Top 5 Ways To Setup The REAR UPPERCUT | BAZOOKATRAINING.COM
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Rear Uppercut·Bazooka Joe Valtellini·Added by Admin
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Rear Uppercut
Genusリアアッパー(Ria Appā)
TransliterationTranslation: rear uppercut
Overview
History & Origin
The rear uppercut generates greater power than the lead variant by engaging the full kinetic chain from the rear foot through the hips and into the rising fist. [1] Dempsey identified the rear uppercut as one of the heaviest punches in boxing when thrown correctly, combining upward force with full body rotation. [1] The rear uppercut was a signature weapon of fighters such as Mike Tyson, who used it from his crouching peek-a-boo guard to devastating effect — his rear uppercut knockout of Marvis Frazier (1986) landed in 30 seconds. [2] Haislet documented the rear uppercut as requiring a significant dip in the knees and a corkscrewing upward motion to generate maximum vertical force. [3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
The rear uppercut uses the power hand for maximum upward force. [1]
Competition Record
George Foreman's rear uppercut was a devastating weapon throughout his career, contributing to 76 knockout victories. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Ballistic extension of the arm — kinetic chain transfers force from the ground through the hips to the fist
Joints Involved — Shoulder (flexion/rotation), elbow (rapid extension), wrist (stabilised on impact), hips (rotation)
Force Vector — Linear (jab, cross) or circular (hook, overhand) depending on the punch type
Kinetic Chain — Ground reaction force → hip rotation → torso rotation → shoulder extension → fist impact — each link amplifies velocity
Position & Entry
From boxing stance (inside range) — Drop the rear shoulder slightly, drive the fist upward using leg and hip extension, target the chin or body
As counter (opponent ducks) — When opponent lowers their head (ducking a hook or level changing), fire the uppercut to the exposed chin
From clinch — In close range, short upward punch targeting the chin with explosive hip extension
Variants
Standard uppercut — rising punch from below targeting the chin
Short uppercut — compact version for clinch range
Body uppercut — targeting the solar plexus with the rising punch
Lead uppercut — using the lead hand for a faster, less-telegraphed rising punch
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Hooks/uppercuts; generate rotational force, high KO rate (Walilko et al. 2005)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
Kyokushin — Body punches legal at full power, head punches banned {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— 1 point
WT Competition Rules 2024PDFLegal
— Unified MMA — Legal striking technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFWBC/Boxing — Legal — punches are the core technique of boxing {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
— ITF — Legal — hand techniques to head and body both permi...
ITF Competition RulesPDF— WAKO — Legal in Full Contact and Low Kick formats
WAKO Competition RulesPDFK-1/GLORY — Legal — full power punches to head and body {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
— IFMA — Legal
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The rear uppercut is the more powerful of the two uppercuts because the rear side has more rotation available
✓Drop the rear hand slightly from guard position, bend the knees, and drive up through the rear hip and leg
✓Rotate the rear foot inward as you rise — this adds torque and keeps the kinetic chain connected
✓The rear uppercut finishes with the rear shoulder up, protecting the chin on that side
✓Use it after a jab or lead hook: the opponent's attention goes to the lead side, and the rear uppercut comes from the blind angle
✓Mike Tyson's rear uppercut from his crouched stance was one of the most devastating punches in heavyweight history
✓Drill on the heavy bag: stand close, dip, and drive the rear fist straight up into the bottom of the bag
Common Mistakes
!Winding up by pulling the hand down to the hip — the uppercut should fire from guard level with only a slight dip
!Swinging the fist in a wide U-shape instead of a short, compact upward line
!Squaring the stance to throw the uppercut, which removes the bladed position and exposes the centre line
!Not bending the knees to generate upward drive — arm-only uppercuts have no power
!Lifting the head and chin as you throw, mirroring the upward motion — the chin stays tucked always
!Over-committing so that a missed uppercut sends you stumbling forward and off-balance
!Throwing the rear uppercut without a setup — it is the slower uppercut and needs a lead-side distraction
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Assume Fighting Stance — begin from a balanced position with guard up
2Generate Power — use hip rotation and weight transfer for maximum force
3Execute Strike — deliver the technique to the target with correct form
4Recover to Guard — return immediately to defensive position
Sources & References
Primary Source
Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text (Gichin Funakoshi, 1935)
1BookBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)
Alias sources — [1] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950) [2] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [3] Boxing (Fleischer, 1958)
2BookThe Boxing Register (Roberts & Skutt, 2006)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)
Alias sources — [1] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950) [2] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [3] Boxing (Fleischer, 1958)
5CitationThe Boxing Register (Roberts & Skutt, 2006)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950)
Community
Athletics
Requires
leg drive, upward hip thrust, tight vertical alignment
Favours
shorter reach fighters effective at inside range
Key muscles
quadriceps, glutes, deltoids, biceps, core
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I hide my rear uppercut so my opponent can't see it coming?
