Stickgrappler's MMA page - Boxing - How do I Throw a Proper Hook? page

How do I Throw a Proper Hook?

ThinWrists wrote:

> There's definitely something/s I'm missing! I'd appreciate
> it if someone in the know would give me a step-by-step
> guide.
>
> I can rock the bag with straight-armed punches (hand speed
> is shit though) but a 12-year-old (girl) could probably
> outhook me. :)
>

Hands up. Elbows in. Chin down.

We'll work it from a forward bob position, immediately after a cross. There are many positions from which you can throw it, and many variations of the hook, but we'll look at a standard horizontal lead hook at chin level.

Shift your weight onto your back foot as you turn out your lead heel. This is where the power comes from.

Do not draw the hand back to throw your hook. This will telegraph the blow.

Lead shoulder and lead hip turn in virtual unison as your weight is shifting onto the rear leg.

Tight fist. THERE IS NO WRIST IN A HOOK. Lock the wrist, lining up your fist with your forearm.

Throw the hook in a tight arc. The range of your hook -- how far away the target is -- determines whether you use a horizontal or vertical fist. The rule is as follows: if the target is outside your elbow range, then use a vertical fist. Inside elbow range, then horizontal fist is all right. Don't confuse the two, though, for if you throw a hook with a horizontal fist outside your elbow range, you'll break your pinky and ring finger knuckles and/or the pinky carpal at the wrist.

Hide your chin inside your shoulder as you hook.

After your hook follows through the target, it converges in an ever tighter arc back to your guard position. Don't take wild swings with your hook. Once it has done its job, it comes back home.

Two simple rules for throwing the hook which I always tell my students are "crushing peanuts, and come here". The "crushing peanuts" is what your lead foot does as you shift your weight. The "come here" is like you're motioning with your arm for someone to come over to you.

There are other hook variations -- ascending, long range, shovel, slightly descending over the shoulder, etc. -- and they all follow the principles and mechanics outlined above.

Also, you will want to make sure your rear hand stays up and in -- "talking on the telephone" -- to cover the other side as you throw your hook. Very important. Shadowboxing in front of a mirror will help you watch and develop your form, and show you where your openings are. You want to know the openings you're giving before getting out on the floor with a good banger and finding out the hard way.

The focus mitts and heavy bag will also give you valuable feedback about your hook. You will feel whether or not your power and snap are in the punch. When you get the hook right, it feels relatively effortless as you throw it, but the person wearing the focus mitt will feel like you just hit the mitt with a baseball bat. It is a very powerful punch.

Again, probably the most important single aspect of the hook is the shift of weight. You must shift your weight when you hit. The rule is to hit with what you weigh. The hook is a prime example of this.

This takes care of physical execution. But it says nothing of how you would apply it. There is a definite method to landing your hook. It has everything to do with the opponent's placement and motion, and your own momentary posture. I'll post some information on landing the hook later on, if anyone is interested in knowing.

Good luck to you.

Frank Benn
Integrated Arts
Submission Grappling/Boxing and Kickboxing/Filipino Martial Arts

Austin, Texas

Posted to Usenet's rec.martial-arts Fri, 31 Mar 2000 17:53:39 -0600