that. That being said, you need a parner
and focus mits to get the right feel of the upper cut.
--
Dan Winsor
Soy un poco loco en el coco.
theoriginaldimi
Goodkill schreef:
> Formally, I practice Tae Kwon Do (not the watered down, debased version
> that the Federation has worked to create) and Judo. However, I'm
> interested in practical use of the martial arts, as well as their
> application in mma competitions. This interest has lead me to look into
> boxing techniques, among other things. I know that, because of the
> thick gloves and lack of anything but strikes with the front part of
> the glove,
That's what the rules say, but a lot of boxers use more then just the
front of the glove when they can get away with it.
boxing isn't the best system when it comes to real
> situations and mma.
I think its the best striking system for "real situations". If anything
sparring will make you harder and will learn you to punch while you are
being attacked.
However, while not perfect, it seems to me that the
> system that boxing uses for hand techniques does have some real value
> (mostly in terms of dynamics).
Yes it does.
Now that that's over with (it was, most
> likely, a completely useless paragraph), I'll get to the real question.
> I've been working with the basic boxing techniques--the jab, cross,
> hook, and uppercut. My jab, hook, and cross all feel like they have
> some power in them, and I have tested them on my heavy bag. They have
> that snap that you get to feel in a punch. My uppercut, however,
> doesn't feel powerful it all. It has no snap--it just feels like an
> empty movement. I have not tested it on anyone yet,
Why, are there no drunk homeless people where you live?
and it's hard to
> test on a vertical bag. Does anyone have any recommendations, other
> than getting formal boxing training, or is that just the way the punch
> is?
Get a training partner and some pads; you"ll learn a lot more then from
hitting a static bag, and with good pads the partner can also
counter-attack and put some pressure on you.
And I'd also advise to get some kind of formal training. Like a lot of
things boxing is not as easy as it looks, details can be very
important. Avoid learning things the wrong way, old habits etc.
Without actively resisting training partners you're not really boxing,
just punching a bag.
Dimitri
Herbert Cannon
some boxing lessons.
Ah memories. I used to take boxing lessons from a pro when in college. He
said he fought Ezra Charles a heavyweight champion. He took his two front
teeth out when he told the tale. What I did not like - is the headache
everytime I left a lesson. We did not use 16 ounce gloves.
Goodkill
finding a gym isn't going to happen for at least a few months. I
realize, of course, that trying to get the feel of a style through text
is impossible. I do have access to a partner, some focus pads and light
gloves, however, so I'll see what use I can make of those in the
meantime. Thank you all for the advice.
theoriginaldimi
Goodkill schreef:
Well if you cannot put your vertical bag horizontally then why no bend
over 90° and then uppercut it?
You'd achieve that magic 90° angle between your torso and your target
:-)
Dimitri
cate...@my-deja.com
Goodkill wrote:
> hook, and uppercut. My jab, hook, and cross all feel like they have
> some power in them, and I have tested them on my heavy bag. They have
> that snap that you get to feel in a punch. My uppercut, however,
> doesn't feel powerful it all. It has no snap--it just feels like an
> empty movement.
you can't practice an uppercut on a bag very well. don't bother.
all punches come through the feet- the uppercut moreso. you hand is
midchest or lower- bend your knees, take the step and *pop* up- you arm
pops up at the end of the movement. it's a small, fast movement- like
3-4 inches.
an uppercut is a trick- it's not a bread and butter punch.
when you practice the uppercut, start with your hand middle-low, and
pop off from your legs. let the arm get all the way up to your head.
then, add in the target practice. have your partner step in with the
mitt, then you step in to cut him off with the uppercut- remember that
its a trick punch.
use your hips and waist to get the zazz in there.
hth,
carl
Frank Benn
> My uppercut, however,
> doesn't feel powerful it all. It has no snap--it just feels like an
> empty movement. I have not tested it on anyone yet, and it's hard to
> test on a vertical bag. Does anyone have any recommendations, other
> than getting formal boxing training, or is that just the way the punch
> is?
The first mistake people make when throwing an uppercut is that they don't
shift their weight from one foot to the other. They tend to think of it as
strictly an upward springing type of punch.
Let's say you're a left lead, and you're throwing a left uppercut, which is
the more common hand to throw. Your knees are bent, and your weight is
60/40 on your left foot.
As you throw the uppercut, turn out your left heel and shift your weight
from your left foot onto your right foot. The shift of weight allows you to
pivot your hips to the right as you throw the punch.
During the uppercut your fist travels in an upward arc coming back toward
you. Tighten the arc just as you're hitting the target. This will increase
the angular momentum of your punch and give it that "snap" or "pop" when you
connect.
Last, only throw your uppercut when the target is at or below the level of
your chin. For instance if he ducks or weaves your cross, or he anticipates
a hook from the inside and you change up to the uppercut, or just when he
leans in on you.
Frank Benn
IFA Academy
Austin, Texas
Goodkill
theoriginaldimi wrote:
> Well if you cannot put your vertical bag horizontally then why no bend
> over 90° and then uppercut it?
>
> You'd achieve that magic 90° angle between your torso and your target
> :-)
>
> Dimitri
I never thought of angling the bag differently. Thanks.
