Hajime no Ippo began its behemoth run in 1989. After several of his series were cancelled before completion, Jyoji Murikawa reluctantly sketched an image of a boxer, having been persisted by several staff at Shonen Jump to create a boxing manga. Here, the legend of Ippo was born.

The story follows Makunouchi Ippo, a timid, overly nice, and constantly bullied teenager, as he rises from complete novice to a world title chasing pro, in an honest and beautifully crafted wimp to warrior story.

Murikawa, as well as being a boxing fan from a young age, was known for getting into brawls during high school, before joining a boxing gym. It is no surprise then that Hajime no Ippo gives readers an accurate glimpse into the life of a boxer, from the training regiment, the mindset, and perfecting of techniques, to the glory and heartbreak that come with it.

The first punch that's taught in the art of boxing is the jab. It's an integral part of any fighters game, a quick extension of the lead arm, used to punch, push, distract, create openings, and even to defend.

Before being accepted into the gym, Ippo is tasked by Takamura, the gym's prized possession to catch 10 falling leaves from a tree. This analogy is used in boxing to describe the technique behind a jab. By staying loose as you throw the jab and tensing at the end of extension, you get a satisfying "snap" on the end of your jab.

Ippo discovers that by using this technique he is able to snatch all 10 leaves, and is therefore accepted into the gym. This is one of the many examples of real life techniques that Murikawa uses within his story.