The Beginner’s Guide to Throwing Body Punches for Kickboxing
We’re breaking down how to properly throw punches to the body in boxing and kickboxing. A must
read if you’re a beginner or want to fine tune your skills.
Published: October 20, 2022
Topics: Kickboxing, Training
Author: Aaron Swenson
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Learning how to punch the body is an important foundational lesson for beginner boxers and
kickboxers. In this blog, we will break down how to throw the 6 foundational body punches on the
heavy bag.
The key to an effective body punch is dropping down below your opponent’s fists and striking near
the level of their core organs. This ensures that you deliver a powerful strike without putting your
own face or body in the line of fire. Remember, one of your top responsibilities in combat sports is to
protect yourself at all times!
When we’re boxing at home on the heavy bag, we don’t have markers like rib cages or belly buttons,
so we want to aim just below the FightCamp logo.
Prefer visual learning? Watch FightCamp Trainer Aaron Swenson break it down on our YouTube
channel or in the FightCamp app under the Amateur Kickboxing Path. Learn the kickboxing basics
from the proper stance, how to do round-kicks, front-kicks, side-kicks, to basic defensive moves.
How To Throw Body Punches In Kickboxing
The same shorthand number system that we use to talk about strikes to the head applies when
talking about strikes to the body, but when we talk about body punches, we usually denote them by
adding a B. For instance, the 1 (Jab to the head) becomes the 1B (Jab to the body).
1B | Jab to the body
Push off your back leg and transfer the weight forward
Get low and try to land your punch underneath the lower line of the FightCamp logo on the
body (visualize the soft spot of an opponent’s torso)
Fully extend your arm when you punch
2B | Cross to the body
Shift your weight from back to front and get low
Grip the floor with your back foot, bend your knee into a lunge movement
As you extend your punch, pivot on your rear foot, and engage your glute and your quad
Don’t forget to keep your lead hand high to protect your face!
3B | Lead Hook to the body
Drop down into your lunge with your lead leg forward
Pivot on your lead foot and twist through your core
Keeping your elbow at a 90-degree angle to the bag, throw your lead hook to the body
4B | Rear Hook to the body
Drop into your lunge and pivot on your rear foot
Come around the bag to throw a rear hook
5B | Lead Uppercut to the body
Keeping your lead hand up to protect your face, pivot on your lead foot
Use your legs to drive power upwards and lift your fist to land right above the beltline with
your palm facing the sky
6B | Rear Uppercut to the body
Keeping your lead hand up to protect your face, pivot on your rear foot
Drive your rear fist into the body at a 45-degree upwards angle
Those are your 6 punches to the body! Whether you’re training in kickboxing or traditional boxing,
these strikes are great to incorporate into your workouts with a heavy bag, shadowboxing, partner
work, or sparring. Remember – change levels, aim low, and strike clean.
