Is a jab to the body useful?

[LoadedWraps]

Is a jab to the body useful? I sometimes use it in gym sparrings, but it doesn't really do any damage, and it doesn't really seem to be useful to lead to anything good. Also, it loads an awkward strain on your balance & weight load. I am talking the one where you bend your waist sideways (head leaning sideways) while straight left jab hitting the stomach. It is more for points & for fun (in sparrings), I have felt. Is that any useful really? I noticed that D'amato system sets this as number 8 in their number system, so I was just wondering if it is worthy & important enough to be numbered. I suppose you can hit harder, but I hardly see this being done for a jab to the body. Also, even if you make it harder, I am not sure how useful (in terms of straining the opponent's move while you come up with something else) it would be.

Of course it's useful, it isn't mean to to damage, it's meant to drop your opponents hands and setup other punches either downstairs or upstairs. All boxing movement is awkward until you master it and make it a fluid muscle memory induced reaction, boxing is in itself unnatural, they tell you this from day 1 in the gym.

[Mr.MojoRisin']

Ah. So, it is not used to hurt the opponent. Then, experienced boxers just ignore when they get jabbed in the stomach without bringing their hands down. So, doing a jab to the stomach is ok for a taller boxer as they have plenty of time & space, but not so good for a shorter boxer as every small thing counts a lot (especially cause strain in balance). So, jab to the body isn't really useful then. Even against shorter boxers, it's probably better if I already get into the habit of not doing that just in case.

If they ignore it then that will just set them up for other punches. If I knew that my opponent doesn't react to the jab to the body then I'm going to feint and throw a cross or something that's going to put them out.

[wilberbear]

It doesn't really hurt; an experienced boxer would not bring down their arms when getting hit. Also, you have an awkward strain in balance & weight load as you are bending down at waist sideways when you hit a jab to the body. You are slower to respond in such state (whether you want to defend or follow up with more punches) when you get punched back right away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS5A5JtUREY

See how you get punched back right away?

[Mr.MojoRisin']

It doesn't really hurt; an experienced boxer would not bring down their arms when getting hit. Also, you have an awkward strain in balance & weight load as you are bending down at waist sideways when you hit a jab to the body. You are slower to respond in such state (whether you want to defend or follow up with more punches) when you get punched back right away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS5A5JtUREY

See how you get punched back right away?

That was a right hook to the body.

Not every punch has to hurt. A goal with a Jab could be to put your opponent off balance or to set them up.

[wilberbear]

He is southpaw, so that's like a jab.

What I am wondering is that, for a shorter fighter, if a jab to the body can be used to set up anything as you are slower to follow up with anything after that because of the strain in balance & weight load. I suppose you could put the opponent off balance or pushed for a moment, but it seems to buy only enough time to get back from it. The opponent can punch before you do another punch from that posture, so you gotta get back. Also, it doesn't really do damage, so it is more for points or surprise it seems.

[Mr.MojoRisin']

He is southpaw, so that's like a jab.

What I am wondering is that, for a shorter fighter, if a jab to the body can be used to set up anything as you are slower to follow up with anything after that because of the strain in balance & weight load. I suppose you could put the opponent off balance or pushed for a moment, but it seems to buy only enough time to get back from it. The opponent can punch before you do another punch from that posture, so you gotta get back. Also, it doesn't really do damage, so it is more for points or surprise it seems.

A real boxer will react in some way to a jab to the body or else they are going to get the wind knocked out of them if jabbed to the solar plexus because real boxers have power. EVERY punch powerful. Even Paulie Malignaggi.

I don't mean off balance as in just pushed back, I mean like a jab to the shoulder would push your shoulder back and change your stance thus putting you off balance. Or if you don't move your feet when your shoulder is pushed back, your torso will be leaning back still being off balance.

[wilberbear]

I suppose, if going for a body jab, go for the solar plexus or none at all. So, mostly to get the wind knocked out of them. In my sparrings, I mostly got punched in the face, so, I don't know how much wind you can get knocked out with a body jab.

[2ofEverything]

He is southpaw, so that's like a jab.

What I am wondering is that, for a shorter fighter, if a jab to the body can be used to set up anything as you are slower to follow up with anything after that because of the strain in balance & weight load. I suppose you could put the opponent off balance or pushed for a moment, but it seems to buy only enough time to get back from it. The opponent can punch before you do another punch from that posture, so you gotta get back. Also, it doesn't really do damage, so it is more for points or surprise it seems.

Lol what? He's southpaw so a lead hook to the body is like a jab to the body for an orthodox fighter? You don't even know what you're talking about... If a shorter fighter steps in and you see him throwing at your body instinctively your going to drop your hands (if you're not throwing first that is), unless he's super slow or you're really great you're not going to be able distinguish whether he's jabbing to the body or feinting and lining up for a straight right or a hook to the ribs.

[wilberbear]

So a jab to the body can also be used to set up a feint (make the feint more believable).

[Mr.MojoRisin']

So a jab to the body can also be used to set up a feint (make the feint more believable).

You feint the jab then throw another punch