Okay, here I go. This is about them boxing punches. I heard them young folk talkin’ ’bout it, so I listened in, and now I’m gonna tell you what I heard. You see, I heard a lot of things about those punches when I was young. Now, let me tell you, I’ll tell you everything I know.
What are them 12 punches in boxing?
Well, there’s a whole bunch of ’em, I tell ya. Seems like a lot, but they got numbers and names and all sorts. They say 12, but seems like more sometimes, the way they go on about it. But I’m gonna try to remember what are those 12 punches in boxing. I remember my grandson tried to teach me once. Bless his heart, he tried.
First, you got this one, they call it the jab. That’s just a quick one, straight out from your face. Like you’re pokin’ at somethin’. They call that number one, seems like the basic punch. Then you got one called the cross. Number two, that’s what they call it. That one comes from the other hand, the one you don’t use for the jab. It goes across your body, kinda.
- Number 1: Jab – Poke! Just like that.
- Number 2: Cross – The other hand, across the body.
Then it starts gettin’ a little more fancy, I reckon. They got this hook, number three. That’s when you kinda swing your arm around, like you’re hookin’ somethin’. It’s not straight, it’s curvy. Sounds like somethin’ you’d do with a fishin’ rod, if you ask me. And there’s a right one and a left one, depending on which arm you’re usin’. So there is a right hook and a left hook.
- Number 3: Lead Hook – Swing that arm around!
Next, number four and five, they got these ones called uppercuts. I don’t know why they call them that. But they go up, from down low, like you’re tryin’ to hit someone under the chin. A right one and a left one for these too. Those look like they hurt, I tell ya. You have to bend your knees and everything.
- Number 4: Right Uppercut – Up from the bottom!
- Number 5: Left Uppercut – Same thing, other arm.
Then you got these overhand things. It’s like the hook, but it comes from up high. Number six and seven, they said. Those are the right overhand and the left overhand. Imagine that. Overhand sounds like something you do when you’re throwin’ a ball, not punchin’ someone. But that’s what they call ’em. They say one is a loop. Whatever that means.
- Number 6: Right Overhand
- Number 7: Left Overhand
Then I heard them talkin’ about some other ones. Like a body shot, they call it. Like you’re hittin’ ’em in the belly. Those gotta hurt too, I bet. Number 8, they say, and number 9, right and left. They said it is for the liver or spleen. I don’t know about all that body parts. But it doesn’t sound good. No, it doesn’t sound good at all. And you can do these with hooks and uppercuts, too. So many ways to hit a fella, I guess.
- Number 8: Right Body Shot – Hit ’em in the belly!
- Number 9: Left Body Shot – Same thing, other side.
Then number ten, eleven and twelve, those were the bolo punch, the check hook, and the back fist. I never even heard of those before! Sounds made up to me. But they were goin’ on and on about ’em. They said the bolo is like a uppercut and a hook at the same time. Sounds complicated. And this check hook, they said it’s for when someone’s comin’ at ya. And the back fist. You are using the back of your hand!
- Number 10: Bolo Punch
- Number 11: Check Hook
- Number 12: Back Fist
How to do them boxing punches?
Now, how do you do these punches? Well, that’s a whole other thing. You gotta stand just right, they say. Feet apart, knees bent. Like you’re about to sit down, but not quite. And you gotta move your feet, too. Step, step, step. And keep your hands up, protect your face. Don’t want to get hit, you know? And when you punch, you gotta twist your body, use your whole self, not just your arm. They say it’s like throwin’ a rock, or swingin’ a bat. Gotta put your whole weight into it. It’s not just arms, it’s your legs, your hips, everything. Those young people, they make it look easy. But I bet it’s hard work. They say it is important to keep fit, eat right and have good training.
And you gotta practice, practice, practice. Hit that bag, they call it. Big heavy thing hangin’ from the ceilin’. Or shadow box, that’s when you’re just punchin’ the air, pretendin’ there’s someone there. Gotta be quick, gotta be strong. It’s a lot of work, bein’ a boxer, I tell ya. But they say it’s good for you. Keeps you fit, keeps you strong. And it’s a way to make a livin’, I guess, if you’re good at it. Not for me, though. I’m too old for that now. Those boxing beginners, they have a lot to learn. But I’ll stick to my garden, thank you very much. But it’s interestin’ to listen to them talk about it, all them boxing tips they have. All them different punches, with their different names. Jab, cross, hook, uppercut, overhand, body shot. And them others, bolo, check hook, back fist. It’s a lot to remember, but I tried my best. Those are the 12 punches in boxing. I hope you learned somethin’, ’cause I sure did.
