How do you rock Conor with a Jab? Boxing Basics explained.

[One MMA Fan]

After a Torrid pace that left Diaz bloodied and swollen, Mcgregor is still feeling confident and sits in the pocket with Diaz.

At 2:54, all that confidence was flushed out the window by a basic boxing technique known as a "Trigger Step." A normal Jab is not a punch that will turn fights around, generally it hides or sets up other punches.

Moreover, in order to get power into a typical jab; your entire body weight needs to be moving forward. making it both predictable and adding moments to the time it takes to deliver the punch. All this means that a typical jab is very unlikely to blow your opponent backwards- it'll either be a light punch or something they see coming.

But add a Trigger Step? That Jab now has power similar to a straight, with no set up motion required.
"Failure to teach the FALLING STEP ("trigger step") for straight punching has resulted in the LEFT JAB being used generally as a light, auxiliary weapon for making openings and "setting up," instead of as a stunning blow." -Jack Dempsey

So what is a Trigger Step? Most people will find a trigger step extremely awkward feeling and Difficult to do. Basically you do this:
1. Get in a normal boxing stance, lead foot 18 inches or so ahead of the rear foot.
2. Put as much weight as possibly on your lead foot without leaving your stance.
3. WITHOUT REMOVING WEIGHT FROM LEAD FOOT, lift your lead foot.

More from Dempsey:
"You unquestionably will be tempted to shift some of the weight from the left foot to the right foot just before you step. But don't do it. Do nothing with the right foot, which is resting lightly on its ball, NO PRELIMINARY MOVEMENT! Just lift the left foot and LET THE BODY FALL FORWARD IN A LONG, QUICK STEP. The left foot should land flat and solid on the floor at the end of the step. It is a quick, convulsive and extremely awkward step. Yet, it's one of the most important steps of your fistic life; for that falling-forward lurch is the rough diamond out of which will be ground the beautiful, straight knockout jolt. It's the gem-movement of straight punching."

The basis of the trigger step is a way to get all of your weight suddenly falling by putting all the weight on the front foot then catching that falling weight with a quick step forward from the same foot. Done correctly your lead foot will slam the ground louder than a hard slap. Done incorrectly, your instincts will shift your weight onto your back foot before you lift your front, and so your weight will be moving backwards and add nothing to the Jab. Your back foot will do its job on its own- when you trigger step your back foot comes to the rescue by pushing your weight forward. It cannot be overstated how necessary it is to let yourself fall and catching yourself with the lead foot.

You don't jump off it, you don't rock- you just lift it up and your back foot will automatically push you forward as your lead foot catches the weight again.

Conor had just thrown a Jab that fell short. he is already back to balance but still inside Diaz's range.
People make a lot of how Diaz keeps weight on the front foot, but it's why his seemingly half effort straight punches have such dramatic effect. When your heavy on your front foot, you can trigger step at any time- just lift your front foot and your weight is falling hard and fast.

So out of no where with no sign it's coming, Nate trigger steps while at the same time quickly lifting his jab out so that the falling weight is caught by Conor's chin.

This is the punch that initially rocks Conor, blasting him off balance. From here on(2:54 Rd. 2) he is wobbly, spent and his confidence is shot.

When thinking about how and why the trigger step works, the biggest thing to remember is there is no movement that gives away its coming. If you take a moment to practice a trigger step, you'll notice your front foot smacks the ground extremely hard when you catch yourself. If a jab catches your weight before your foot does, it will have the same amount of power behind it(which is all of your body weight in a sudden freefall.)

This type of Jab has KO power and is lightning quick. The down side of this is that being heavy on your front leg opens you to other strikes in MMA- but its a trade off the Diaz bros have been more than willing to take.

If you haven't read Dempsey's Book, 'Championship Fighting,' you definitely should. One last bit from Dempsey:
"Learn now and remember always that in fighting you cannot afford to give your body the luxury of a useless preliminary or preparatory movement before shooting a punch. In the first place, your target may be open for only a split-second, and you must take advantage of that opening like a bolt of lightning. Secondly, preliminary movements are give-aways-"tell-tales"-"telegraphs"-that treacherously betray to your opponent your own next action."

Thanks for taking the time to post, was a nice read, much better then a lot of topics from the front page.

 

[wiseolddragon]

Thanks for all the support!

