Hajime no Ippo The Fighting! by Jyoji Morikawa OVERVIEW -- Throughout his childhood, Ippo has always been picked on by his fellow classmates. Long hours helping his mother run their family business, a fishing boat store, has left him without the time to make friends and so he remains an introverted loner, doomed to be beaten day in and day out. Although he hates being bullied, he hates himself even more for not being able to fight back against his tormentors. "What is it like to be strong?" he asks himself as he stares at his clenched fist. "I want to be strong." His encounter with Mamoru Takamura, a professional boxer, leads to the discovery of a dynamite punch that opens up the doorway to a whole new world where that dream can become a reality. At the Kamogawa Gym, Ippo Makunouchi now trains with the aspirations of becoming a professional boxer and discovering what it means to be strong. SORT BY | ALPHABETICAL | WEIGHT CLASS | GYM ANDERSON, RALPH AOKI, MASARU BATTERY, ELEKI CHUWATANA, PONCHAI DAICHIU, PAPAYA DATE, EIJI EAGLE, DAVID FUJIWARA, YOSHIO GREGORY, ARNIE HAYAMI, RYUICHI HAWK, BRIAN IMAE, KATSUTAKA IMAI, KYOSUKE ITAGAKI, MANABU KAMOGAWA, GENJI KARASAWA, TAKUZO KIMURA, TATSUYA KOBASHI, KENTA MAKINO, FUMITO MAKUNOUCHI, IPPO MARTINEZ, RICARDO MASHIBA, RYO MIYATA, ICHIRO NAOMICHI, YAMADA NEKOTA, GINPACHI ODA, YUSUKE OKITA, KEIGO OZUMA, JASON SAEKI, TAKUMA SANADA, KAZUKI SAWAMURA, RYUHEI SENDO, TAKESHI SHIGETA, AKIRA SHIMABUKURO, IWAO TAKAMURA, MAMORU TAKE, KEICHI VORG ZANGIEF, ALEXANDER SORT BY | ALPHABETICAL | WEIGHT CLASS | GYM BANTAM (115-118 LBS.) KAMOGAWA, GENJI NEKOTA, GINPACHI JR. FEATHER (118-122 LBS.) KOBASHI, KENTA HAYAMI, RYUICHI SANADA, KAZUKI FEATHER (122-126 LBS.) CHUWATANA, PONCHAI DATE, EIJI FUJIWARA, YOSHIO GREGORY, ARNIE HAYAMI, RYUICHI IMAI, KYOSUKE ITAGAKI, MANABU KARASAWA, TAKUZO KOBASHI, KENTA MAKINO, FUMITO MAKUNOUCHI, IPPO MARTINEZ, RICARDO MASHIBA, RYO FEATHER (CONTINUED) MIYATA, ICHIRO NAOMICHI, YAMADA ODA, YUSUKE OKITA, KEIGO OZUMA, JASON SAEKI, TAKUMA SANADA, KAZUKI SAWAMURA, RYUHEI SENDO, TAKESHI SHIGETA, AKIRA SHIMABUKURO, IWAO TAKE, KEICHI VORG ZANGIEF, ALEXANDER JR. LIGHT (126-130 LBS.) BATTERY, ELEKI KIMURA, TATSUYA MASHIBA, RYO NAOMICHI, YAMADA SAWAMURA, RYUHEI SENDO, TAKESHI VORG ZANGIEF, ALEXANDER LIGHT (130-135 LBS.) AOKI, MASARU DAICHIU, PAPAYA IMAE, KATSUTAKA NAOMICHI, YAMADA JR. WELTER (135-140 LBS.) NAOMICHI, YAMADA WELTER (140-147 LBS.) ANDERSON, RALPH JR. MIDDLE (147-154 LBS.) HAWK, BRIAN TAKAMURA, MAMORU MIDDLE (154-160 LBS.) EAGLE, DAVID TAKAMURA, MAMORU SORT BY | ALPHABETICAL | WEIGHT CLASS | GYM LISTING BY GYM KAMOGAWA GYM AOKI, MASARU ITAGAKI, MANABU KAMOGAWA, GENJI KIMURA, TATSUYA MAKUNOUCHI, IPPO MIYATA, ICHIRO NAOMICHI, YAMADA NEKOTA, GINPACHI TAKAMURA, MAMORU HACHINOHE KENTOKAI NAOMICHI, YAMADA OZUMA, JASON KINOSHITA GYM KARASAWA, TAKUZO SANADA, KAZUKI NAKADAI GYM DATE, EIJI OKITA, KEIGO OTOWA GYM HAYAMI, RYUICHI IMAI, KYOSUKE VORG ZANGIEF, ALEXANDER Boxing Venues Scenes of Carnage The arenas and stadiums used in Hajime no Ippo are based on actual, real life locations. If you wanted to, you could go visit Korakuen Hall, where most of the fights from the story take place, or go see Ryogoku Kokugikan which played host for both Eiji Date and Mamora Takamura's world title matches. Here's the skinny on some familiar places we've seen in the series. KORAKUEN HALL LUMPINEE BOXING STADIUM OSAKA PREFECTURAL RYOGOKU KOKUGIKAN YOKOHAMA CITY ARENA BACK TO TOP KORAKUEN HALL Capacity: Approximately 2,000 By far, the busiest fight sports event hall in the world, Korakuen Hall in Tokyo is undoubtedly a mecca for fight sports in Japan, averaging 20 plus fight events per month throughout the year. The hall has a capacity of a little over 2,000., so about 40,000 fans enjoy fight sports every month throughout the year. At first, this place was the capital of Japan’s boxing world but in the late 60’s started to host pro-wrestling events and soon after that, kick boxing events, and naturally, it became the sacred place for every fighter in Japan. NOTABLE FIGHT: SENDO VS. MAKUNOUCHI (II) LUMPINEE BOXING STADIUM Capacity: Approximately 9,500 Lumpinee Boxing Stadium was established on December 8, 1956. It is one of Thailand's seven standard boxing stadiums and is the second oldest out of the lot. It's easy to tell when a fight is in progress by the hundreds of motorcycles parked outside on the road. Lumpinee is famous for not only creating and producing leading Thai boxers, but also promoting the arts of Thai boxing both domestically and internationally. Of course, Lumpinee Boxing Stadium also produces many western boxers to become world contenders. NOTABLE FIGHT: SISFA VS. MIYATA BACK TO TOP BACK TO TOP OSAKA PREFECTURAL GYMNASIUM Capacity: Approximately 6,000 Erected in 1952, in a year's time the hall would come to serve as the permanent venue for the annual March Grand Sumo Tournament, each