Title: Cross: Steps, Key Details & Mistakes | DARCE

Canonical: https://darce.app/techniques/striking/cross

> Cross. The rear-hand straight punch: your primary power shot, driven by rotating the hip and pivoting the rear foot.

# Cross

- Striking
- Punches
- fundamental
- Orthodox stance
- 3 steps

The rear-hand straight punch: your primary power shot, driven by rotating the hip and pivoting the rear foot. Also known as the Straight right, the Rear straight or the Mud Tawad. Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 3 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.

## When to use it

Throw the cross behind a jab once the jab has found the range and lifted their guard. It also lands as a counter when they jab: slip outside their lead hand and fire straight down the middle. Aim at the chin, or bend your knees and send it to the solar plexus.

## Step by step

1. 01

   ### Set your stance

   Rear hand at the chin, ready to fire.

2. 02

   ### Drive the cross

   Pivot the rear foot and rotate the hip and shoulder fully as the rear hand fires straight down the middle.

3. 03

   ### Recover to guard

   Snap the hand straight back to your chin and reset your stance. Never leave it out.

## Key details

- Power comes from the ground up. Rotate the rear foot, hip then shoulder.
- Keep the lead hand at your chin to protect against the counter.
- Land with the body behind the punch, not just the arm.

## Common mistakes

- Arm-punching without turning the hips.
- Failing to pivot the rear heel.
- Lunging forward and losing balance.

## Common counters

Opponents slip outside the cross and return a lead hook, or roll it off the lead shoulder and fire their own cross back. If you leave the hand out, the return hook lands on an open jaw. Bring it back on the same line with your chin tucked.

## How to drill it

One-two on the heavy bag for three-minute rounds: jab, cross, step off at an angle, reset. Only count a rep when the rear heel turns all the way over and both hands are back at your chin.

## Related techniques

- [Jab Striking The lead-hand straight punch: your range-finder, rhythm-setter and the setup for everything else.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/jab)
- [Lead Hook Striking A short horizontal lead-hand punch that turns through the side of the target on the pivot of the hips.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/lead-hook)
- [Rear Hook Striking A power hook from the rear hand, turning the whole body to land on the side of the head.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/rear-hook)
- [Lead Uppercut Striking A short rising lead-hand punch up the centre, ideal inside the pocket against a high guard.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/lead-uppercut)
- [Liver Shot (Body Hook) Striking A lead hook dug into the body below the ribs: a fight-ending shot that drains the gas tank.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/liver-shot)
- [Spinning Backfist Striking A spinning strike that lands the back of the fist, generating power from the rotation of the body.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/spinning-backfist)

Train it with the AI coach

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