The Jab, Part 2: Power, Timing, and When to Switch to Elbows

One more thing to consider is jabbing for speed versus power. By pulling back your front shoulder, you can “load” the jab, making it more powerful with the extra weight and distance gained for building up speed—but also much easier to see for your opponent. In this same way, throwing a jab after a punch with your rear hand will be much more powerful, as you (should) have pulled back your front shoulder in doing so.

All strikes are simple at their core, and the core of your striking should be simple. Jabs are fast at punching range and will usually beat out a kick at longer range—even though you might have to step in to close distance. In close, however, jabs are too smothered to have power, and elbows often become the weapon of choice.