time packed with a crowd of Sumo fans in a spectacular setting where the Naniwa atmosphere matches that of the sumo wrestlers. As the home of indoor sports for a long period of 32 years, training top-notch athletes added a lot of wear and tear to the building and so it was torn down in 1985 after hosting its last Grand Sumo Tournament and replaced in 1987 by a new 4-floor building. NOTABLE: SENDO VS. MAKUNOUCHI (I), SENDO VS. VORG RYOGOKU KOKUGIKAN Capacity: Approximately 13,000 The Ryogoku Kokugikan is an imposing, ¥10-billion sumo arena that opened in time for the 1985 New Year's Tournament, less than two years after the cornerstone was laid in April 1983. It can accommodate 13,000 spectators, including those standing. In this multi-purpose structure combining the finest in modern and traditional Japanese architecture is a dohyo that can be raised or lowered and masu-seki that can be moved back to make room for an area of 40 square meters. In this way, boxing and pro wrestling matches can be held there as well as concerts and a variety of other entertainment shows and special events. NOTABLE: MARTINEZ VS. DATE, HAWK VS. TAKAMURA BACK TO TOP BACK TO TOP YOKOHAMA CITY ARENA Capacity: Approximately 17,000 With a total area of 8,000 square meters and a capacity of 17,000.Yokohama Arena is one of the largest multipurpose indoor arenas in japan. Yokohama Arena utilizes such state-of-the-art equipment as 11,000 computer-controlled movable seats, a large four-screen projection system and a ceiling capable of suspending more than 100 tons. These facilities make it possible to present more effective and memorable stage events than any produced in similar facilities in Japan. NOTABLE FIGHT: EAGLE VS. TAKAMURA Techniques & Terminology A Boxing Jargon Lexicon Because not all Ippo fans are knowledgeable of the sport, here's a pseudo-encyclopedia to help you get familiar with a few common expressions and some of the more frequently used boxing terms and punches in the series. Where applicable, it is denoted if the maneuver or technique is associated with a certain boxer and whether it is a general or advanced technique used among various fighters. In most cases, clicking the picture to the left of the definition will bring up an animation displaying for a more graphic representation to further clarify that entry. 3/4 UPPERCUT BOB AND WEAVE CHOPPING RIGHT CLINCH COCONUT PUNCH CORKSCREW PUNCH COUNTER CRISS CROSS CROSS ARM BLOCK CROSS COUNTER DEMPSEY ROLL DOUBLE PUNCH DRAGON FISH BLOW ELBOW BLOCK FEINT FLASH DOWN FLICKER JAB FROG PUNCH GAZELLE PUNCH GLASS JAW HEADBUTT HEARTBREAK SHOT HIEN HIT AND RUN HITMAN STYLE HOOK INFIGHTER JAB JOLT COUNTER LIVER BLOW LOOK AWAY LOW SMASH MARY ANNE MAS BOXING ONE-TWO PUNCH OPEN STYLE OUTBOXER ORTHODOX STYLE PARRY PEEK-A-BOO STYLE RABBIT PUNCH ROCKAWAY PUNCH DRUNK PUNCH EYE SHADOW BOXING SHOTGUN SHORT UPPER SLIP SLIPPING SMASH SOFT DEFENSE SOLAR PLEXUS BLOW SOUTHPAW STYLE STRAIGHT SUNDAY PUNCH TEKKEN TSUBAME GAESHI UP STYLE UPPERCUT WEIGHT CLASSES WEIGHT SHIFTING WHITE FANG BACK TO TOP 3/4 UPPERCUT Used By: Ippo Makunouchi Akin to the Smash in the respect that it strikes in the area between a Straight and an Upper and is thrown from a stance that uses a lowered guard, the 3/4 Uppercut can be easily differentiated as it follows a straight, diagonal path without curling inward. It also shares similiarities with the Short Upper as they are both compact, vertical punches. SEE ALSO: SHORT UPPER, SMASH BACK TO TOP BOB AND WEAVE Used By: (General Technique) This movement attempts to avoid an opponent's punch by bending the legs, and often the waist, in order to bring the head into a position under the opponent's extending arm. The legs and waist are then extended to bring the body back to its upright position. As the boxer rises, the body has moved either to the boxer's left or right in order to avoid the extended arm. To move to a position on the outside of the opponent's extended arm is sometimes called bobbing to the outside and is generally the preferred method in this defense. This same motion makes up the foundation of the Dempsey Roll. SEE ALSO: DEMPSEY ROLL BACK TO TOP CHOPPING RIGHT Used By: Ryo Mashiba, Ralph Anderson A punch thrown with the dominant arm, typically aimed at the jaw, whose power is derived from momentum gained in striking from a great height above the opponent. Because it is an overhead blow that relies on the downward velocity to deliver its damage, a long reach is useful in maximizing its effectiveness. Accordingly, this blow would be called a Chopping Left if thrown by a Southpaw. BACK TO TOP CLINCH Used By: Kenta Kobashi (General Technique) To hold an opponent's body with one or both arms to prevent or hinder punches. The clinch, or grappling of the opponent while standing, is considered a defensive maneuver because it is most often employed to interfere with the opponent's