Japanese-Style Boxing Uppercut Techniques

Techniques that use the uppercut, driven up from below. At close range it goes up through the gap in the guard. 12 techniques

• Left uppercut, recenter, right cross
  5Recenter2
  The left uppercut, recenter, right cross is a combination where, after throwing the left uppercut, you return your weight to the middle between your front and back feet and then throw the right cross as the power punch. The left uppercut breaks the guard from below, and you send the right cross through the opening in front. Putting the recentering motion in between lets you get your weight behind the right. The more you tend to lunge forward on uppercuts, the more carefully you should practice this recentering.
• 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.
• Short right body uppercut
  6b
  The short right body uppercut is a punch that drives your right fist up a short, vertical path to hit the opponent's body. You throw it small, in front of your body, without a big swing up, so it leaves few openings even at close range. Stop your fist where you won't need to raise your guard again after punching. Rather than driving it through hard, use it to land small and link into the next punch.
• Left uppercut to the head
  5
  The left uppercut drives your left fist up from below to hit the opponent's chin or face. When the opponent is close and has a tight guard in front, you put it up through the gap in their guard from below. Throw it by the shortest path without changing your elbow angle, and it's harder to read. Push your shoulder blade forward on impact, and it reaches a little deeper.
• Right cross into right uppercut
  26
  The right cross into right uppercut is a combination where you follow the right cross with an uppercut from the same right hand. When the opponent locks up their guard against the right cross, you drive the right up from below. Because you throw the same hand twice, you can surprise an opponent who is waiting for the other hand. Link the two without folding your elbow back in, and the second punch comes out fast.
• Right uppercut into left body hook
  63b
  The right uppercut into left body hook is a combination where a light right uppercut gets the opponent to raise their guard, and then you hit the opened side hard with the left body hook, the power punch. When they get hit in the face from below, the opponent tightens their arms to protect high, and that is the moment you go low. It's a combination for close range. Don't let your body drift forward on the right uppercut. Sink where you are and link into the left body hook.
• Right body uppercut, then left hook
  6b3
  Right body uppercut, then left hook is a close-range combination where you drive a right uppercut up into the opponent's stomach, then go for the head from the side with a left hook. Because you attack on the diagonal, from low on the right to high on the left, it's easier to get over the guard of an opponent whose attention has gone to their stomach. Use it at very close range, when you want to break down an opponent who is only guarding high.
• Left uppercut, right hook, left body hook
  543b
  Left uppercut, right hook, left body hook is a close-range combination. You change the direction of your punches from upward, to sideways, to low, so the opponent can't cover it all with a guard in one place. Use it when you want to put punches together with your bodies close. In an exchange where there's no room to back off and reset, it moves their guard high and low.
• Right uppercut
  6
  The right uppercut drives your right fist up from below to hit the opponent's chin or face. Use it at close range, when the opponent ducks their head or locks their guard in front. Carry your fist with body rotation instead of swinging it up with your arm, and you leave a smaller opening after punching. Don't follow through with the fist. Stop it at chin height and go back to protecting your face.
• Short right hook to right body uppercut
  46b
  Short right hook to right body uppercut is a close-range combination where you land a short right hook to the head and then drive the same right up into the body. The first hook draws the opponent's attention and guard up to head height, and you hit the stomach it leaves open from below. Because you use the same hand twice, go to the second punch without a gap once the first lands.
• Left uppercut and left hook from the same start
  53
  Left uppercut and left hook from the same start is a technique for throwing either the left uppercut or the left hook from the same elbow movement. If the start is the same, the opponent can't tell which one is coming until just before the fist lands. Follow the left uppercut with a left hook, and you can hit the side of the face of an opponent braced for an attack from below. It gives your left hand more options at close range.
• Drive the uppercut in a straight line
  Fixed elbow
  Swing an uppercut in a big arc and, when it misses, you can't stop the momentum. You lose your balance and leave yourself wide open. Keep your elbow angle fixed and drive it straight up from below by the shortest path. Even if it misses, it hits the opponent's arm or body and stops, so you keep your balance and can get straight back to your guard.