Why I am countered for my jab?

Jab is the ultimate weapon for a boxer. The first and foremost punch a boxer ever learns irrespective of his fighting style. Either a newbie or elite, a fighter can never survive without a jab. Jab is your survival tool. If you want to establish the range, you need to jab. If you need to get away for your opponent, you need to jab. If you aim to set up the knockout punch, you need to jab. Do you have to time your opponent? You need to jab. If you are fighting against an aggressive fighter, you must jab!

Sounds like first aid? Well yeah! It is!

So, the jab is the ultimate weapon that you need to master to stay in the ring. The most amazing thing about boxing is that it is an adventurous sport. There is a whole plethora of techniques, strategies, plots, and much more. You will never stop learning. Once you learn the technique that is when the real deal begins. Rather than just learning the technique, you must master the jab, as the jab is the ultimate answer to almost every situation.

You can find the above information everywhere. However, let me tell you this is one side of the picture. Jabbing is on your part but a keen boxer must be ready for the counter-attack. Didn't think of it earlier? Let me clarify it for you.

You jab forward. You will be countered. Jabbed running away? Your opponent will most probably follow you and take your ground. Jabbing while standing still? You will surely face harder punches. In short, using your jabs in such ways simply means that you are not prepared enough. Thinking? Thinking, what you must do to own the victory? Well, I have got you covered. To improve your jab and to avoid the counter damage you must know why you are being countered in the first place. So, here are some common mistakes boxers commit while they throw their jab.

You are being typical

The most important and primary reason to be countered is that you are doing the same things. Whatever the technique, whichever strategy you choose to fight with, if it is predictable you will surely get countered. To avoid it, you may aim your jab at different places and different body positions. You may throw jabs at the most unpredictable moments. You may also try using feint or moving a little bit to dodge your opponent and make him vulnerable to your jab. Most important of all, do not lead with jabs every time.

Leaning your head inwards

Another blunder most of the boxers make is leaning inwards while throwing a jab. This makes you vulnerable to your opponent's right-hand uppercut. So, you may analyze your posture in the mirror and practice to throw a jab. It is important because if you do not watch out for posture you will most probably get a taste of a harder counter.

Too slow

Being slow in boxing doesn't mean you do not have enough energy but that you are doing things in inappropriate ways that make your jab slower. These practices may include having too much stress, poor jab technique, pushing jab instead of snapping jab, and the silliest mistake: rotating hips and shoulders while throwing a jab to gain more power.

Poor technique

The key focus points for a hard impact jab are the speed, non-telegraph, quick recovery, and pop to it. Above all, your opponent must be surprised with your jab. If you are facing difficulty with your jab, you must know that you must be lacking in any of these four main points of a hard impact jab. If you fail to surprise your opponent your jab will ultimately be slowed down and it would be too predictable for your opponent to block it with no significant damage. To throw a powerful and damaging jab, you must be committed to your jab which means that you plan it properly and deliver it properly.

Now let me share some tips to avoid counter.

Feints

Faking your jab works the best! You must try using feints for throwing the jab or you may also try faking a jab and then throw anything else. It not only lands successfully but it also teaches your opponent not to predict your moves.

Innovate your jabs

You should try faster yet lighter jabs. You must extend your arm and try to touch the opponent. Touching him anywhere will surely make him go crazy. However, you must try to make any contact with your opponent.

Use different aims

Keeping in mind the point about being predictable, it is highly recommended that you aim for different body parts when throwing a jab. Go for his face once and then target somewhere else so that you won't be predictable which saves him very less amount of time to counter your jab. There is a point to be mentioned that most of the boxers aim for the head. Therefore, we recommend that you must aim for his chest, arms, shoulders, and body.

Head Movement

Keep your head tilted or slipped to one side. You must throw your jab with head tilted and then bring it back to its position.

What's next?

We have talked about the pre-marriage scenario. However, if you are all set up with your feint or plot for your jab, there is another thing you must keep in mind to avoid the counters. It is that you should always be prepared for the second shot. This makes it too difficult for your opponent to predict you and that wins you a chance.

Keynote: Jab is the basic and most deadly weapon that you must master. It is not all about learning how to jab but how to make it as effective as it can be. Jabs, if delivered half-heartedly will cause you more damage than your opponent. Therefore, you must learn to deal with the counter-attack as well as your second shot.