The Jab

Whether in MMA, point sparring, or a realstic altercaton, it makes no difference, the jab is the most effective combat technique to date. Unfortunately, very few mrtial artists know how to take full advantage of it's many uses. What follows is a comprehensive explantion and illustration of both why the jab should be used and for what purposes. First, I'll explain the many advantages a well developed jab has over other combat techniques. In other words, why you should develop a strong jab.

The jab, or forward hand strike, as some call it, is the closest weapon to the target when fired form a strong defensive position. This means it has the shortest amount of distance to cover from its starting point to the point of pressure (moment of impact against the target) and consequently, the shortest amount of distance as it travels back, allowing the exocutioner a minimal amount of time between strong defesnive positions. When thrown correctly, the hand should extend and cover the face of the executioner when viewed from a linear perspective, providing good defense throughout the technique's execution.

The jab moves directly to the target in a linear fashion. In geometry, it is stated that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. This principle, applied to combat, significanly shortens the distance a technique must travel before reaching the target and, therefor, the distance it must travel back. In combat, only two things can be ganed aganst an opponent: distance and time. The jab enables the executioner to gain both.

Due to the natural mechanics of the human body, the human's natural use of the hands, and the two principles mentioned above, the jab is the fastest technique known to man. Speed is one of the hardest attributes to overcome in an opponent. Truly explosive fighters have always lerned to develop an explosively quick, stinging jab that allows them to blister and frustrte their opponent while not slugging it out toe to toe with them. I will discuss this in more detail when we analize the many purposes of the jab.

The jab, or forward hand strike, as it will be more appropriately refered to in this instance, has the largest "window of opportunity" of any technique. This means there are more ways of executing the jab as a direct technique as well as a number of target areas and purposes it may be applied to. The forward hand strike may be used as a finger jab, for street altercations, a trdditional boxer's jab, a backfist, a ridge hand, or open hand obstruction. There are limitless angles the forward hand strike may utalize, as illustrated by the difference between the boxer's jab and the backfist. Target opportunities as well are both limitless and directly relted to the intended purpose of the strike. It may be used to strike the head, neck, body, or hands. I have even seen it used to strike the knee area.

Combat is a deffensive endeavor. This means you must establish a strong defensive gameplan before effectively using offensive strategy. Along with control of distance, the most important defensive principle is maintaining a strong defensive position or stance. This means you should give your opponent as little center line as possible, weight should be evenly distributed over each foot, allowing you freedom of movement by way of effective footwork, your hands should be up by your cheek bones, and your elbows should stay close to your rib cage. Any offensive movement requires a temporary compromise of this position and the practitioner should keep that compromise as small as possible. The sooner the prctitioner can retract the weapon, the sooner this defensive position can be reestablished and the safer the practitioner will be. This principle is known as "recovery time". A failure to demonstrte good recovery time results in "hang time", a gap in offensive timing caused by the split second delay in retracting the weapon after the technique is extended. Good counter fighters look for this mistake nd capitlize on it. Because an effective jab moves directly to the target from a position closest to the target, it allows the smallest compromise in defensive positioning and quickest recovery time of any technique there is.

Understanding now, the advantage the jab has over other techniques, we will look at it's many uses.

An effective jab is one that, first and formost, stabalizes the target. This allows the executioner to impliment one of the cardinal rules of combat: "always neutrlize your opponents position, offense, and advantages". A good jab is a sudden, explosive relese of confined energy straight into the intended target. By putting your opponents attention on the stinging jab or on defending against the jab, you have stabalized him for a power shot. And by stabalizing the target, you have nullified your opponent's ability to do damage at that moment.

An effective jab is one that is used to set up an opponent. The jab, when well placed and executed repetedly with authority, causes an opponent to give in to his mind's eye. As you continue to score the jab, your opponent will begin to anticipate it as he tries to read your bady movement. At this point, he is thinking in the future tense and a good fighter can fake a jab to one area of the body and complete the technique or surprise attack to another ungaurded area. A good fighter can also complete the jab, as expected, but double or tripple up on it or execute additional strikes behind it. In a smilar fashion, the jab can be used to disrupt the strong defensive posture of an opponent who's mind is in the future tense. You can fake low to bring his guard down and execute high, or vise versa. This is called "The high, low principle".

