How to Throw an Uppercut in Boxing (Lead and Rear)
By Chris, co-founder of Jabster · Updated May 2026
The uppercut is a rising punch up the middle, perfect for an opponent who is leaning in or covering up. The power is a small squat and spring, not an arm lift.
Quick answer: Bend your knees to lower your stance slightly, then drive up out of your legs while rotating your hips, sending the fist upward with the palm facing you. Keep your other hand up, and do not drop the punching hand below your hips.
This guide assumes an orthodox stance, left foot forward. Southpaws mirror everything.
How to throw a lead uppercut, step by step
- Shift your weight slightly to the front foot and bend your knees to lower your stance, like a small squat. Your body goes down as your hand goes up, like a see-saw.
- Dip the lead hand slightly to set the upward angle, but not below your hips.
- Rotate your hips and drive upward out of your legs, uncoiling the lead hand up in an arc, palm facing you, toward the chin.
- Keep your rear hand protecting your chin the whole time.
- Bring the lead hand straight back to guard as you return to normal stance height.
Where the power comes from
The legs and the squat-and-rise are the engine. The arm just rides the upward drive. If you throw it from the arm alone, it is weak and it strains your shoulder. Bend the knees, rotate the hips, and drive up.
The rear uppercut (the "6")
The rear uppercut uses the back hand and lands even harder because it adds the rear-hip rotation onto the upward drive. The differences:
- Drop the rear hand slightly, to about beltline height, roughly a hand below your guard. No lower.
- Bend the knees and rotate the hips, then drive up, sending the rear hand up the middle.
- It is an inside-range punch. You usually need to be close for it to reach.
Keep your lead hand high, because throwing the rear uppercut rotates you slightly open.
Common mistakes
- Dropping the hand too far to load it. This is the big one. It telegraphs the punch and lets it be timed, and it opens your face.
- Arm-punching with no knee bend or hip rotation. Weak, and hard on the shoulder.
- Dropping the non-punching hand and exposing your chin.
- Throwing from too far out, so it falls short and you lunge in off balance.
A safety note
Keep the bend in your knees, not your back. Keep your wrist straight under the rising fist. Do not over-rotate or lunge in, and return to guard every time. These are coaching cues, not a replacement for a coach who can watch you. See the movement in our technique library.
Put it all together
You now have all four punch types. Make sure your jab, cross, and hook are clean too. To chain them into combinations, read boxing punch numbers, then build a fresh round with our free combo generator.
Frequently asked questions
How do you throw an uppercut?
Bend your knees to lower your stance slightly, then drive up out of your legs while rotating your hips, sending the fist upward with the palm facing you toward the chin. Keep your other hand up and do not drop the punching hand below your hips.
Why is my uppercut weak?
Because it is coming from your arm. The power in an uppercut comes from bending and driving up out of your knees plus the hip rotation, like a small squat and spring. The arm just rides that upward drive.
What is the most common uppercut mistake?
Dropping the hand too far to load the punch. It telegraphs the uppercut and lets your opponent time it, while leaving your face open. Keep the hand no lower than hip or beltline level.
When do you use an uppercut?
Up close, especially against an opponent leaning in or covering up. It comes up the middle between their guard to the chin or body, so it works best at inside range, not from far away.
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