{"id":9266,"date":"2019-01-02T07:00:51","date_gmt":"2019-01-02T07:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fightfastvideos.com\/blog\/?p=9266"},"modified":"2021-03-31T15:25:18","modified_gmt":"2021-03-31T15:25:18","slug":"corbetts-jab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fightfastvideos.com\/blog\/2019\/01\/02\/corbetts-jab\/","title":{"rendered":"Wear Them Down: Corbett's Jab"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A New Era<\/h4>\nJames \"Gentleman Jim\" Corbett is regularly acknowledged as the dividing line separating the brawler\/slugger era of boxing to the gloved \"scientific\" era. Corbett himself would tout the \"scientific\" method of fighting, which meant more fluidity and the addition of finesse punches to the usual power arsenal. Hear Corbett himself on the differences:\n\n
In the old days of the London prize ring there were hard and fast rules for training. Today they are to be laughed at. They may have been all right for those men in those days, but they would not do now. They did not look for speed then, but rather developed a physique that was oak\u2013like in its strength, and cultivated a blow that would fell an ox\u2014if it landed. Blows like that are too easily avoided nowadays, and the man who feints and sidesteps has to be reckoned with.<\/blockquote>\n[dfads params='groups=292&limit=1&orderby=random']\n

A Focus On Avoidance<\/h4>\nCorbett acknowledges heavy power\u2014power that is to be avoided\u2014and this avoidance was a hallmark of his style. It was also what allowed him to render the seemingly impervious Great John L. a bit, well, pervious.\n\nCorbett was not a heavy-hitter, but that lack of power seemed to be more of a choice than a lack of oomph<\/em>. Out of 20 fights we see a mere 5 wins by knockout. If we recall Corbett's own words, we can reason that he practiced what he preached.\n\nHe made a point of using footwork, evasion, and movement in general to avoid power. He was working in an era where there was such an emphasis on raw power that he realized adopting a strategy in the other direction would give him an advantage.\n

Altering The Jab<\/h4>\nAdding to his chosen light-handedness was his jab form. He used the jab frequently and was, at the time, one of the best big men using the tool, but his choice of fist contact or striking position lessened its power.\n\nWe can only surmise that a fighter as intelligent and well-considered as Corbett knew that he was choosing a less-than-powerful jab and that he made that choice in favor of speed\u2014both speed of execution and perceptual speed. Let's break down Corbett's Jab, have a look at some of its positive attributes, and then put it through some drill paces.\n
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The Corbett Jab<\/h4>\n
<\/div>\nThe primary facet that distinguishes Corbett's Jab from a standard jab is the lack of fist turn-over.\n\nIf we hold our hands up in a defensive position and have a look at our jabbing fist we will see that the palm is facing the inside line, but not perfectly so. It has an ever-so-slight twist of the palm forward.\n\nWhen the standard jab is fired, the fist begins a thumb-to-the-inside-line rotation that ends with it making contact with the palm facing down.\n\nThis twist and snapping drive is what powers many a good, strong jab-puncher. Corbett's jab, when fired, never loses the on-guard orientation. It arrives at its target as it left\u2013 neutral. That is, with the fist striking just off-center of the vertical.\n\nIf we take this jab to the bag, to the pads, or to the sparring ring, we will find almost immediately that it lacks the oomph<\/em> of a turnover jab executed with proper snap. But...we do gain three unexpected attributes that I wager Corbett had in mind when facing his foes who were schooled in heavy-hitting as opposed to finesse.\n\n[dfads params='groups=292&limit=1&orderby=random']\n

Three Unexpected Attributes<\/h4>\nONE:<\/strong> Speed of Execution\n