offensive maneuvers. Since the distance between the fighters is closed, the majority of boxing's offensive techniques, which mostly rely on hip/torso rotation and arm extension, cannot be employed. Since the clinch is broken up by the referee immediately, the clinch is often seen as a method for the disadvantaged fighter to gain a short reprieve, interfere with the dominant fighter's concentration, or perhaps disrupt their rhythm. BACK TO TOP CORKSCREW PUNCH Used By: Date Eiji, Keigo Okita Kid McCoy is universally given credit for creating this punch which was well known for the cutting damage that it would inflict on his opponent's faces. It is punch that is in the same league as the Counter so far as power is concerned. It most closely resembles a Straight, but is thrown inward while twisting the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. The Corkscrew uses the same science as that of a bullet firing out of a gun, where the combination of a spinning projectile and excessive force causes a greater impact. The motions involved are similar to that of a Screwball in Baseball and this analogy is fitting as the punch has a noticeable "wind-up" sequence that makes it somewhat foreseeable. SEE ALSO: COUNTER, HEARTBREAK SHOT BACK TO TOP COCONUT PUNCH Used By: Papaya Daichu (Unorthodox Technique) The Coconut Punch is an irregular blow that's usually performed as a Counter. After being hit by a punch, the boxer reels backwards as if they were heavily damaged, feigning injury in the hopes that the opponent will seize the opportunity to finish them off with a big hit, most likely their Sunday Punch. Anticipating this, the fighter is then able to readily Counter, stepping forward to add even more momentum to a powerful punch. SEE ALSO: COUNTER, SUNDAY PUNCH BACK TO TOP COUNTER Used By: Ichiro Miyata, Ryuhei Sawamura Used By: (Advanced Technique) A counter-attack that begins after an opponent begins throwing a punch, exploiting the opening in the opponent's position before their attack finishes. Because a Counter connects while the opponent is in mid-stride, their momentum is added to the Counter Punch, magnifying the damage done. SEE ALSO: JOLT BACK TO TOP CRISS CROSS Used By: (Advanced Technique) An attack to Counter an oncoming Counter Punch. SEE ALSO: COUNTER BACK TO TOP CROSS ARM BLOCK Used By: Kenta Kobashi (General Technique) A means of blocking where the two arms overlap eachother, with the inside arm held horizontal and locked into place at the elbow of the outer arm, which is held vertically. Although it makes for a tight guard and the added cushion will allow a boxer to withstand even the heaviest of blows, it is only useful against attacks coming from directly in front of the boxer at a long range, such as Jabs or Straights. At closer ranges, the Cross Arm Block is vulnerable to attacks from side like Hooks. This defensive position also makes it hard to attack as the stance leaves the arms relatively immobile. BACK TO TOP CROSS COUNTER Used By: Ichiro Miyata, Akira Shigeta Used By: (Advanced Technique) A Hook that is thrown over an opponent's punch in order to perform a Counter. When a Right Hook is used by a Southpaw as a Cross Counter against an Orthodox Fighter, it hits first because it is faster due to the right arm being position in the front. SEE ALSO: COUNTER, HOOK, SOUTHPAW BACK TO TOP DEMPSEY ROLL Used By: Ippo Makunouchi Named after its creator, heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, the Dempsey Roll is a maneuver that combines both offense and defense by dodging while delivering punches at the same time. The boxer continually bobs and weaves, with the head swaying in a rolling figure 8 motion and uses the momentum of the entire body to deliver powerful blows side to side from the opponent's blind spots. Fighters who step forward and close that gap are able to reduced the damage and may be able to prematurely stop the Dempsey Roll prematurely by brushing into the attacker. While it is especially deadly against those who step back and allow the attacker the room required to maintain the swaying motion needed to slam in these punches, if the opponent were to step back far enough, he would be able to see the oncoming attacks clearly and they would become just like regular Hooks. BACK TO TOP DOUBLE PUNCH Used By: Aoki Masaru (Unorthodox Technique) A punch that does not have very much power behind it used primarily to further confuse the opponent when mixed in with other irregular punches. Both arms are lifted into striking position, but rather than throwing a punch with just one arm, as any other sensible fighter would, both fists are thrown. If the opponent is looking to discern which arm will strike by waiting to see which arm actually completes the punching motion, they may be taken by surprised and caught off guard as neither side withdraws and both blows come simultaneously. BACK