Combinations
Set-up diagonal (light jabs, half cross, left body hook, right uppercut)
Flow(light) Left jab → (light) Left jab → (light) Right cross → Left body hook → Right uppercut
The set-up diagonal is a combination where you get the opponent to raise their guard with light left jabs and a half-thrown right, then go from a left body hook into a right uppercut. The first three punches aren't for landing. You use them to prepare the power punch, the left body hook. The flow scatters their attention high, hits low, then goes for the head again, moving the opponent's guard up and down.
| Type | Combinations |
|---|---|
| Notation | 1-1-2-3b-6 |
| Number of punches | 5 |
| Goals | Body Punching Techniques, Diagonal Combinations, Setup-and-Power Techniques |
| Guard | Written for orthodox (left foot forward) |
Set-up diagonal (light jabs, half cross, left body hook, right uppercut): step by step
- Throw light left jabs to the head back to back to draw the opponent's attention and guard up.
- When the guard goes up, don't drive the right cross through. Just throw it lightly. At the same time, lower your left shoulder and load the left body hook.
- At the same moment you pull the right back, turn your body's axis the other way and throw the left body hook into the opponent's side.
- Staying in the tilted position from the left body hook, drive a right uppercut up to the head. You can also throw a right hook to the head here.
- When you finish, bring both hands back in front of your face and settle your guard.
Set-up diagonal (light jabs, half cross, left body hook, right uppercut): key points
- Throw the left jabs lightly, aiming only to draw the opponent's eyes up. Hitting hard delays the next move.
- Stop the right halfway, and while it's out, lower your left shoulder to finish preparing the left body hook. If you try to drive the right through, the preparation won't be ready in time.
- Pull the right back and turn your axis the other way at the same time. This linkage is where the power of the left body hook comes from.
- Throw the last right using the tilted position from the left body hook just as it is. If you straighten up before punching, a gap opens.
Set-up diagonal (light jabs, half cross, left body hook, right uppercut): common mistakes
- Driving the right cross through for real. Your body drifts forward, and you can't load the left body hook.
- Straightening up after the left body hook before throwing the right. The opponent has time to bring their guard back, and the final shot to the head gets stopped.
Set-up diagonal (light jabs, half cross, left body hook, right uppercut): how to practice
- In shadowboxing, keep jab, jab and the half-thrown right light, hit hard only with the left body hook and the right uppercut, and repeat with that contrast in power.
- On the heavy bag, just touch the bag with the first three punches, then drive the left body hook in at body height and the right uppercut at head height. Check that your balance holds all the way to the last right.
Related techniques
By goalBody Punching TechniquesDiagonal CombinationsSetup-and-Power Techniques
Left and right are written for orthodox (left foot forward). If you're southpaw, swap left and right as you read. How to read the notation
This is Japanese-style boxing: techniques as taught at a boxing gym in Japan. American or Mexican coaches may teach some of them differently.