Even while you may not be familiar with the term [gazelle punch], combat enthusiasts are familiar with the gazelle punch in boxing, which frequently results in knockouts.
This method is especially used in combat sports like Mixed Martial Arts and Muay Thai because of how well it closes the distance.
What is the Gazelle Punch?
The gazelle punch, also known as the leaping hook in boxing or jab, is a particularly effective way to close distances. Using this move, the attacker bends slightly to build up leg power and then quickly launches himself upward from a crouch to strike the victim in midair, much like a gazelle leaping.
The Japanese boxing anime/manga series “Hajime no Ippo,” in which the protagonist Ippo Makunouchi learns and perfects the gazelle punch against one of his opponents, is credited with popularizing the move.
However, well-known boxing legends like Mike Tyson, Rocky Marciano, and Floyd Patterson have also helped to popularize this method in the sport.
How to Perfect and Throw the Gazelle Punch
Below are the various ways to perfect and throw the gazelle punch:
Perfecting The Gazelle Punch
Boxing greats like Floyd Patterson have been using the gazelle punch since the 1950s. Mike Tyson and Rocky Marciano are two such boxers who have had a significant influence in popularizing this method.
Before using the gazelle punch in real matches, one must practice it assiduously through shadowboxing, sparring, and heavy bag drills. Owing to its complexity, misusing the technique might result in serious dangers, particularly while executing the forward leap at the opponent.
When counterpunched while in the air, a well-timed move could have disastrous results, since your forward momentum gives the opponent’s punch more strength.
Precise timing and a calculated opponent setup are essential for delivering the gazelle punch. To effectively lower their guard and create spaces for a gazelle punch, fighters such as Mike Tyson often used a tactic where they slipped off the center line.
In boxing, there are several straightforward tactics to prepare for a gazelle punch:
1. To get your opponent to drop their defense, deliver a succession of body hooks from the same angle as your intended gazelle punch.
2. Use a body feint to fool your opponent before launching into the gazelle punch.
3. Before you jump, be sure your opponent is within striking distance since you can be countered if you are out of range.
4. Be cautious when employing the gazelle punch too frequently in boxing matches, since it can become predictable and vulnerable to counterattacks.
Executing The Gazelle Punch
Below is a summary of the steps needed to execute the gazelle punch:
1. Stance and Footwork:
To ensure balance for the leap, start in your standard boxing stance with your feet shoulder-width apart. As you prepare to leap forward, shift your weight to your back foot.
2. The Leap:
This crucial movement is akin to that of a gazelle. Launch yourself forward and upward by forcefully and quickly pushing off with your back foot.
3. The Punch:
Turn your lead hip and shoulder into the punch as you leap. You want to hit your opponent in the head with a clean, hooking blow with your leading arm. The punch’s power is increased by the momentum created by the leap.
4. Landing and Recovery:
To be prepared for more action, land softly after throwing the punch. To go back into your boxing stance, your lead foot should land on the ground after your rear foot.
5. Breathing:
Every punch requires proper breathing. As you perform the gazelle punch, release your breath quickly to increase your force and keep your rhythm without getting tired.
Practicing The Gazelle Punch
The following advice will help you practice throwing a gazelle punch correctly:
Make Use of a Mirror:
When practicing the gazelle punch, use a mirror. Practice the technique in front of a mirror to watch and perfect your form before moving on to heavy bags or fighting to avoid forming bad habits. During practicing, take care not to overextend your elbow or shoulder.
Transition to a Heavy Bag:
After you have mastered the mechanics of the gazelle punch, move on to practicing it on a heavy bag. By measuring the force behind the method and fine-tuning your timing, you can increase its effectiveness by using a heavy bag.
Maintain Relaxation:
When doing the gazelle punch, stay relaxed because tension might slow down the movement. When using the technique, maintain a relaxed posture with your arms and shoulders.
Incorporate Practice of the Gazelle Punch into Your Sparring Sessions:
When you gain proficiency with the method, include it in your sparring sessions. By practicing the gazelle punch during sparring sessions, you may improve your timing and learn the best feints to set it up.
Benefits Of The Gazelle Punch
There are three primary advantages to employing the gazelle punch technique:
1. To begin with, because it is unusual, it surprises opponents and allows you to take advantage of their misperception that they are out of range.