An effective jab is one that can be used to close the gap. The most importnt manuver in combat is to explosively close the gap between you and your opponent without him repositioning or hitting you on the way in. This is especially true for short fighters, such as myself. The execution of a jab begins withthe non-telegrphic movement of the hand. This is called "independant motion" and helps prevent your opponent from spotting your initial move. As your jab extends to stabalize the target, thus preventing him from repositioning or firing back, you must step in behind it. This step not only adds power to all techniques, but effectively closes the gap on your opponent. Now your are close enough to execute your prefered method of attack.

And effective jab is one that allows the executioner to effectively guage distance. This is especially true for kickers and grapplers. As stated before, all techniques temporaraly compromise your defensive positioning, some more than others. Kicks require you to stand on one leg, compromising balance while exposing more target areas, whereas a takedown requires you to advance your target area straight towards your opponent's weapons. To incorrectly judge the distance needed to execute either type of attack would mean getting hit or taken down yourself. Because the jab requires a minimal compromise in defensive positioning and moves directly towrds the target, it is the idel technique for gauging the distance required for a kick or takedown.

An effective jab is one that allows the executioner to gauge the defensive or offensive counter reaction of one's opponent. If you are unsure of which techniques or angles of attack to utalize against a respective opponent, sting them with a few quick jabs. This will expose both a fighters defensive and counter offensive game plan as well as their weaknesses. Landing constant jabs on your opponent will frustrate him and frustrated fighters tense up and begin to make mistakes where they are weakest.

An effective jab is one that allows the executioner to blind his opponent. This can be done in several ways, the first and most obvious being the action of obstructing your opponent's vision and concentrtion by putting your hand in his face. You can also make your opponent blink, cut him so that the blood runs down into his eyes, cause his eyes to swell shut, or hit him in the nose, causing his eyes to water.

An effective jab is one that allows the executioner to turn the opponent. One of the key strtgies in combat is to control your opponent's set point. Being "set" primarily means three things: (1)Attaining the correct distance (2) Attaining the correct alignment (3) Being ready to fire. Taking away one or more of these three things will prevent your opponent from being able to launch an effective offensive movement against you. One of the best ways to take away your opponent's alignment is to physically turn him with both your footwork and technique. By physically turning your opponent's head or body from one side to the other, so that he loses both his alignment and aim (part of being ready) allows you to control his set point, thereby neutralizing his postion as well as any advantage he may have. Using your jab to strike your opponent in the neck or behind the jaw is an excellent way to do this. It also opens up more target areas to attack. One good example is to use an oppen hand obstruction against your opponent's forward shoulder, squaring his hips towards you, exposing his center line, and placing him off balance for a takedown.

An effective jab is one that allows you to back your opponent up. Against larger opponents or pressure fighters, this is a key strtegy if you wish to conserve energy and avoid being cornered or having the ring cut off against you. Striking your opponent between set points with an explosive, authoritative jab will cause him to place his weight back on his heels and possible straighten his knees out. When this happens, size makes no difference, you can back him up and even knock him down with your power shots.

And effective jab is one that allows the executioner to effectively displace the lead hand of the opponent, neutralizing it's use for offense and create an oppening for a follow up strike. This is similar to trapping techniques. A jab can be thrown against your opponent's defensively postured hand to pat it down, obstructing his offense and creating an oppening. You can also strike the forearm of elbow, trapping the opponent's arm against his own body for a brief moment, allowing you to strike. Be sure to follow up instantly.

And effective jab is one that the executioner may use as a defensive tool. Although slipping, shoulder and body rolls, leg checks, and sprawls are a must, a good jab can be used in their place. As you control your opponent's set point (distance, alignment, and readiness), you keep him from acquiring the position he needs to fire against you. If your opponent executes, for example, a hard leg kick, normally you would check it. However, should your opponent attempt to execute the leg kick, explosively step in as your opponent hits the set point and readies himself to torque the hips and fire the kick. As you step inside his knee, land a double jab to his face and explode back out. What happened to the kick? You neutralized it. The same can be done against any technique.

The old saying is "if you can't jab, you can't fight". In effect, this is true. However, those who can execute an explosive, authoritative, and educated jab, can fight very, very well. How effective is your jab?