There are many aspects to the hook, especially when it is thrown off the jab or as a front hook on its own. In this video lesson I show the correct hand position and explain why it matters. I also cover why and when not to twist the foot, and give an example of when that rule could, and should, be broken.

It is for boxers and martial artists who want a hook that is both safe to throw and genuinely dangerous to receive.

Hand Position And Why It Matters

The way the fist is positioned on a hook decides how the force travels into the target and how well your wrist and hand survive the impact. Get it wrong and you lose power, or worse, you hurt yourself. Get it right and the whole structure of the arm, from the knuckles to the shoulder, lines up behind the punch.

I want you to understand the reason for the position, not just copy it. If you know why, you will hold onto it when you are tired.

To Twist The Foot Or Not

A lot of coaches teach that you must always pivot the front foot on the hook. It is a rule that gets repeated without much thought. In the video I explain why and when you should not twist the foot, and then show an example of when that rule should be broken.

That is how I look at most rules in fighting. They are useful starting points, but you need to know the principle behind them so you can recognise the exceptions.

Where The Power Really Comes From

The hook is a body punch, even when it lands on the head. The power comes from the rotation of the hips and shoulders, not from the arm swinging. The arm stays fairly fixed and the body turns it. If your hook feels like an arm punch, it probably is one.

How to practise:

  • Shadow box the hook slowly, checking the hand position each time
  • Throw it off the jab on the pads, then as a single front hook
  • Experiment with the foot, pivot and no pivot, and feel the difference

Take It Further

If you throw your hook a different way, give this a try and see how you get on. For a complete boxing programme, see the Learn To Box Online Course, and for more on hitting harder, look at Power Black.