When to Use
Use after slipping inside a cross when your body is naturally loaded for the lead uppercut from the crouched slipping position. The opponent is still extended and recovering from their missed punch, creating a window where their guard is open from below and their balance is forward.
Execution Steps
- Slip inside the opponent's cross by bending the knees and rotating your torso inward, positioning your lead shoulder under their extended arm while keeping your eyes on their chin.
- From the crouched position, drive a lead uppercut upward using explosive leg drive from the bent-knee stance, targeting the chin and using the stored energy from the slip to power the vertical punch.
- As the uppercut lifts their chin and disrupts their guard vertically, immediately fire a cross straight through the center opening, driving the rear hip fully through while the opponent is still processing the upward force.
- Let the cross's rotation naturally load the lead hip and shoulder for the hook — throw it tight and compact to the head or body, keeping the elbow at 90 degrees to avoid the wide arc that follows two rotations.
- Return to guard with both hands and move your head off the center line, as three consecutive punches from a counter-punching position have left you stationary in the pocket.
Coaching Cues
"Uppercut lifts, cross drives, hook finishes."
"Slip inside first — never throw this cold."
"Each punch flows from the last — feel the rotation chain."
"Stay low after the slip, explode upward."
Pro Tips
- This is strictly a counter-punching combination — never lead with it cold from range, because the uppercut without the slip setup is slow, telegraphed, and leaves your chin wide open during the upward motion.
- The slip-to-uppercut is the critical transition to drill until it becomes automatic — practice slipping a partner's jab and immediately driving the uppercut from the crouched position without any pause.
- Target the body with the hook if the opponent raises their guard high after the cross, switching the final punch to the ribs while their hands are protecting the chin.
Conditioning Drills
- Slip Rope: 3 rounds of 3 minutes practicing the slip-to-uppercut transition, passing under the rope and immediately driving the upward punch motion.
- Heavy Bag: 5 rounds of 3 minutes alternating this combo with the standard 1-2-3, building both the counter and the lead versions from the same starting position.
- Dumbbell Uppercut-Press: 3 sets of 12 reps combining the upward drive of the uppercut with the forward extension of the cross to build the specific muscular pathway.
Gym Workout: Lead Uppercut Slip & Flow
4 exercises · 20 min · Hit the gym and sharpen this technique
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Q1 of 3
Which coaching cue belongs to The 5-2-3 (Lead Uppercut-Cross-Hook)?