According to Bazooka Joe Valtellini, hide your rear shoulder by using your lead side as a screen and setting up with good punches beforehand. This prevents your opponent from jamming up the middle and countering the technique.
What's the correct elbow position when throwing a rear uppercut?
Keep your elbow rubbing the side of your body as it comes up rather than throwing with too much angle and space, as Bazooka Joe Valtellini emphasizes. This positioning, sometimes called a 'corkscrew,' generates the most damage.
Why is setup so important for the rear uppercut?
Bazooka Joe Valtellini stresses that without proper setup, the rear uppercut is easily countered. Use combinations like jab-overhand-jab before the uppercut, or set it up with techniques like inside low kicks to create defensive responses that open the angle.
How does the Rear Uppercut work?
An uppercut thrown with the rear hand, generating greater power through full hip rotation and weight transfer while driving upward from the back leg.
Where does the Rear Uppercut come from?
The rear uppercut generates greater power than the lead variant by engaging the full kinetic chain from the rear foot through the hips and into the rising fist. Dempsey identified the rear uppercut as one of the heaviest punches in boxing when thrown correctly, combining upward force with full body rotation.
Is the Rear Uppercut legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal striking technique; WBC/Boxing: legal — Legal — punches are the core technique of boxing; WKF: legal — Legal, jodan/chudan punch scores 1 point (yuko) — controlled contact required; Kyokushin: restricted — Body punches legal at full power, head punches banned; WT: restricted — Punches to trunk only (1 point), punches to head banned; ITF: legal — Legal — hand techniques to head and body both permitted; WAKO: legal — Legal in Full Contact and Low Kick formats; K: legal — 1/GLORY — Legal — full power punches to head and body; IFMA: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Rear Uppercut?
Danger rating 6/10. High — hooks/uppercuts; generate rotational force, high KO rate (Walilko et al. 2005)
How do I set up the Rear Uppercut?
The standard setup chain: Assume Fighting Stance → Generate Power → Execute Strike → Recover to Guard.
How do I defend against the Rear Uppercut?
Standard counters include: Block — absorb the strike with a protective guard position / Evasion — move the target out of the strike's path / Counter-Attack — time an offensive response during the recovery phase of the strike.
What are the variants of the Rear Uppercut?
Common variants: Standard uppercut (rising punch from below targeting the chin); Short uppercut (compact version for clinch range); Body uppercut (targeting the solar plexus with the rising punch); Lead uppercut (using the lead hand for a faster, less-telegraphed rising…).
How effective is the Rear Uppercut in competition?
George Foreman's rear uppercut was a devastating weapon throughout his career, contributing to 76 knockout victories.
What are common mistakes when doing the Rear Uppercut?
Top errors to watch for: Winding up by pulling the hand down to the hip — the uppercut should fire from guard level with only a slight dip / Swinging the fist in a wide U-shape instead of a short, compact upward line / Squaring the stance to throw the uppercut, which removes the bladed position and exposes the centre line / Not bending the knees to generate upward drive — arm-only uppercuts have no power.
What are other names for the Rear Uppercut?
The Rear Uppercut is also known as Ria Appā, Right Uppercut, Rear Age Tsuki, Power Uppercut.