Solar plexus shot (left body jab)

Solar plexus shot (left body jab): step by step

1. Bend your knees, sink, and bring your left fist to the height of the opponent's solar plexus.
2. Keep your left fist along your body's centerline and thrust it straight at the opponent's body.
3. Time it to the opponent leaning forward, and drive your fist in deep.
4. After punching, bring your left hand back in front of your face, straighten your knees and return to your guard height.

Solar plexus shot (left body jab): key points

• Don't bring your fist around from the side. Put it in straight from in front of the opponent. Use a different angle of rotation from the liver shot, which comes around from the outside, depending on where you're aiming.
• The more the opponent leans forward as they come in, the deeper it goes in. Time it to that lean and drive through as if digging in.
• Match the height with your knees, and keep your eyes on the opponent.

Solar plexus shot (left body jab): common mistakes

• Letting your fist come around from the outside. It lands off center, toward the side, and the target gets blurry.
• Tipping your upper body forward to match the height. Your head comes into the opponent's range, and you're easier to hit from above.

Solar plexus shot (left body jab): how to practice

• In shadowboxing, sink with your knees, throw the left body jab straight to the center, and come right back up to your normal height. Alternate it with the liver shot to feel the difference in path.
• On the heavy bag, aim at the center at body height and drive in the left body jab. Timing it to the bag as it swings back lets you picture an opponent coming forward.

Related techniques

• Liver shot (left body hook)
  3b
• Jab setup into a right cross to the body
  12b
• One-two, step in, right cross to the body
  12Step in2b
• Mix it up high and low
  High and low
• Choose your punches by range
  Pick by range