I'm glad at least some people were able to see what I was on about. I will continue to improve and try to be a slightly more concise in the future.

 

[MusterX]

After a Torrid pace that left Diaz bloodied and swollen, Mcgregor is still feeling confident and sits in the pocket with Diaz.

At 2:54, all that confidence was flushed out the window by a basic boxing technique known as a "Trigger Step." A normal Jab is not a punch that will turn fights around, generally it hides or sets up other punches.

Moreover, in order to get power into a typical jab; your entire body weight needs to be moving forward; making it both predictable and adding moments to the time it takes to deliver the punch. All this means that a typical jab is very unlikely to blow your opponent backwards- it'll either be a light punch or something they see coming.

But add a Trigger Step? That Jab now has power similar to a straight, with no set up motion required.
"Failure to teach the FALLING STEP ("trigger step") for straight punching has resulted in the LEFT JAB being used generally as a light, auxiliary weapon for making openings and "setting up," instead of as a stunning blow." -Jack Dempsey

So what is a Trigger Step? Most people will find a trigger step extremely awkward feeling and Difficult to do. Basically you do this:
1. Get in a normal boxing stance, lead foot 18 inches or so ahead of the rear foot.
2. Put as much weight as possible on your lead foot without leaving your stance.
3. WITHOUT REMOVING WEIGHT FROM LEAD FOOT, lift your lead foot.

More from Dempsey:
"You unquestionably will be tempted to shift some of the weight from the left foot to the right foot just before you step. But don't do it. Do nothing with the right foot, which is resting lightly on its ball, NO PRELIMINARY MOVEMENT! Just lift the left foot and LET THE BODY FALL FORWARD IN A LONG, QUICK STEP. The left foot should land flat and solid on the floor at the end of the step. It is a quick, convulsive and extremely awkward step. Yet, it's one of the most important steps of your fistic life; for that falling-forward lurch is the rough diamond out of which will be ground the beautiful, straight knockout jolt. It's the gem-movement of straight punching."

The basis of the trigger step is a way to get all of your weight suddenly falling by putting all the weight on the front foot then catching that falling weight with a quick step forward from the same foot. Done correctly your lead foot will slam the ground louder than a hard slap. Done incorrectly, your instincts will shift your weight onto your back foot before you lift your front, and so your weight will be moving backwards and add nothing to the Jab. Your back foot will do its job on its own- when you trigger step your back foot comes to the rescue by pushing your weight forward. It cannot be overstated how necessary it is to let yourself fall and catching yourself with the lead foot.

You don't jump off it, you don't rock- you just lift it up and your back foot will automatically push you forward as your lead foot catches the weight again.

Conor had just thrown a Jab that fell short. He is already back to balance but still inside Diaz's range.
People make a lot of how Diaz keeps weight on the front foot, but it's why his seemingly half effort straight punches have such dramatic effect. When your heavy on your front foot, you can trigger step at any time- just lift your front foot and your weight is falling hard and fast.

So out of no where with no sign it's coming, Nate trigger steps while at the same time quickly lifting his jab out so that the falling weight is caught by Conor's chin.

This is the punch that initially rocks Conor, blasting him off balance. From here on(2:54 Rd. 2) he is wobbly, spent and his confidence is shot.

When thinking about how and why the trigger step works, the biggest thing to remember is there is no movement that gives away its coming. If you take a moment to practice a trigger step, you'll notice your front foot smacks the ground extremely hard when you catch yourself. If a jab catches your weight before your foot does, it will have the same amount of power behind it(which is all of your body weight in a sudden freefall.)

This type of Jab has KO power and is lightning quick. The down side of this is that being heavy on your front leg opens you to other strikes in MMA- but its a trade off the Diaz bros have been more than willing to take.

If you haven't read Dempsey's Book, 'Championship Fighting,' you definitely should. One last bit from Dempsey:
"Learn now and remember always that in fighting you cannot afford to give your body the luxury of a useless preliminary or preparatory movement before shooting a punch. In the first place, your target may be open for only a split-second, and you must take advantage of that opening like a bolt of lightning. Secondly, preliminary movements are give-aways-"tell-tales"-"telegraphs"-that treacherously betray to your opponent your own next action."

Awesome post of an old school boxing technique. They don't call it the sweet science for nothing.

