Martial Arts Of The World - Webs
Martial Arts Of The World - Webs Martial Arts Of The World - Webs
48 Boxing, European If there is one punch that defines boxing, it is the jab, a straight punch thrown from the shoulder with a short step forward. This lunge makes it possible to fight from a distance beyond even the range of kicks. The jab snaps forward from a blocking position; upon striking, the fist snaps back in direct line, retracing its path. Beginners traditionally practice only the jab from four to six months before learning the other punches. This is intended to raise the level of the weaker side of the body to that of the stronger. Thus the jab is the boxer’s first lesson in self-control, and the primary indicator or measuring device of skill level in the art. The jab is also an external measuring tool, in the sense that it has been called a range finder, or means of determining and establishing the distance between the boxer and the opponent. It is used to keep the opponent at bay, to spark combinations, and to set up the KO (knockout) punch (the classic instance of which is the “one-two punch,” left jab, straight right). The straight right is thrown from the chest with a forward step from the right leg, and counterclockwise rotation of the fist, with the full twisting force of the hips. The left hook, apocryphally said to be the last punch to be developed in boxing, has an aura of mystery. It is delivered from the side with a bent elbow, palm down. Boxers are often taught to end every combination with a left hook. In order to throw the uppercut, the boxer bends his knees and explodes from floor to ceiling, palm facing the puncher. The blow is designed to land under the chin, brow, nose, or ribs. The overhand right and roundhouse punches tend to be used more often in Western films, barrooms, back alleys, and hockey games than in boxing rings, because they travel in wide, long, swooping arcs and are thus easier for a trained boxer to see and avoid. When a boxer can “get off” these punches outside the opponent’s line of vision, however, they are highly effective. Since the boxer’s goal is to “stop” his opponent, the vulnerable organs and bones are primary targets. When boxers aim for the solar plexus, liver, kidneys, and ribs, though the targets change, the punches do not; boxers simply bend at the knees and throw the jabs, hooks, straight rights, and uppercuts to the body. Straight rights and lefts to the body are also thrown with the elbow, hip, and fist moving together in a plane with the palm facing up. The so-called illegal tactics of boxing are not only integral to the martial art, they have always been a part of the sport. In addition to low blows and holding and hitting, which are commonly practiced in the ring and occasionally penalized, many techniques other than hitting with the knuckles above the waist are used. Rabbit punches are short, chopping blows thumped to the back of an opponent’s neck, usually while in a clinch. These punches are outlawed in the ring because the back of the neck, vertebrae, base of the brain, and the nerves located there are particularly vulnerable. Boxers routinely try to trip each other and throw each other to the ground.
Wrestling, hip throws, armlocks (and arm-breaking submission holds), chokes, and to some extent biting are all part of the arsenal. Elbow and forearm blows are often used in combination. Gouging is also prevalent; the boxer simply extends his thumb while jabbing to catch the opponent’s eye. The boxer’s “third fist” is the head. The upper part of the cranium is used offensively to butt as well as defensively to break a punching opponent’s hand or wrist. Boxers also attack with the fleshy part of the fist (knife-hand edge) and palm-heel strike. Though boxing is officially an empty-handed art, boxers have been known to load their gloves with anything from plaster of Paris to lead dust (recall the studded cestus), or to clench their fists around a solid object, such as a roll of quarters, making their punches much more damaging. Boxing may be distinguished from many other martial arts by the Korean boxer Joe Teiken gets advice from his manager Frank Tabor during a fight in California, 1933. (Courtesy of Joe Svinth) Boxing, European 49
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48 Boxing, European<br />
If there is one punch that defines boxing, it is the jab, a straight punch<br />
thrown from the shoulder with a short step forward. This lunge makes it<br />
possible to fight from a distance beyond even the range of kicks. <strong>The</strong> jab<br />
snaps forward from a blocking position; upon striking, the fist snaps back<br />
in direct line, retracing its path. Beginners traditionally practice only the<br />
jab from four to six months before learning the other punches. This is intended<br />
to raise the level of the weaker side of the body to that of the<br />
stronger. Thus the jab is the boxer’s first lesson in self-control, and the primary<br />
indicator or measuring device of skill level in the art. <strong>The</strong> jab is also<br />
an external measuring tool, in the sense that it has been called a range<br />
finder, or means of determining and establishing the distance between the<br />
boxer and the opponent. It is used to keep the opponent at bay, to spark<br />
combinations, and to set up the KO (knockout) punch (the classic instance<br />
of which is the “one-two punch,” left jab, straight right).<br />
<strong>The</strong> straight right is thrown from the chest with a forward step from<br />
the right leg, and counterclockwise rotation of the fist, with the full twisting<br />
force of the hips. <strong>The</strong> left hook, apocryphally said to be the last punch<br />
to be developed in boxing, has an aura of mystery. It is delivered from the<br />
side with a bent elbow, palm down. Boxers are often taught to end every<br />
combination with a left hook. In order to throw the uppercut, the boxer<br />
bends his knees and explodes from floor to ceiling, palm facing the puncher.<br />
<strong>The</strong> blow is designed to land under the chin, brow, nose, or ribs. <strong>The</strong> overhand<br />
right and roundhouse punches tend to be used more often in Western<br />
films, barrooms, back alleys, and hockey games than in boxing rings, because<br />
they travel in wide, long, swooping arcs and are thus easier for a<br />
trained boxer to see and avoid. When a boxer can “get off” these punches<br />
outside the opponent’s line of vision, however, they are highly effective.<br />
Since the boxer’s goal is to “stop” his opponent, the vulnerable organs<br />
and bones are primary targets. When boxers aim for the solar plexus, liver,<br />
kidneys, and ribs, though the targets change, the punches do not; boxers simply<br />
bend at the knees and throw the jabs, hooks, straight rights, and uppercuts<br />
to the body. Straight rights and lefts to the body are also thrown with<br />
the elbow, hip, and fist moving together in a plane with the palm facing up.<br />
<strong>The</strong> so-called illegal tactics of boxing are not only integral to the martial<br />
art, they have always been a part of the sport. In addition to low blows<br />
and holding and hitting, which are commonly practiced in the ring and occasionally<br />
penalized, many techniques other than hitting with the knuckles<br />
above the waist are used. Rabbit punches are short, chopping blows<br />
thumped to the back of an opponent’s neck, usually while in a clinch. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
punches are outlawed in the ring because the back of the neck, vertebrae,<br />
base of the brain, and the nerves located there are particularly vulnerable.<br />
Boxers routinely try to trip each other and throw each other to the ground.