TO TOP DRAGON FISH BLOW Used By: Tatsuya Kimura A combination blow created by Tatsuya Kimura after being inspired by his Dragon Fish, hence its namesake. A close range Body Blow is delivered and, while the opponent's attention is still directed downward, a Swinging, Overhead Punch, is thrown above their line of sight. It is best used after priming the opponent with multiple Body Blows. BACK TO TOP FAN SERVICE Used By: (Perverts or People Who Cater To Them) Fan Service, or simply saabisu (Service) in japanese, refers to, in this case, racy or sexual content elements in a story that are superfluous to the storyline, but designed to titillate the viewer, such as nudity. In the testosterone filled world of Hajime no Ippo, Service is a true rarity and should be savored when discovered. Those unable to cope with the unexpected level of excitement may suffer from nosebleed injuries. SEE ALSO: TITS, ASS BACK TO TOP ELBOW BLOCK Used By: Ryo Mashiba (General Technique) Blocking a punch, usually a Body Blow, with the Elbow in an attempt to deter the opponent from repeatedly targetting that area. Although it is a legitimate defense that will almost certainly disrupt a fighter's rhythm, it is still considered by some to be a dirty tactic as it is possible for a boxer on the receiving end to seriously injure their hand. BACK TO TOP FEINT Used By: (General Technique) A fake punch or movement is made in order to either confuse an opponent, gauge their reactions, or provoke them into reacting in such a manner that he is in an open and vulnerable position. SEE ALSO: COUNTER BACK TO TOP FLASH DOWN Victims: (Common Occurence) A down that a boxer is able to stand up easily from as there was no real damage amassed. BACK TO TOP FLICKER JAB Used By: Ryo Mashiba, Saeki Takuma Used By: (Advanced Technique) A succession of high speed Jabs that are executed with a snapping, whip-like motion which are thrown from below eye level, potentially from the opponent's blind spot. Accordingly, a stance that uses a lowered guard, such as the Hitman or Open Styles, is required and also enables the user to switch between shots to the head and body more efficiently at the sacrifice of their defense. A long arm reach is also beneficial to aid in striking from outside the opponent's field of vision. The sequence typically begins with a semi-backhanded Jab that also hits with a slightly more conventional punch as it whips back on the return. A wide variety of punches relentlessly and continually coming in from completely different angles makes up the crux of the Flicker Jab's effectiveness. SEE ALSO: HITMAN STYLE, OPEN STYLE BACK TO TOP FROG PUNCH Used By: Aoki Masaru (Unorthodox Technique) An uppercut that has the boxer lower themselves into a full squatting position and then leaping upwards, towards the opponent akin to a Frog, hence its namesake. The fighter may strike with either arm while rising from this crouching stance. Because the spring action that brings about its power requires both knees to be fully bent, the Frog Punch is easily telegraphed and is best used as a Counter after ducking beneath a Hook in order to help avoid any potential retaliation. BACK TO TOP GAZELLE PUNCH Used By: Ippo Makunouch, Iwao Shimabukuro Made famous by Floyd Patterson who named the punch for its jumping motion, it is a vertical attack that starts with a deep step-in from middle range and is a cross between a Hook and an Uppercut. While the motion for the punch is simply that of a Hook, the majority of the power is derived from the propulsion caused by the lower body as the boxer assumes a ducking position and then springs forward. As the name implies, a strong lower body, or leg muscles as resilient as that of a Gazelle's, is vital to the success of the Gazelle Punch. SEE ALSO: COUNTER BACK TO TOP GLASS JAW Victims: Hayami, Dankichi Hama, Miyata Sr. A fragile jaw that is susceptible to an injury, particularly one that is career ending. In a much broader, more metaphorical sense, it refers to a boxer's vulnerability to a knockout punch. BACK TO TOP HEADBUTT Used By: Yoshio Fujiwara, Fumito Makino Used By: (Illegal Technique) A maneuver considered to be a foul that occurs when the head is brought forward beyond the leading foot and gloves, striking the opponent. A headbutt can cause a damaging head blow and often produces a cut, in which case the uncut boxer has a point deducted. Boxers who are caught intentional headbutting are deducted two points. BACK TO TOP HEARTBREAK SHOT Used By: Eiji Date (Advanced Technique) If the heart is hit hard enough, it stops for an instant, paralyzing the victim for a brief moment. Eiji Date was able to accomplish this extremely difficult, pin-point blow using the Corkscrew Punch. SEE ALSO: CORKSCREW PUNCH BACK TO TOP HIEN Used By: Dankichi Hama, Kazuki Sanada The Hien, japanese for Flying Swallow, is named for the multipurpose WWII fighter