Take a minute to learn how to throw the 4 basic types of punches - the jab, the hook, the cross, and the uppercut, plus where to strike with your fist...FourMainPunchesInstruction–Jab,Cross,Hook&UppercutbySandovalFreestyleKarate|Blog,MartialArts,MartialArtsMoves|1commentIfyou’vebeenpracticingmartialartsforawhile,you’vecertainlylearnedbasicpunches–thejab,thecross,thehook,andtheuppercut.Dependingonhowadvancedofastudentyouare,youmostlikelyhavelearnedanarrayofotherstrikestogoalongwiththesepunches.Ifyou’renotfamiliarwithmartialarts,thisarticlewillservetoteachyouthefourdifferenttypesofpunchescommonlypracticed.Ifyouareinexperiencedornewtomartialarts,thefollowingwillinformyouonthefourmaintypesofpunchestypicallyexercisedinkarate,kick-boxing,western-styleboxing,taekwondo,Americankempo,andMuayThai.Astheimagedemonstrates,whenthrowingapunch,keepyourthumbtucked-intightandaimtomakecontactwiththeknucklesonyourindexandmiddlefingers.Donottuckyourthumbintoyourfistandavoidstrikingwithyourpinkyorringfingerknuckles,asthiscancauseabrokenhandcommonlyreferredtoasboxer’sknuckle.FourMainTypesofPunches1.TheJabThispunchcanbethrownfromseveraldifferentpositions,traditionallyitisastraightpunchthrownwiththeleadhandfromtheguard(handsup).Poweriscommonlyderivedbysteppingintothepunch,rotatingthehipsfollowedbythetorso,shoulder,andwristjustpriortostriking.Thestrikearea,withoutgloveson,iswiththeknucklesontheindexandmiddlefingers.Manyprofessionalfightershaveeffectivelyusedthejabbythrowingitfromthehipand,inthecaseofOscarDeLaHoya,fromahalfjab,halfhookmotion.2.TheCrossThisistypicallyone’spowerpunchanditisthrownbytherearhandfromtheguard.Aswiththejab,andmoststrikeswhetherkicksorpunches,powercomesfromcontortingthebody,allowingkineticenergytopassthroughthelegs,hips,torso,shoulder,andwristtobeexertedthroughthefist.Acrossingpunchissometimesreferredtoasastraightpunchorreversepunchandismosteffectivewhenthrownina“one,two”combo–jabfollowedbycross.3.TheHookThispunchisalsoapowerpunchandismostcommonlythrownwiththefronthan