 

[Buster C]

That's not taking the weight off your legs. Jump while keeping the weight on your legs. It ain't happening.

What is being described here is contracting your leg while falling forward.

F = ma, so your weight, F, is your body's mass, m times a, gravity. If your muscles are strong enough -- have enough force-- to accelerate faster than gravity, then you can contract your leg while falling forward. Stand on one foot, squat down a little, then see if you can get airborne. It ain't that hard.

 

[Wariowokecancel]

F = ma, so your weight, F, is your body's mass, m times a, gravity. If your muscles are strong enough -- have enough force-- to accelerate faster than gravity, then you can contract your leg while falling forward. Stand on one foot, squat down a little, then see if you can get airborne. It ain't that hard.

Meanwhile you have zero weight on your leg.

Weight on leg means it's supporting it.

What this maneuver is describing is shifting your balance forward. Your center of gravity toward.

You contract your leg and fall forward with your body weight falling forward behind your jab. Like a super man punch but with a leg still on the ground.

 

[Combat Wombatt]

After a Torrid pace that left Diaz bloodied and swollen, Mcgregor is still feeling confident and sits in the pocket with Diaz.

At 2:54, all that confidence was flushed out the window by a basic boxing technique known as a "Trigger Step." A normal Jab is not a punch that will turn fights around, generally it hides or sets up other punches.

Moreover, in order to get power into a typical jab; your entire body weight needs to be moving forward; making it both predictable and adding moments to the time it takes to deliver the punch. All this means that a typical jab is very unlikely to blow your opponent backwards- it'll either be a light punch or something they see coming.

But add a Trigger Step? That Jab now has power similar to a straight, with no set up motion required.
"Failure to teach the FALLING STEP ("trigger step") for straight punching has resulted in the LEFT JAB being used generally as a light, auxiliary weapon for making openings and "setting up," instead of as a stunning blow." -Jack Dempsey

So what is a Trigger Step? Most people will find a trigger step extremely awkward feeling and Difficult to do. Basically you do this:
1. Get in a normal boxing stance, lead foot 18 inches or so ahead of the rear foot.
2. Put as much weight as possible on your lead foot without leaving your stance.
3. WITHOUT REMOVING WEIGHT FROM LEAD FOOT, lift your lead foot.

More from Dempsey:
"You unquestionably will be tempted to shift some of the weight from the left foot to the right foot just before you step. But don't do it. Do nothing with the right foot, which is resting lightly on its ball, NO PRELIMINARY MOVEMENT! Just lift the left foot and LET THE BODY FALL FORWARD IN A LONG, QUICK STEP. The left foot should land flat and solid on the floor at the end of the step. It is a quick, convulsive and extremely awkward step. Yet, it's one of the most important steps of your fistic life; for that falling-forward lurch is the rough diamond out of which will be ground the beautiful, straight knockout jolt. It's the gem-movement of straight punching."

The basis of the trigger step is a way to get all of your weight suddenly falling by putting all the weight on the front foot then catching that falling weight with a quick step forward from the same foot. Done correctly your lead foot will slam the ground louder than a hard slap. Done incorrectly, your instincts will shift your weight onto your back foot before you lift your front, and so your weight will be moving backwards and add nothing to the Jab. Your back foot will do its job on its own- when you trigger step your back foot comes to the rescue by pushing your weight forward. It cannot be overstated how necessary it is to let yourself fall and catching yourself with the lead foot.

You don't jump off it, you don't rock- you just lift it up and your back foot will automatically push you forward as your lead foot catches the weight again.

Conor had just thrown a Jab that fell short. He is already back to balance but still inside Diaz's range.
People make a lot of how Diaz keeps weight on the front foot, but it's why his seemingly half effort straight punches have such dramatic effect. When your heavy on your front foot, you can trigger step at any time- just lift your front foot and your weight is falling hard and fast.

So out of no where with no sign it's coming, Nate trigger steps while at the same time quickly lifting his jab out so that the falling weight is caught by Conor's chin.

This is the punch that initially rocks Conor, blasting him off balance. From here on(2:54 Rd. 2) he is wobbly, spent and his confidence is shot.