plane because it is useful against both Infighters and Outboxers. It employs a repeated, succession of various blows thrown by the same arm without fulling retracting the punch, making it especially difficult for Infighters to close in. Rather than pulling the fist completely back to a guard position, the boxer fires off another attack, rotating the hand to change the course of the punch making it look like a Swallow in Flight. While this allows for variations in both timing and the kind of punches thrown, it puts a great deal of strain on the wrist. The sequence mixes any number Jab, Hooks, and Uppers one after the other in various combinations such as Jab-Hook-Upper, Jab-Jab-Hook, Hook-Upper-Hook, etc. BACK TO TOP HIT AND RUN Used By: (General Technique) Attacking quickly by stepping in and moving out of range before the opponent has a chance to retaliate. While the chance of throwing a KO Punch while using this tactic is low, the damage done to the opponent slowly accumulates over time. BACK TO TOP HITMAN STYLE Used By: Mashiba Ryo, Fumito Makino Used By: (General Technique) The Detroit Hitman Style is named after its creator, world champion Thomas "Hitman" Hearns, and his home town. It is an offensive style that is able to produce an assortment of faster jabs by lowering the non-dominant arm but at the cost of a weakened defense because of the lowered guard. A more defensive, counter version exists called the Philadelphia Hitman Style. It was used by "Smokin'" Joe Frazier and is employed from time to time in the series by Ichiro Miyata. BACK TO TOP HOOK Used By: Jason Ozuma (General Technique) This punch is thrown in a side arc with a bent arm using either hand with the power coming from the rotation of the hips and shoulders. The force from the Hook tends to travel through a block head better than a Jab. It is performed by the the boxer shiting the weight into the back foot, while rotating the hips, causing the arm to swing with the body toward the opponent. Because of its short reach, it can only be thrown at a close range. BACK TO TOP INFIGHTERS Examples: Ippo Makunouchi, Aoki Masaru Examples: Jason Ozuma, Takeshi Sendo Boxers who favor fighting at close quarters so that the chance to connect punches increases due to limited maneuverability and blows delivered from the opponent using the full reach of the arm, cannot be delivered. When two fighters engage in combat at this range, it is known as Infighting. SEE ALSO: OUTBOXER BACK TO TOP JAB Used By: (General Technique) A quick forward punch usually thrown with the lead hand. The power comes from a quarter-rotation of the shoulders, while the position of the fist rotates through 180 degrees, bringing the shoulder up to guard the head. This is the most important punch in a boxer's arsenal as it is extremely quick and requires very little shift in stance compared to the other punches and is the punch that has the longest reach. Thus, it is used as a tool to gage distances. As a tool to keep the opponent from moving in, the jab can be thrown repeatedly in front of the opponent so he or she cannot advance. As a tool to test the opponent's defenses, it can be thrown early on in a bout to measure the effectiveness, speed, and style of a defense. BACK TO TOP JOLT COUNTER Used By: Ichiro Miyata, Miyata Sr. A technique that is used to add more power to a Counter and can compensate for a weak punch. Rather than taking a traditional, defensive stance with your weight on the back foot, a Jolt is accomplished by leaning forward and placing all your weight on the front foot. Thus, when a Counter is thrown, the full weight of the body will be added. Although it can produce an amazing amount of damage, the Jolt leaves a person completely defenseless and so is a Double-Edged Sword. If the Counter attempt fails, that destructive damage will bounce back on to the counter-attacker in a punch that has the potential to end their career. SEE ALSO: COUNTER BACK TO TOP KARAOKE Used By: (Demonic Technique) A popular method used to torture an opponent. The song "Champion" is an effective device in this medium. Considered to be a powerful technique as it can be inflicted upon multiple targets at once. SEE ALSO: UNNECESSARY KARAOKE IN EXCESS BACK TO TOP LIVER BLOW Used By: Ippo Makunouchi A Body Blow that is incredibly damaging because it is aimed at a vital organ, the Liver. It is a close range attack that requires a substantial amount of lower body strength in order to be damaging. Stepping in with the lead leg and using it as a pivot, the entire body is rotated and the power is derived from this turning motion. If it were to hit hard enough, the punch would have the potential to cause the ribs to tear at the Liver's surface. Normally, the Liver Blow requires a wide Left Hook, causing the boxer to briefly open up their guard. BACK TO TOP LOOK AWAY Used By: Masaru Aoki, Papaya Daichu Used