Goodkill
Frank Benn wrote:
<Snip for space>
> Frank Benn
> IFA Academy
> Austin, Texas
That was some very useful information, thanks. I hadn't put much
thought into when I should use the punch, and I feel like I'm getting a
little more power when I really put my legs into it. I suppose I'm just
used to the sort of punch where, because of that last second forearm
twitch, you can literally hear your shirt sleave make a popping sound.
Jerry B. Altzman
> During the uppercut your fist travels in an upward arc coming back toward
> you. Tighten the arc just as you're hitting the target. This will increase
> the angular momentum of your punch and give it that "snap" or "pop" when you
> connect.
Does this, or can this, turn into a rising elbow strike—or at least, be
thought of as such if you want to follow through and the fist can't make
the strike, or if he's too high (as you mention later)?
'cause from a karate viewpoint (at least mine) this sounds like a
perfect rising elbow strike.
> Frank Benn
//jbaltz
--
jerry b. altzman jba...@altzman.com KE3ML
thank you for contributing to the heat death of the universe.
Frank Benn
>
> Does this, or can this, turn into a rising elbow strike—or at least, be
> thought of as such if you want to follow through and the fist can't make
> the strike, or if he's too high (as you mention later)?
>
> 'cause from a karate viewpoint (at least mine) this sounds like a perfect
> rising elbow strike.
It certainly can be. The way you would throw an uppercut elbow is
essentially the same as a punch, as far as what the rest of your body is
doing -- turning out the heel, pivoting the hips, etc.
rondolce
Since you haven't described how you throw the uppercut (weightshift,
snap, etc.) I'd suggest you get some formal instruction.
BURKE THE BOLD
I always try getting my hips into the uppercut.
Goodkill
rondolce wrote:
> Since you haven't described how you throw the uppercut (weightshift,
> snap, etc.) I'd suggest you get some formal instruction.
Well, that's the idea, eventually. For now, though, I think I've got
it--I'm just treating it like a rising elbow strike, except with my
fist and a lot more legs.
RTWde...@earthlink.net
effectively. But there's a little bit of dynamic tension action you can
try while practicing this punch. Imagine someone punching at your face.
Picture one hand grabbing the offending fist, twisting your body so
that your hand that has opponent's wrist/hand swings up over your head
and at same time, deliver the uppercut. When you go from one side to
the other, there's some nice torquing going on that'll work your middle
out.
<sigh> my most favorite punch and I just worked it tonight :-) RTW
Chris Tsao
> Find a partner, get some 16 ounce gloves, mouth piece, start boxing. Take
> some boxing lessons.
For solo training, this below might not be sll that good or somebody
would've mentioned it already. I found it under keywords "uppercut
attachment." I just looked for it again in Google Images, but bfore
clicking on Google Images, I accidentally clicked on Google Groups and
saw that it was discussed here a few times already. Now I gotta check
to see if it got favorable replies.
Shuurai
Be really careful about the whole "sleeve snapping" thing. A lot of
people think that sound means they're generating power, but frankly it
means no such thing. If you want to know if your punch has power, you
have to hit something.
All a snapping sleeve means is that your punch *stopped* a lot faster
than your sleeve did. Has little to do with how hard you're hitting
someone.
Bloodbeard (a.k.a. Goodkill)
Shuurai wrote:
> Be really careful about the whole "sleeve snapping" thing. A lot of
> people think that sound means they're generating power, but frankly it
> means no such thing. If you want to know if your punch has power, you
> have to hit something.
> All a snapping sleeve means is that your punch *stopped* a lot faster
> than your sleeve did. Has little to do with how hard you're hitting
> someone.
You're right, I was beginning to take the sleeve snap as a requisite
for a good strike. Thanks for the advice, though I think that the
sleeve snap does have value. While it has no direct relation to the
power of your punch, it does to speed--the speed at which your arm
moved was greater than the inertia generated by the sleeve--which thus
influences momentum which influences power. Most hand strikes should be
fast, which means that you should probably hear some snap when you
punch with sleeves on. Point taken, however.
Chris Tsao
I watched a Chris Getz boxing tape today. He says for snapping punches
to the head that you snap the punch to give energy immediately to your
target and that you don't want to have your hand in contact with the
head for any length of time; you just want to be very briefly in
contact with the target. Though when he was saying all this he had only
demonstrated it with straight punches. I swear I heard him say not to
extend your arm that far, unless I was hearing things.
When the boxers in my gym throw lead uppercuts to the body, they lean
far to the side before launching the punch. I was never able to pick up
how far they leaned to the side by watching fights on TV. I had to see
it in person. For a left uppercut to the chin, my trainer told me to
lock my elbow. Another trainer, who doesn't train me, saw me
ppractising it, then came over to me and told me that I was doing it
wrong because I was blocking my view. He showed me how to do it with my
fist extended way past my elbow, to the point where his arm was almoost
as extended as a jab.
Chris Tsao
I was watching another boxing instruction video a few hours ago. In the
videos the instructor, didn't do much talking. He'd point a lot. Right
before throwing a right uppercut, he pointed to the tip of his right
hip. Right befvore throwing a left uppercut, he'd point to the tip of
his left hip. So please correct me if I am wrong, I am gathering that
you put most of the force into the side of the same hip you are
throwing the uppercut from?
Maybe this is why there is an expression shoot from the hip and not
shoot from the hips?