THE GUARD
Everything starts with the guard. And everything returns to it.
From an orthodox stance, check yourself against the points: both hands up, chin tucked, elbows tucked, eyes forward, balanced stance.
Your left hand is forward, up at cheek height, your right hand is tucked up at your chin, guarding your jaw. Your elbows are tucked tight to your ribs. Your stance is balanced, weight on the balls of your feet, ready to move, ready to punch, ready to defend.
From guard you jab, you cross, you hook, and after every punch you are back on guard, balanced and ready again.
THE LEFT JAB
Everything starts with the jab.
It is not just a punch. It is your range finder, your timing tool, and the punch that sets up everything else. Thrown properly, it is fast, straight, and back on guard before your opponent can answer it.
From an orthodox stance, check yourself against the four points: right hand up, chin tucked, left hand extended with knuckles forward, balanced stance.
Snap it out, don't push it. Extend fully, turn your knuckles over, and bring it straight back to guard. Speed and timing beat power here.
THE RIGHT CROSS
The right cross is your power punch from the rear hand — but power does not come from your arm.
It comes from the ground up. From an orthodox stance, drive from your rear foot, heel pivoting, rotate your hip forward, rotate your shoulder forward, and extend your right hand straight, knuckles forward, palm rotated down at the end.
Check yourself against the points: right hand extended, knuckles forward. Left hand up, in guard position. Chin tucked. Rotate shoulder. Rotate hip. Drive from your rear foot. Balanced stance.
Your left hand stays home while your right goes out. Your chin stays tucked behind your shoulder. And the moment the cross lands, you are back on guard, balanced and ready.
THE LEFT HOOK
The left hook is the punch that finishes combinations.
It is not an arm punch. It is not a wide swing. It is a short, sharp, horizontal punch from your lead hand, driven by your hips and your feet, with your elbow bent and your chin protected.
From an orthodox stance, left foot forward, right foot dropped back in a wider, stable stance: right hand up, guarding your chin. Chin tucked, protecting your jaw. Left hand hook, elbow bent 90 degrees. Palm facing down, on a horizontal arc. Rotate your hips and shoulder forward. Pivot on the ball of your lead foot, drive from your rear foot, and finish balanced, on the balls of your feet.
Keep the forearm up, close in, at chin height. Your left elbow is up, your right hand has not moved, and your chin is still behind your guard.
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