Japanese-Style Boxing One-Two Techniques

Combinations built on the one-two, the left jab and right cross. They differ in how you get in, which punch finishes, and how you move after punching. 27 techniques

• One-two (jab, cross)
  12
  The one-two is the most basic combination: you throw a left jab and follow it right away with a right cross. The left sets the path to the opponent and the target, and the right drives through that same target with the rotation of your whole body. Many other combinations start from this shape, so lock it in early, just as you would your guard.
• One-two-hook (jab, cross, left hook)
  123
  The one-two-hook is a three-punch combination that adds a left hook after the one-two. If you only throw straight punches, your attack gets monotonous and easy to read, so here you work in sideways rotation on purpose. The key is to use your hips turning back from the right cross as the load for the left hook.
• One-two-one (the third jab is the power punch)
  121
  This is a three-punch combination where you throw one more left jab after the one-two, and the power punch is the third and last one. Use the first two to lightly touch the opponent's guard, shifting where it sits and checking how they react. When the guard moves and leaves an opening, land the third punch, the left jab, precisely there.
• Two-three (cross, left hook)
  23
  The two-three is a combination where you throw a right cross and then come back with a left hook. If you only throw straight punches, the opponent can deal with them by tightening up in front and backing away. Mixing in a left hook that comes in from the side lets you aim around the outside of their guard. You can use it as the follow-up after the right of a one-two, or on its own.
• One-two with a deep step-in
  Step in12
  This is a move where you step in deeper than your usual step-in and then throw a one-two, done as a drill to lengthen your step-in. In a real exchange, it lets you get closer than the opponent expects, so your punches land more easily. But it assumes your stance holds even when you go deep, and that you can get back out after punching.
• Decoy jab (missed on purpose) into the real one-two
  Decoy12
  The decoy jab into the real one-two is a combination where you throw a left jab that falls short on purpose, draw a reaction from the opponent, and then throw the real one-two. Reacting to the decoy jab, the opponent's feet may stop, or you may see a habit in how they move their guard. Of those, you aim for the moment their feet stop and slip the real one-two in.
• One-two, step back, left jab
  12Step back1
  One-two, step back, left jab is a combination where you throw a one-two, step back, reset the distance and place a left jab. Instead of staying close to the opponent when you finish punching, you put your left hand out in front of them as they chase, so you start what comes next from your own range. Use it when you want to tighten up your defense right after attacking.
• One-two-one and step straight back
  121Step back
  In the one-two-one and step straight back, you land the third punch, a left jab, after a light one-two, and step back right after you punch. The first two move the guard, and once the third lands you go straight out of the opponent's reach. Since you don't stay in front of them when you finish, you can make them hit air even if they punch back.
• Pawing jab, then step in with the real one-two
  1Step in12
  A pawing jab is a light jab thrown to draw a reaction from the opponent rather than to land. You put it out lightly, and the moment they tighten their guard or throw a hand, you step in with a hard one-two. The gap between the light punch and the power punch slows their response. Use it when the distance is a little long and the power punch won't reach from where you are.
• One-two, step back, one-two
  12Step back12
  In the one-two, step back, one-two, you throw a one-two, move back once to take yourself out of the opponent's attack, and then come back in with another one-two. You run attack, exit and re-attack as one unit. Because you step back and reset the distance before going in, you can throw the second one-two from a range that's easy to punch from.
• One-two, slip out to the side
  12Slip
  One-two, slip out to the side is a way to finish a one-two: instead of staying in front of the opponent, you move to the side. The end of your punches is when the opponent tends to return a left jab, and if you're still in front of them, you're an easy target. So you step your right foot out, change position with your whole body, and get off the line of the returning jab.
• One-two with a double-step entry
  Double step12
  The one-two with a double-step entry starts from long range and closes the distance a little at a time, splitting the step into two before you punch. Your feet stay on the floor longer than with one big jump in, so you're harder to hit on the way in. Your range from mitt work won't reach here, so this form assumes you go in a little deeper.
• Decoy one-two, then left jab
  Decoy121
  The decoy one-two to left jab is a combination where you first show a one-two you have no intention of landing, then send the power left jab through when the opponent reacts. The one-two is just for show. It moves the opponent's guard and stops their feet. Because the third punch goes into the opening, you need to watch the opponent's reaction closely as you punch.
• One-two-hook (light, light, full)
  123
  The light, light, full one-two-hook is the one-two-hook with a clear contrast in power. The left jab and right cross are shallow, short setup punches that draw the opponent's guard together, and you step in big only on the left hook, the power punch. The idea is to set your position by the left hook, which has the shortest range of the three.