When thinking about how and why the trigger step works, the biggest thing to remember is there is no movement that gives away its coming. If you take a moment to practice a trigger step, you'll notice your front foot smacks the ground extremely hard when you catch yourself. If a jab catches your weight before your foot does, it will have the same amount of power behind it(which is all of your body weight in a sudden freefall.)

This type of Jab has KO power and is lightning quick. The down side of this is that being heavy on your front leg opens you to other strikes in MMA- but its a trade off the Diaz bros have been more than willing to take.

If you haven't read Dempsey's Book, 'Championship Fighting,' you definitely should. One last bit from Dempsey:
"Learn now and remember always that in fighting you cannot afford to give your body the luxury of a useless preliminary or preparatory movement before shooting a punch. In the first place, your target may be open for only a split-second, and you must take advantage of that opening like a bolt of lightning. Secondly, preliminary movements are give-aways-"tell-tales"-"telegraphs"-that treacherously betray to your opponent your own next action."

Cool.



Makes sense why the Diazs don't check kicks. Can't do it when almost all of your weight is on your front foot.

 

[Bork]

I'm assuming you are referring to this moment:

First of all he didn't get rocked in this sequence, it was the 1-2 that happened later on.
Second, all the stuff you wrote is just a fancy way of saying stiff jab.

Yeah, this was a solid jab, but I also think it was the 1-2 that really rocked Conor and led to his defeat.

 

[Wariowokecancel]

F = ma, so your weight, F, is your body's mass, m times a, gravity. If your muscles are strong enough -- have enough force-- to accelerate faster than gravity, then you can contract your leg while falling forward. Stand on one foot, squat down a little, then see if you can get airborne. It ain't that hard.

Muay Thai - your weight on your back leg and your knee goes up because you're jumping up and you put the power going up.

This maneuver is you falling forward after putting your weight forward.

I can jump on one leg but it requires putting weight on the jumping leg.

 

[Buster C]

Meanwhile you have zero weight on your leg.

Weight on leg means it's supporting it.

What this maneuver is describing is shifting your balance forward. Your center of gravity toward.

You contract your leg and fall forward with your body weight falling forward behind your jab. Like a super man punch but with a leg still on the ground.

When you lift your lead leg, the rear foot now supports your weight, so you pivot toward your opponent around your back foot.

 

[tdluxon]

Nate has never been KO'd. Nate was partying on a yacht in Mexico 12 days before the fight. If the fight ever hits the mat Mcgregor gets subbed. Nate has heart and never gasses. In a 5 round fight Mcgregor loses every time. 155 with a full camp would be even worse for Conor. You are delusional. It's like saying well Weidman beat Rockhold in the first round, who cares in the end he was dominated.

I'm a big Nate fan but I have to point out he was koed by josh Thompson

 

[Wariowokecancel]

Yes.

I am not shitting on this technique or the sweet science but this description is wrong. You are falling forward. You cannot put weight on something that is not a surface. You are shifting balance forward. Change of center of gravity.

And it's not a superman punch launched from your back leg.

I actually spent some time trying this in my moms basement drinking Mountain Dew and fapping to anime. Eating pizza.

 

[HaulParris]

Thank You TS, good stuff. I really like this kind of technical breakdown. That Dempsey book is legit, I've heard superb quotes from it on the "Heavy Hands" podcast.

 

[Wariowokecancel]

When you lift your lead leg, the rear foot now supports your weight, so you pivot toward your opponent around your back foot.

Yes.

 

[camelfarmer1]

Haha this.

 

[Paynebringer]

A well placed jab is very effective and can be very jarring I know this because I've been on the wrong end of a powerful and well placed jab. Your equilibrium gets disrupted momentarily your eyez gets blurry from the water it just instantly produced not to mention the pins & needles sensation shooting through your brain. An effective jab is a dangerous weapon in any fighters toolbox.

 

[Oboeplata]

Thank you very much for your detailed and most insightful post TS.

 

[wiseolddragon]

Thank you very much for your detailed and most insightful post TS.

Thanks for the encouragement, there will be more to come

 

[lock-jaw]

lol at the idiots posting didn't read or calling TS out for over analysing.

This is the best thread I've read today.

 

[Beastman09]

No it's not, read, then post.

Doesn't' matter what you calll it, thats what it is.

 

[wiseolddragon]

lol at the idiots posting didn't read or calling TS out for over analysing.

This is the best thread I've read today.

Heh thank you for the support.