By: (Unorthodox Technique) A technique that exploits a basic human instinct, the boxer pauses for a moment, averting his gaze from his opponent to Look Away at the side. Curious to see what has caught the fighter's attention, the opponent will turn to see what made the boxer is looking at, creating a window of opportunity to attack as the opponent is forced to Look Away as well. Those who wish to use this tactic must have the courage to be able to take your eyes off your opponent without fear of being hit by a flurry of punches while you Look Away. A short glance is all that is required as the window of opportunity is likely to be gone in the time it takes to recover from completely turning your body. If both boxers were to use the Look Away at the same time, there would be no effect whatsoever as they are both Looking Away from the Look Away. BACK TO TOP LOW/MODIFIED VERSION SMASH Used By: Takeshi Sendo A more powerful variation of the Smash which increases its damaging capabilities by throwing the full weight of the body into the punch in a much larger, upward swing. It is thrown by bending the knees further and tilting the body to the side, so far that the boxer virtually vanishes from the opponent's line of sight, before propelling upwards in the the same manner as that of an Uppercut. SEE ALSO: SMASH BACK TO TOP MARY ANNE A nickname that is used by boxers to refer to their favorite punch to use in a fight. SEE ALSO: SUNDAY PUNCH BACK TO TOP MAS BOXING Used By: (General Technique) Using a fraction of your strength to Shadow Box with another person, stopping your punches an inch short of your partner. Its objective is to familiarize the fighter with the feeling of being in the ring. SEE ALSO: SHADOW BOXING BACK TO TOP MOTIONLESS SHORT UPPERCUT Used By: Ippo Makunouchi (Advanced Technique) A variant on the Uppercut that is less likely to be telegraphed because the beginning motion resembles that of a Jab or Straight as it is thrown from a stance that omits the long, swinging upward motion that is associated with the punch. SEE ALSO: UPPERCUT BACK TO TOP ONE-TWO PUNCH Used By: David Eagle (General Technique) A sequence that begins with a Jab from the lead hand instantly followed by a Straight using the dominant arm makes up this classic combination. SEE ALSO: JAB, STRAIGHT BACK TO TOP OPEN STYLE Used By: Ryuichi Hayami, Takuma Saeki Used By: (General Technique) A largely aggressive, offensive style with no guard and both hands lowered to allow for punches and combinations to be thrown at a much more rapid rate. Generally, only used by swift Outboxers who have the footwork necessary to dodge and compensate for the lack of any other defense. BACK TO TOP OUTBOXER Examples: Ichiro Miyata, Tatsuya Kimura Examples: Ryuichi Hayami, Takuma Saeki Boxers who prefer to keep the fight at long distances, striking from afar in a style called Outboxing. The space between can be maintained by either warding off the opponent with multiple punches or constantly moving away from them. SEE ALSO: INFIGHTER BACK TO TOP ORTHODOX STYLE Used By: Most Boxers (General Technique) The basic stance used by the majority of boxers. The legs spread are approximately shoulder-width apart with the lead foot slighty more forward than the back foot, twisting the body accordingly. The toes point straight forward, towards the opponent. The lead fist is carried in front of the cheek. The back fist is carried near the chin to protect this sensitive area as many knockouts are scored with punches to the chin. The torso is kept straight and the chin is tucked into the lead shoulder, which is often kept tense to further protect the chin. SEE ALSO: SOUTHPAW STYLE BACK TO TOP PARRY Used By: (Advanced Technique) An action rarely seen in professional boxing and considered by most to be too unreliable to be worth teaching. As the opponent's arm is extended, the defending boxer moves the fist towards the oncoming punch, usually rotating the wrist and elbow so that the palm is facing the opponent. As the opponent's punch makes contact with the extended glove, it is directed away from its target. BACK TO TOP PEEK-A-BOO Used By: Ippo Makunouch, Iwao Shimabukuro Used By: (General Technique) A unique stance in which the fists are turned outward and pressed together, covering the chin so the boxer appears to be "peeking" over the tight guard that is produced by the gloves. BACK TO TOP RABBIT PUNCH Used By: Ralph Anderson (Illegal Technique) A punch delivered by a boxer to the back of the neck of his opponent. It is illegal to use because of the potential for serious injury it can cause. It is derived from the blow used by a rabbit hunter to kill the animal. BACK TO TOP ROCKAWAY Used By: (Advanced Technique) Swaying away from the opponent's punch and then stepping in as the fist is withdrawn in order to deliver a punch as they finish retracting their arm. BACK TO TOP PUNCH