Title: Lead Uppercut: Steps, Key Details & Mistakes | DARCE

Canonical: https://darce.app/techniques/striking/lead-uppercut

> Lead Uppercut. A short rising lead-hand punch up the centre, ideal inside the pocket against a high guard.

# Lead Uppercut

- Striking
- Punches
- intermediate
- Orthodox stance
- 4 steps

A short rising lead-hand punch up the centre, ideal inside the pocket against a high guard. Also known as the Mud Seuy (lead). Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 4 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.

## When to use it

Use the lead uppercut when the opponent covers up behind a high guard or leans forward to smother your punches. It splits a tight guard and catches an opponent who ducks or changes levels. Throw it after a cross, with your hips already turned to load it.

## Step by step

1. 01

   ### Set your stance

   Compact, hands up.

2. 02

   ### Dip and load

   Bend the lead knee slightly and dip the lead shoulder to load the legs.

3. 03

   ### Drive it up the middle

   Extend the legs and rotate the hip as the lead fist travels straight up through the chin.

4. 04

   ### Recover to guard

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

## Key details

- Drive with the legs and hips, not the arm.
- Keep it tight to the centre-line to slip between the guard.
- A small dip loads it. Do not drop the head low.

## Common mistakes

- Winding the hand down before throwing.
- Leaning back instead of driving up.
- Over-dipping and exposing the head.

## Common counters

An uppercut thrown from outside the pocket misses and leaves your jaw open to a hook or a straight punch. Opponents also catch it on the rear glove and counter over the top. Stay close and keep it short.

## How to drill it

Your partner holds a mitt facing down at chin height and steps in with their head low; fire the lead uppercut as they arrive. Do three rounds of two minutes, finishing every uppercut with a lead hook to the head.

## Related techniques

- [Cross Striking The rear-hand straight punch: your primary power shot, driven by rotating the hip and pivoting the rear foot.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/cross)
- [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)
- [Rear Uppercut Striking A rising rear-hand punch up the centre, driven by a small dip and a powerful leg drive.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/rear-uppercut)
- [Overhand Striking A looping rear-hand power punch that arcs over the opponent’s guard and crashes down on the head.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/overhand)
- [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)

Train it with the AI coach

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