Excerpted from
http://www.spladdle.com/forum/showthread.php?t=139 and
http://www.spladdle.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1471
Peck & Shoot: The Jab
By Leon
This is almost a lost technique in the gyms of today. When I started
training @ the Fall River PAL in 98' [home to Scott Pemberton, Ray
Oliveira, Jason Pires] the trainer, Libby, taught this drill. Actually
Pemb taught it to me. This drill basically sparring w/out being hit. A
gym must for reaction training!
There are two basic elements to this two man drill. One person shoots, the other pecks or catches.
Part 1. Jab
3 minute rounds. 1st 30 seconds one person shoots and the other pecks,
switch sides after 30 seconds. The pecker [no jokes!!! LOL] is the one
who is getting the most benefit of the drill. HIS reaction is being
trained. Shooter can focus on punch form if desired.
Guard is high and out [I like Olympic style for this drill]. When the
shooter shoots, the pecker catches said jab [right hand] and fires back
to the shooters right hand. The key is proper speed...start slow and get
faster as reaction gets better. Also, don't get monotonous [one after
another] as it will ruin the drill, so take your time.
Catching is trained w/the right hand 1st and later can catch w/the left.
Careful on the peck that you don't over exceed in case of a fake. The
best way to do it is push the peck hand out instead of a downward
motion. I'm talking mere inches...on the low side.
Stay still and keep movement to a minimum. Bad habits come from too much movement.
From my experience this is the best and safest way to train a fighter
how to be a counter puncher or just counter via parry in general.
I will post more installments [this is just the base], just wanted to
start with the most basic element. Its better to see it in a
video...I'll either record one or try and find one. Enjoy!
Now that the ground work has been laid, I'm going to step on the gas a
little. In this installment, I'm going to elaborate on what we've
already covered.
Part 2. Jab to the body.
Doing everything the same as previously mentioned in
Part 1, we're going to add the jab to the body for the one who is pecking.
A major element of the intermediate and advanced stages of 'peck and
shoot' call for the body being protected. You can do that through
adjustments to guard style, or, if you keep your arms high you just have
to be really aware of your openings.
Hitting the body wont be as easy because when one shoots, the glove is
naturally a closer target. Go slow and and turn up the gas as the
footwork becomes more comfortable. The basic footwork formula consists
of a shuffle into the crease, firing, then moving back into position out
of the crease.
a. Shooter shoots, jab is pecked, jab to body. Focus on
getting back into position as fast as possible as you'll have to get
into the pocket or crease for the body shot [shuffle to your left if
your orthodox]. More on why later. Even if you don't shuffle and are
both still try and get back up quick. The longer your down there the
more danger your in [see Cotto vs.Margarito].
b. Shooter shoots, jab is pecked, jab to glove [shooters right glove], jab to body.
c. Repeat 'b', but add another jab to glove after the jab to body. Get in the pocket, get out.
The footwork I mentioned is the base. Once your totally comfortable and
have controlled quickness, try different directions laterally. Try
moving left on 'c' at the last punch. Also try going to the right as
well. You have to be quick so you can get to his body, under the jab,
before he gets his jab hand back. This is a gem for moving to the right.
Moving to the right will be easier if the shooters stance isn't
perfectly profile, this goes for lateral movement to the left as well.
If he's a little [or a lot] square, going to the right is easier and lets
face it...many boxers fight square or get square a lot.
COMING SOON:
In parts 3 and 4 I'll go over pecking the jab and countering with the left uppercut and left hook [my favorite].
Stickgrappler's note:
This was intended to be written up as six parts by Leon. He only posted parts 1-2.