• Decoy jab, jab, retreating jab, one-two
  Decoy11Step back12
  Decoy jab, jab, retreating jab, one-two is an advanced combination. You open with a decoy jab, add a jab and a jab while stepping back, then step back in and throw a one-two. Going forward, back, then forward again changes the rhythm so the opponent can't read your next move. Work on it once you're comfortable with the basic one-two and the retreating jab.
• Soft one-two-hook (change the rhythm)
  123
  The soft one-two-hook is a combination where you show a one-two-hook in shape only, with almost no power. You don't try to land it. You use it to change the rhythm of an attack that has been going at the same pace. It's also a way to see what the opponent protects and which way they move, so you can use that for your next real attack.
• Jab, cross, left uppercut
  125
  The jab, cross, left uppercut is a three-punch combination that drives a left uppercut up to the head after the left jab and right cross. The one-two gets the opponent to lock their guard in front, and you go up through the gap from below. You can throw it straight from the distance the one-two brought you to. Recentering your weight after the right cross puts power into the third punch, the uppercut.
• One-two and pivot
  12Pivot
  In the one-two and pivot, after throwing the one-two you turn your body on your front foot and move off the opponent's front. You punch at long range, where your arms extend the most, as if pushing the opponent away, and in the same flow you take an angle to the side. The opponent can't throw the next punch until they turn to face you, so they're one move behind on both offense and defense.
• One-two, then walk in
  12Close in
  One-two, then walk in is a move where you throw a one-two and then take another step forward to close the distance to the opponent. If you move away after landing, you give the opponent time to recover and the one-two goes to waste. Instead of a jumping step-in, close the distance as if you're walking, and keep a distance that leads into your next attack.
• One-two on the spot (finding your range)
  On the spot12
  The one-two on the spot is a one-two thrown without moving your feet forward, using only the rotation of your hips and shoulders. Throw it first at the start of a round and you find out clearly whether your fists reach the opponent from where you're standing. If they reach, keep attacking. If not, add a step in. It gives you the basis for that next decision.
• One-two-one with an angled step-in
  12Angled step-in1
  The one-two-one with an angled step-in is a combination where, after the one-two, you step in at an angle to your front left at the same moment you throw the third punch, a left jab. You come off the opponent's front line as you punch, so their return is harder to land and you end up at an angle that makes your next attack easier. It only becomes this technique when the step and the jab happen exactly together.
• Two-three-two (cross, left hook, cross)
  232
  The two-three-two starts with the right cross, puts a left hook in the middle, and throws the right cross again. It's an attack built around the right, switching the direction of your hip rotation quickly: right, left, right. The opponent has to guard both the right and the left at once and can't settle on which one to cover first.
• One-two-hook, then pivot
  123Pivot
  One-two-hook, then pivot is a combination where you throw a left jab, right cross and left hook, then pivot to change the direction you're facing and get off the opponent's front. If you stay in front of them when you finish punching, you're right where their counter comes straight at you. Add footwork to the end of your attack and leave that spot at an angle.
• One-two, step in, right cross to the body
  12Step in2b
  One-two, step in, right cross to the body is a combination where you throw a one-two to the head, take one step forward, and go straight into a right cross to the body. The one-two to the head draws the opponent's guard up, and then you hit the open stomach straight on with the same right hand. Don't rush. Throw it while your body still has the angle from the right cross.
• Level-change feint, then one-two to the head
  Level-change feint12
  Level-change feint, then one-two to the head means showing only the motion of dropping your body to pull the opponent's attention low, then throwing a one-two to the head right away. When they shift their defense down to protect the body, you go for the head they've left open. You don't actually punch to the body. The aim is to make them misjudge where to defend just by showing the drop.
• One-two-hook, side step, one-two
  123Side step12
  One-two-hook, side step, one-two is a combination where a one-two-hook (jab, cross, left hook) pins the opponent in place, you move to the side with a side step, and then you drive in the power one-two. While the opponent stays facing forward and stopped, only you move and change the angle. Punching before they turn to face you lets you avoid a head-on exchange.
• Make both the jab and the cross a threat
  Both a threat
  If the opponent reads that either the left jab or the right cross in your one-two isn't really coming, they can focus only on avoiding the other one. Throw both with intent to land so they have to watch for each. If you make either one just for show, the whole one-two gets easier to read. The same goes when you practice punching at reduced power.