When to Use
Use to close distance explosively when the opponent is not expecting an advance and is standing at long range with a low guard. The rear leg kick-back disguises the punch and adds forward momentum. Best deployed sparingly — once or twice per fight maximum — as a surprise weapon after establishing a pattern of conventional entries.
Execution Steps
- From your stance, shift weight slightly onto the lead foot and lift your rear knee as if loading a kick, keeping your guard high and chin tucked behind the lead shoulder.
- Explosively kick the rear leg backward and downward while simultaneously extending the rear hand straight forward, driving from the shoulder with full rotation of the hips.
- The backward leg motion creates a counterforce that propels your body forward into the punch — focus on horizontal travel, not vertical height, keeping your eyes locked on the target.
- Extend fully through the knuckles and land on your lead leg with the knee slightly bent to absorb impact, maintaining balance by keeping your center of gravity low.
- Immediately bring the rear leg back underneath you to regain your fighting stance, returning the rear hand to guard position to protect against counters.
Coaching Cues
"Kick the rear leg back as you punch."
"Drive forward, not upward."
"Full extension through the shoulder."
"Land balanced on the lead leg."
Pro Tips
- Jorge Linares incorporated this into boxing from his kickboxing background — study how he sets it up with feinted entries first to condition the opponent to back up.
- The key is the deception — the initial knee lift looks passive, then the punch explodes forward before the opponent can process the threat and react defensively.
- Use it once or twice per fight maximum for shock value, ideally in the middle rounds after establishing conventional combination patterns.
- Follow the superman punch with an immediate lead hook — the forward momentum carries you into hooking range naturally.
Conditioning Drills
- Single-Leg Bounds: Explosive forward leaping on one leg, 4 sets of 8 each side, focusing on horizontal distance covered.
- Box Jumps: 4 sets of 6 reps onto a 20-24 inch box, emphasizing the forward driving leg motion rather than pure vertical leap.
- Heavy Bag Superman Drill: Throw the superman punch into the heavy bag for 3 sets of 10, practicing landing balanced and immediately resetting stance.
Gym Workout: Cross & Rotational Power
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Q1 of 3
Which coaching cue belongs to the Superman Punch?