2. Secondly, jumping in the direction of your opponent increases the force of your strike by a considerable amount, more so than a regular jab or hook.
3. Finally, it’s a useful way to get closer to your opponents so you may move quickly to close the distance and make an assault.
Common Errors to Steer Clear of When Executing the Gazelle Punch
When practicing the gazelle punch, novices frequently make the following mistakes:
Avoid Excessive Winding-Up:
When performing the gazelle punch, keep your movements flowing and avoid winding up to maintain the element of surprise. Starting from your standard fighting stance, start the technique so as not to give away your objectives.
Steer Clear of Excessive Commitment:
Be careful not to overcommit when throwing the gazelle punch. If you miss the target or jump too high, you risk losing your balance and being attacked by someone else, which reduces the technique’s effectiveness.
Ensure to Keep your Hand Up:
In boxing, as with any other punch, make careful to keep your other hand raised as you deliver the gazelle punch. This defensive move is critical, particularly in the technique’s most vulnerable moment the leap into range.
Legends using the Gazelle Punch in Boxing
Below are some of the prominent legends in history that made use of the gazelle punch:
Floyd Patterson, Marciano & Mike Tyson
As was previously established, heavyweight champions Rocky Marciano and Floyd Patterson popularized the gazelle punch. Like Marciano and Patterson showed, this is especially useful against opponents who are a little smaller or have a shorter reach. They used the strategy with devastating effects despite their disadvantages in size.
Floyd Patterson in particular used a more subtle technique, planning his punch well in advance. In his second fight versus Johansson, he showed off his tactical awareness by deftly using slip moves and left hooks to target the Swede’s torso, anticipating the gaps it would leave for assaults later on.
It’s interesting to note that Mike Tyson regularly used the gazelle punch when he was at his best in boxing. Cus D’Amato, Floyd Patterson’s trainer, probably taught him this move. As the aforementioned examples show, people with explosive power can benefit especially from this punch.
However, there are other useful strategies and variations for using the gazelle punch successfully.
Marvin Hagler Gazelle Punch
“Marvelous” Marvin Hagler was another legendary figure in the sport who employed the gazelle punch in boxing in a similar manner. Though Hagler was shorter than many of his rivals, he used this tactic to reduce the distance quickly and put pressure on the other player.
When facing orthodox boxers, Hagler would use his southpaw stance and execute the gazelle jab, quickly switching stances to throw his opponents off guard.
During the shift movement, he skillfully combined this move with a forward leap, a combination that worked well against Tommy Hearns!
Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
Is Gazelle Punch a Real Thing?
Although the phrase Gazelle Punch may like a method from a well-known Japanese manga, it was the signature move of the late great heavyweight Floyd Patterson. This boxing technique became widely known thanks to Patterson, who is still regarded as one of the most underappreciated heavyweight world champions in history.
How Strong is Gazelle Punch?
Due to the force produced by your firmly planted feet, the rotational power produced by your torso, and the inertial force produced by your forward leap, the gazelle punch is one of the most powerful blows.
How do you use Gazelle Punch?
When performing a gazelle punch in boxing, the user must kneel slightly and make a 90-degree angle with their left arm. Then they lunge forward, using the momentum to perform a hook that goes for the head, usually the chin. This method requires strong leg muscles, similar to the fortitude of gazelles.
What is the Most Effective method for Delivering a Punch?
When performing the gazelle punch, keep your fist relaxed for more fluid air movement. But to make a bigger impression, clench your fist to throw a blow with more force. Instead of punching in an arc, concentrate on punching straight with your arm. It's crucial to keep in mind that your hips and torso, not only your arm's motion, provide the force behind each blow.
Who Used the Gazelle Punch?
The Gazelle Punch, which sounds like a fantasy move from a well-known Japanese manga, was made popular by legendary heavyweight Floyd Patterson. Though it had a strange moniker, Patterson's defining move the Gazelle Punch emphasized his inventiveness as a boxer. One of the greatest heavyweight world champions in history, Patterson is still underappreciated.
Conclusion
The gazelle punch is still one of the most powerful techniques in boxing, proving its continued usefulness in the sport. But its success depends on careful planning, precise timing, and excellent performance in the ring.
This is a particularly useful strategy for smaller boxers because it gives them a way to induce hesitation, open up spaces, apply pressure, close distances, and even look for knockouts.