Okay, so I decided to spend some time actually practicing that famous ‘Stockton Slap’ you see the Diaz brothers throw. Wasn’t just about watching clips, I wanted to feel it out myself, you know? See what the fuss was about.
Getting Started with the Slap
First thing, I went down to the basement where I got my heavy bag hanging. Cleared some space around it. Didn’t want to knock over any old paint cans or anything. I’d seen enough fights and videos to get the basic idea: it’s an open hand, kind of long, looping, and more annoying than a knockout shot, usually.
So, I stood in front of the bag. My first few attempts felt… well, dumb. Just kinda waving my hand at it. Wasn’t getting that distinctive snap you hear. It felt floppy, no real impact. I realized I was being too stiff, trying to muscle it like a punch.
Figuring Out the Motion
Then I remembered watching them – they look loose, almost casual when they throw it. So, I tried relaxing my shoulder, my arm, everything. Let it hang a bit. Started thinking of it less like hitting through the target and more like flicking something off the target.
- Loosened up the shoulder completely.
- Kept the elbow slightly bent but not tight.
- Focused on turning the hip and shoulder into it, just a little, not a full power rotation.
- The main thing became the wrist action right at the end – a quick flick.
It started to feel different. Less like a limp wave, more like a quick whip. I wasn’t trying to blast the bag off its chain. Just focused on that snappy contact with the palm and fingers.
I spent maybe 20 minutes just doing that. Right hand, left hand. Over and over. Thwack. Thwack. Started getting a better sound off the bag. Not a heavy thud, but that sharper slapping noise. You could really feel the sting on your palm after a while, even though it wasn’t a ‘power’ shot.
What I Found Out
It’s a weird technique, honestly. It comes from an odd angle, feels longer than a hook. It definitely gets your attention when it lands, even on a bag. You can see how it’d be distracting or irritating in a real situation. It’s not about ending the fight with one shot, seems more like a setup or just a way to be disrespectful and mess with someone’s rhythm.
It’s all about being loose and timing that flick right at the end. Took a while to stop trying to force it and just let the arm fly more naturally. Keeping the hand open felt strange at first too, always trained to make a fist.
So yeah, that was my session trying out the Stockton Slap. It’s an interesting tool, definitely different from standard boxing or kickboxing strikes. Probably won’t be my go-to move, but it was good to break it down and actually practice the mechanics myself instead of just watching others do it. Felt good to get some hands-on time with something specific like that.