DRUNK Victims: Ginpachi Nekota A common syndrome among boxers who have received too many blows to the head which results in impairment of motor skills, a lack of coordination, memory loss, and slurred speech. BACK TO TOP PUNCH EYE Victims: Akira Shigeta A mental condition where one involuntary overreacts to seeing a punch by stiffening the body or averting the eyes. It manifests in boxers who have fear implanted into their subconscious. BACK TO TOP SHADOW BOXING Used By: (General Technique) Shadow Boxing is an exercise mainly to prepare the muscles before a person who is training engages in stronger physical activity. It is performed by throwing multiple practice punches at no one in particular. Outside of warming up, it is used as a method to envision possible fight scenarios against an imaginary opponent. BACK TO TOP SHOTGUN Used By: Ryuichi Hayami A rapid series of quick shots delivered from long range in a sequence so fast that it is nearly impossible to dodge them all. The Shotgun is especially troublesome to Infighters as they literally form a wall of punches, keeping them at bay. Hayami is able to use the Shotgun with either his left or right arm and usually alternates between the two in succession, though he can throw these high-speed punches with both arms simulataneously. BACK TO TOP SLIP Victims: (Common Occurence) A down that is ruled by the referee to be not a knock down because it was not brought about by damage or a punch that was thrown. BACK TO TOP SLIPPING Used By: (Advanced Technique) A maneuver performed with the defending boxer's legs and hips in order to shift the position of the head. As a direct punch, such as a Jab or Straight, comes toward the boxer's face, the defending boxer turns the hips and shoulders to one side which shifts the position of the chin sideways, allowing the punch to "slip" by. The less the boxer has to move the head or vertical angle of the shoulders, the more skillful they are considered to be. BACK TO TOP SMASH Used By: Takeshi Sendo The Smash is a Middle-Range Blow that is hard to predict as it is unorthodox, curving upwards at a diagonal angle somewhere between a Straight and an Upper. Because it can only be thrown from a position where the guard is lowered, the Smash has the potential to be prone to Counters. SEE ALSO: 3/4 UPPERCUT, LOW SMASH BACK TO TOP SOFT DEFENSE Used By: Eiji Date, Ponchai Chuwatana Used By: (Advanced Technique) Partially neutralized the power of a punch by moving with the flow of the punch at the moment of impact rather than tightening up to take the hit. It is a technique that is generally limited to flexible boxers, such as those from the Phillipines, but can also be achieved by those lacking such agility by using keen insight to anticipate oncoming blows. BACK TO TOP SOLAR PLEXUS BLOW Used By: Hammer Nao (Illegal Technique) While a punch aimed at the Solar Plexus in and of itself is not illegal, the underhanded method used by Hammer Nao to accomplish this is considered a foul. Using the return path of a missed punch, the boxer pushes one of the opponent's arms to one side, comprimising their guard to completely expose the Solar Plexus. The blow affects the diaphragm and can cause the opponent to momentarily lose function of their lower body. BACK TO TOP SOUTHPAW STYLE Used By: Akira Shigeta (General Technique) An Orthodox Stance, but mirrored so that the right is the leading hand. The most common stlyle used by the minority, left-handed boxers. It also used in some cases by right handed fighters who wish to utilize a stance that willl create an unconventional attack pattern that allows them to throw punches with their dominant arm more easily. SEE ALSO: ORTHODOX STYLE BACK TO TOP STRAIGHT Used By: Yusuke Oda (General Technique) A straight punch, usually with the dominant hand, where the the rear foot makes a half-step forward, shifting the weight towards the lead foot, the hips are turned, and the shoulders are rotated toward the target with the power coming from the push-off on the rear leg and the rotation of the shoulders. When it is thrown right after a jab, it creates what is known as the classic One-Two Punch. SEE ALSO: JAB, ONE-TWO BACK TO TOP SUNDAY PUNCH The name given to either the best punch that a boxer has in their arsenal or their finishing blow. SEE ALSO: MARY ANNE BACK TO TOP TEKKEN Used By: Genji Kamogawa, Ippo Makunouchi Tekken, japanese for Iron Fist, is a an all-or-nothing body blow with a complete lack of restraint. Although the punch is thrown using the entire weight of the body, the main source of its power comes from the upper body's strength with an emphasis placed on being able to drive the fist deep into the opponent in a swift motion. This one hit is is meant to end the match, though given its disregard for the damage that can be done to the attacker's fist, the agressor may find themselves on the losing end. Because