Boxing Numbers: The Six Punches by Number
Boxing numbers name the six basic punches: 1 jab, 2 cross, 3 lead hook, 4 rear hook, 5 lead uppercut, 6 rear uppercut. Odd numbers are lead-hand punches and even numbers are rear-hand punches, so a coach can call a whole combo, like 1-2-3, in a second.
Key points
- Odd numbers are your lead hand. Even numbers are your rear hand.
- The numbers stay the same for southpaws. Only the hands swap.
- 1-2, the jab and the cross, is the first combo to learn.
- Some gyms number more punches or add defense. Ask which system your coach uses.
The six punches by number
| No. | Punch | Orthodox | Southpaw | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jab | Left | Right | Head or body |
| 2 | Cross | Right | Left | Head or body |
| 3 | Lead hook | Left | Right | Head or body |
| 4 | Rear hook | Right | Left | Head or body |
| 5 | Lead uppercut | Left | Right | Chin or body |
| 6 | Rear uppercut | Right | Left | Chin or body |
Why odd and even make it easy
You only need one rule to read any combo: odd numbers go with your front hand, even numbers with your back hand. Then the pairs go in order of the punch shape. 1 and 2 are the straights, 3 and 4 the hooks, 5 and 6 the uppercuts.
So 1-2-3 is jab, cross, lead hook. You go lead, rear, lead, which is why it flows. A combo that asks the same hand twice in a row, like 2-4, is harder, because one hand has to come back and go out again before the other one moves.
Hear the calls
This is how the coach in Guardia calls the numbers, each one followed by its punch.
Transcript: One. Jab. Two. Cross. Three. Lead hook. Four. Rear hook. Five. Lead uppercut. Six. Rear uppercut.
Orthodox and southpaw
Orthodox boxers stand with the left foot forward, so the left hand is the lead hand: 1, 3, and 5 are left-hand punches. Southpaws stand with the right foot forward, so 1, 3, and 5 come from the right hand. The numbers never change; only the hands swap. If you are not sure which stance is yours, stand the way you would to throw a ball and keep your strong hand at the back.
10 combos to learn first
These are the first combos Guardia calls in its beginner weeks. Start slow, bring each hand back to your chin, and only then speed up.
| Call | Punches | Week in Guardia |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Jab, cross | 1 |
| 1-1-2 | Jab, jab, cross | 1 |
| 1-2-1 | Jab, cross, jab | 1 |
| 1-2-1-2 | Jab, cross, jab, cross | 1 |
| 2-3 | Cross, lead hook | 2 |
| 3-2 | Lead hook, cross | 2 |
| 1-2-3 | Jab, cross, lead hook | 2 |
| 1-2-3-2 | Jab, cross, lead hook, cross | 2 |
| 1-6 | Jab, rear uppercut | 3 |
| 5-2 | Lead uppercut, cross | 3 |
Body shots and defense
The six numbers say which punch, not where it lands. To send a punch to the body, bend your knees and drop your level instead of punching down. In Guardia's round summary, a b after the number marks a body shot, so 2b is a cross to the body. S is a slip and R is a roll: moves of the head, not punches.
Do all gyms use the same numbers?
No. The six-number system above is common, but some coaches number more punches, such as body shots, or give numbers to defensive moves. If you train at a gym, ask which system the coach uses. At home, pick one and stick to it, so the calls become automatic.
Print the chart
Print this page from your browser. The chart and both tables fit on paper without the menus, so you can tape them to the wall where you train.
Practice the numbers
Set the boxing round timer to three rounds of two minutes. In round one, say each number out loud as you throw it. In round two, throw the first four combos above. In round three, mix in the hooks. When the numbers come without thinking, let Guardia call them for you.
Before you practice
- New to exercise, or have a heart, joint, or other health condition? Check with a doctor first. The free PAR-Q+ questionnaire tells you whether you should.
- Warm up for 5 to 10 minutes: easy steps, arm circles, slow shadow boxing. A warm-up helps you move better and may lower injury risk.
- Clear 2 to 3 meters of floor in front of you. That is also the space the app's camera needs.
- Wrap your hands and wear gloves on a bag. In Great Britain's elite team, the hand was injured more than any other part of the body. Shadow boxing needs no gloves.
- Stop if you feel chest pain, dizziness, unusual shortness of breath, joint pain that does not settle, or numbness or swelling in a hand.
Boxing number questions
What do the numbers mean in boxing?
Each number stands for one punch, so a coach can call a combo quickly. In the most common six-number system: 1 jab, 2 cross, 3 lead hook, 4 rear hook, 5 lead uppercut, 6 rear uppercut.
What number is a hook in boxing?
The lead hook is 3 and the rear hook is 4. For an orthodox boxer, 3 is the left hook.
What number is a cross in boxing?
The cross is 2: the straight punch with your rear hand. For an orthodox boxer that is the right hand.
Are the numbers different for southpaws?
No. A southpaw stands with the right foot forward, so the lead hand is the right hand. The jab is still 1 and the cross is still 2.
Sources
- Fradkin, Gabbe, and Cameron, 2006. Does warming up prevent injury in sport? The evidence from randomised controlled trials?. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport.
- Loosemore and others, 2015. Boxing injury epidemiology in the Great Britain team: a 5-year surveillance study of medically diagnosed injury incidence and outcome. British Journal of Sports Medicine.
- PAR-Q+ Collaboration. The Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+). eparmedx.com.
Guardia calls the combos by name or by number, and counts every punch you throw.
Guardia
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