An arm-only punch
The hips don’t turn, so the power stays in the shoulder and never reaches the fist.
What Tori does instead: The rear-foot pivot starts the punch.
Punch lesson 2 of 6 Rear hand
Cross
The power straight. The rear hand travels in a straight line across the body, driven by the rear foot and a full turn of the hips. It usually comes right after a jab.
For entertainment only. A robot demo that explains how the punch works. It isn’t training or advice, so don’t try it on anyone. Disclaimer
- Fist speed
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- Impact, est.
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Now demonstrating
Cross
Frame by frame
Keyboard, with the 3D view focused: Space pause and play, , and . step one frame back or forward, arrow keys turn the camera.
Robot demo for entertainment only. Please don't try it on people, pets or yourself.
At a glance
What the cross is
The strong straight punch with the rear hand. Tori stands orthodox, with its left foot and left hand in front. A left-handed (southpaw) fighter mirrors everything on this page.
- Hand
- Rear hand (Tori’s right)
- Target
- Chin and face
- Range
- Long
- Path
- Straight, from the rear cheek across the body to the target
- Power from
- The rear foot pivot and a full turn of the hips
- Fist at impact
- Turned over, palm down
- Pad call
- “2”
It’s called a cross because the rear hand crosses the body’s centre line on its way to the target. The rear hand is further away, so the cross takes longer than the jab but carries far more of the body’s weight.
Step by step
What Tori does, frame by frame
These are the same steps as the buttons under the 3D view. Freeze Tori on any of them, then turn the camera to look from every side.
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Guard. Weight shared between both feet, rear fist resting at the cheek, lead hand up in front.
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Pivot. The rear heel lifts and turns out, the rear knee turns in and the hips start to rotate towards the target. The fist leaves as the hips turn, not before.
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Land. Hips and shoulders have turned to face the target, the arm reaches almost straight and the fist lands palm down. The rear shoulder is up by the chin and the lead hand guards the other side of the face.
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Return. The fist comes straight back to the cheek as the hips turn back.
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Reset. The rear heel settles back down and Tori is in its stance again.
Watch it like a coach
- Camera Behind Tori at ¼×: the rear heel turns out and the hips rotate before the arm finishes.
- Step frame by frame from Pivot to Land: the hips lead, the fist follows.
- Camera Close-up: the lead hand stays at the chin while the cross lands.
Where the power comes from
From the floor to the fist
A punch isn’t thrown by the arm alone. Each link passes the movement on to the next, from the feet up to the fist.
Rear foot
Pushes off the ball of the foot and pivots: the heel turns out.
Hips
Turn all the way to face the target. This is the engine of the punch.
Shoulders
Follow the hips and bring the rear shoulder forward for reach.
Arm and fist
Just deliver: the arm extends in a straight line and the fist turns over at the end.
Checkpoints
What to look for in the demo
Freeze Tori on Land and check each of these.
- Heel out, knee in The rear foot pivots so the hips can turn.
- Hips finish facing the target A half-turn leaves half the power behind.
- Straight line From the chin to the target, no loop.
- Lead hand home It stays at the face while the rear hand punches.
- Chin behind the rear shoulder At impact the shoulder covers the chin.
- Head over the front knee Weight moves forward but the head doesn’t go past the knee.
Common mistakes
How the cross goes wrong
Robots make these mistakes too, until someone updates their firmware.
Dropping the lead hand
The lead hand falls as the cross goes out and opens the face.
What Tori does instead: The lead hand stays glued to the chin.
Looping it
The fist swings wide instead of straight, so it’s slower and easy to see.
What Tori does instead: Straight line, chin to target.
Over-rotating
The body turns too far and leans past the front knee: off balance and slow to recover.
What Tori does instead: Finish square to the target, head above the front knee.
The fist
What a proper fist looks like
Tori’s hands have real robot fingers. Watch them in the Close-up camera: the grip is loose in the guard and clenches at the moment of impact.
Four things Tori’s hand gets right
- Fingers curled tight into the palm. No gaps between them.
- Thumb outside, folded across the middle of the index and middle fingers. Never tucked inside the fingers.
- Wrist straight, so the back of the hand lines up with the forearm.
- First two knuckles lead: the index and middle knuckles are the ones that land.
In a fight (between robots)
How it’s used, and how it’s stopped
Punches are called by number on the pads in many gyms: 1 jab, 2 cross, 3 lead hook, and the uppercuts 5 and 6.
Combinations
- 1-2
Jab, then cross: the jab finds the range and the cross follows it in.
- 1-2-3
Jab, cross, lead hook: the turn of the cross winds up the hook.
- 2-3-2
Cross, hook, cross: the hips turn back and forth like a spring.
- 2 body
The same cross to the body, with bent knees.
- Counter
A cross thrown over the top of the opponent’s jab (a “cross counter”).
How Uke could stop it
- Catch
The lead glove absorbs it in front of the face.
- Slip
The head moves just off the line.
- Roll
The shoulder turns so the punch glances off.
- Step back
Out of range.
A robot demo, not a class
This page explains how the cross works so the animation makes sense. It isn’t a martial arts course, and it isn’t self-defense, fitness, medical or safety advice. Tori’s version is simplified and exaggerated for the camera. Don’t hit anyone. If you want to learn to box for real, learn in person from a qualified coach and check with a doctor first.