of the amount of force used in this punch, the fist may shatter on impact, possibly causing the broken bones to protrude through the skin. While the Tekken is extremely effect when and if it connects, it should be used sparingly due to its self-destructive nature. BACK TO TOP TSUBAME GAESHI Used By: Kazuki Sanada Tsubame Gaeshi, japanese for Returning Swallow, is a Sideways Uppercut that follows a normal Uppercut. The Sideways Uppercut, also known as a Mexican Uppercut, is performed with the fist rotated 90 degrees so that it is vertical with the thumb and index finger facing upwards. Because a boxing glove's width is 17 cm (6.69") but its height is only 10 cm (3.94"), the fist "shrinks." The Tsubame Gaeshi is thrown immediately after a blocked conventional Uppercut which loosens the guard, allowing the "smaller" fist to penetrate through the tiny crack made in the defense. This tactic was designed to be used in conjunction with the Hien which encourages excessive blocking. SEE ALSO: HIEN, UPPER BACK TO TOP UNNECESSARY KARAOKE IN EXCESS Used By: (Demonic Technique) A form of cruel and unusual punishment SEE ALSO: KARAOKE BACK TO TOP UP STYLE Used By: Kenta Kobashi (Generic Technique) A primarily defensive stance that has the weak arm extended outward. While offensive manuevers are hampered and the Jabs that result from this position are relatively faint and powerless, it does allow the boxer to more readily use the Clinch, Cross Arm Block, and Parry. It can also have the effect of disorienting the opponent as the elongated fist may obscure their depth perception. Click on the image at left for a small sample of this... (; SEE ALSO: CLINCH, CROSS ARM BLOCK BACK TO TOP UPPERCUT Used By: (General Technique) A punch that travels vertically up the opponent's chest, underneath the guard, and aims for the chin. The power in the uppercut comes from the rising motion of the knees, legs, and hips. The boxer needs to be very close to the opponent in order the land this punch, and it is easily avoided by stepping back from the punch. After it connects, it tends to lift up the chin of the opponent, which can cause the opponent to be off balance for a moment, opening them up for a bigger, follow-up hit. SEE ALSO: SHORT UPPER, TSUBAME GAESHI BACK TO TOP WEIGHT CLASSES Number of Weight Classes: 17 Bantam: Genji Kamogawa, Ginpachi Nekota Feather: Ippo Makunouchi, Ichiro Miyata J. Light: Tatsuya Kimura, Ryo Mashiba Light: Masaru Aoki Welter: Ralph Anderson J. Middle: Brian Hawk Middle: Mamoru Takamura, David Eagle The division of fighters based on their weight. A figher is unable to hold a title in more than one weight class. Although a boxer is able to have a match against an opponent who is outside of their division, such an occurence is irregular. While the weight classifications are universal, each governing body has its own terminology for each partition. Listed below is how the three major sanctioning bodies for professional boxing, the World Boxing Association (WBA), the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF), define weight classes. The Japanese Boxing Comission (JBC) uses the same terms as the IBF and the Oriental & Pacific Boxing Federation (OBPF) uses the same ones as the WBA. UNDER 105 105-108 lbs. 108-112 lbs. 112-115 lbs. 115-118 lbs. 118-122 lbs. 122-126 lbs. 126-130 lbs. 130-135 lbs. 135-140 lbs. 140-147 lbs. 147-154 lbs. 154-160 lbs. 160-168 lbs. 168-175 lbs. 175-190 lbs. OVER 190 KEY WBA Mini Fly L. Fly Fly S. Fly Bantam S. Bantam Feather S. Feather Light S. Light Welter S. Welter Middle S. Middle L. Heavy Cruiser Heavy J. = Junior WBC Straw L. Fly Fly S. Fly Bantam S. Bantam Feather S. Feather Light S. Light Welter S. Welter Middle S. Middle L. Heavy Cruiser Heavy L. = Light IBF Mini Fly J. Fly Fly J. Bantam Bantam J. Feather Feather J. Light Light J. Welter Welter J. Middle Middle S. Middle L. Heavy Cruiser Heavy S. = Super BACK TO TOP WEIGHT SHIFTING Used By: Ippo Makunouchi, Takeshi Sendo Used By: (Advanced Technique) Using the feet to pivot, the muscles in the lower body are used to rotated the entire body so that the boxer's full weight is put behind every blow. The resulting effect magnifies the damage done and allows a powerful punch to be thrown even if there is little room to maneuver. An example of smooth Weight Shifting put to good use is the Liver Blow SEE ALSO: LIVER BLOW BACK TO TOP WHITE FANG Used By: Alexander Vorg Zangief Named for the up-down, closing motion of the fists which resemble those of a wolf's jaws biting into its prey, White Fang is a finishing blow that is a high-speed, vertical combination whose speed exceeds that of the Shotgun. It consists of two punches landing both from above and below almost simultaneously. In most cases, it begins with a Left Upper and ends with a Chopping Right, though Vorg is able to lead with a Right Upper as well. SEE ALSO: CHOPPING RIGHT, SHOTGUN