Many shorter boxer's use weaves to make themselves multi-demensional when fighting taller opponent's - upon weaving one's upper body in an aggressive fashion (either coming forward OR as a means of defense while standing in punching range of their opponent) it can be a catalyst for cocking the body for a left hook - Bobbing (moving the head up and down like a piston) and weaving are primarily (not exclusively) used by shorter fighters.
One rule to always remember regarding your feet is to NEVER allow them to come closer than shoulder width - also, refrain from pointing your front foot directly towards your opponent, keep it slightly turned to the side - doing so allows you the liberty turn away from a punch must easier than if the front foot is pointed directly towards the opponent.
Make certain that you're shifted over your front leg (to some extent) before attempting to throw a left uppercut - afterwards, your body will be positioned to follow the left uppercut with either a straight right or a right hook - FLOW is key here - a left uppercut flows nicely behind either a straight right or a right hook - while throwing it, "tork" your body by turning your chest to the sky - this twisting motion not only allows you to get everything behind the left uppercut, but it also allows you to cock your body for a follow-up right hand.
Synchronization is KEY here - the double jab needs to be fundamental in moving both in and away from an opponent - practice it - practice syncing your jab hand with your front foot - one, two and three jabs moving forward and backwards - make sure they move "together" with your feet always coming-back-home - allow your back-leg to propel the jabs into and through the opponents' defense.
From 1983 to 1989 Rick Ray Taylor was a multi-time State and Regional Golden Gloves and Junior Olympic Champion in the South. His efforts earned him a boxing scholarship to Northern Michigan University in 1989. At the university he would win the Wisconsin State & Milwaukee Regional Golden Gloves titles in 1990 along with the Michigan ABF championship. In 1991 he won the Wisconsin and Milwaukee GG Championships again and in ‘92 Ricky traveled back home to capture the Mississippi/Louisiana ABF Championship. His last fight would be in Mobile, Alabama in 1993...
I am still reelin. It is Sunday evening now as I ponder through a 20-year friendship trying to appraise the incredible value of someone I'll never see again. -difficult- At 2am this morning (Sunday morning) I awoke from my cell-phone buzzing away. After repeated minutes of ignoring it I finally looked to see who could be so brazen at 2am. It was my OEC alum MIKE VAIL. Mike is the ATLANTA PAL Boxing team coach and current APD police-officer:
The most opportune time to land a punch on your opponent is both while they are throwing at you AND immediately after - a pullback is an excellent tool to bait the opponent to throw at you, while allowing yourself the liberty to "pull-back" away from the shot - in order to create a counterpunch opportunity.
Counter-punching is a means of fighting where "patience" reigns - counterpunchers will wait patiently for their opponent to throw a punch, usually a jab, before retaliating with anything - good counterpunchers always remain in the driver seat - always commandeering the flow of the action by remaining in charge by making their opponent pay for trying to land a punch on them - counterpunching involves quick reflexes and (again) an extra-ordinary amount of patience.
This combination must be fluid - each punch must set up the other in a rhythmic flow or else the entire combo will lose its power - the lead off straight right will automatically cock one's shoulder's for a follow-up hook - shoulder's should be level (rather than tilted) upon throwing the straight right - after the right is thrown, your shoulder's will be cocked for a left hook - while throwing the left hook, pull your weight back slightly - doing so will position your body for a follow-up right hand.
Hands will be exceptionally high when throwing this punch as you will most certainly be on the inside when doing so - shift your body downward and be mindful not to drop that front hand when doing so, hands high - tork your body into the shot, chest to the sky - be certain to allow the left uppercut proper motion so as you'll be set up to follow up with another punch, ideally a straight right.
This is one of the few combinations where it may help to telegraph the lead punch - the jab to the body, preferably the chest area, may draw the opponent's hands in a bit - it may even drop them down some to defend against the upper-body shot to their chest - a quick overhand right can follow your immediate drop & jab to their chest - oftentimes, the jab to the chest may not even need to be thrown if a simple feint down low is feasible in the hopes of sneaking your overhand right over their blindside shoulder.
This is a very easy combination to land on people - the high jab to the forehead of your opponent will possibly get their hands (and attention) up, which could expose their body - your intention is to get that right hook "behind" their elbow - same goes for the opposite side - throw your follow-up left hook behind their elbow - be certain that both hands come back to your chin after throwing these body shots - one important element in throwing the right hook to the body and that is to "drag" the shot - you do this by stepping to their side with your front foot upon throwing the punch (rather than stepping between their legs) - doing so allows a dragging motion as opposed to strictly an arm shot that can be swatted away.
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