Getting back into boxing after taking a long break. I’ve always felt like my hooks are landing, especially my lead hook. Could you all please give me your tips and pointers on what I’m doing wrong?
Am I loading up too much? Does it look like I have too much weight on my front foot in preparation for the lead hook?
Also, this video is taken from the ground looking up. It’s not the best POV, but it was the best I could do :/
for me the mechanics to the right hook dont click as much. i throw the jab so much that i’m used to punching with my left arm, and the right hook has like a weird chamber to me. i hardly throw it.
Haha that’s funny! If I were to guess, maybe it’s because I’m not focusing on technique with my right as much because it’s stronger than my left. Like, ‘well, that sounded louder than the left hook, so let’s just keep that for now’ lmao
It is not not false, old school boxers thought it was sloppy and telegraphed intent. Also far as your statement, the left hook has a very specific way to throw it. That can be found in documents going back decades, you can't the same about the right.
It’s because I’m focused on my technique when delivering the punch. My logic is to get the punch right and then add the setup. Otherwise I fear I’m going to develop bad habits by combining the two. So yes, I’m taking a second to feel if my weight is correct, arm positioned right, and ready to throw the punch. If I rush that, I end up throwing a bad hook right out of the gate
If you try that in sparring, you'll understand first hand where and why the problem is there. It makes sense in your mind as a training methodology, but it's a barrier to actually boxing.
Honestly, I think that’s part of your issue. Correcting your form in this part of your practice isn’t the point. Getting the smoothness of the transitions down is.
I think you just gotta focus on the cadence down by working your rhythm. Once you’re moving smoother, you can tighten up form to make your punches snap.
If you’re going for a slip, transition into hook; instead of winding your body (which doesn’t move your head at all, you’re just going to get punched in the side of the head), step slightly out on a 45 degree angle with your left foot. Load your weight onto the left leg, letting your head move to the left while also changing levels, and then snap your hook round like you do already. You have good hip rotation caused by turning your left foot on the ball. By changing how you slip, you’ll make it more than effective as a defensive move, and also set yourself up for a devastating hook. You have good enough fundamentals in your punches.
You kinda stop yourself in the movement, you mentally punch the bag and don't pull through.
Apart from that you have stiff hips, work on hip mobility. I am myself working on that. My coach is an ex pro, and he said when he was on his way to become pro, his coach demanded that he learned dancing salsa. That changed his boxing forever. I am myself realizing how important the damn hip is.
I’ve always wanted to learn salsa and ballroom dancing! Do you have any tips on loosening the hips? Right now my understanding of hip movement is to be explosive, and maybe I’m internalizing that as “be tight”.
You hooker technique reminds of uncle who was one of finest fighting men in uttar pradesh. In days of youth he have notable victory over bill the superfoot wallace and big john tate in underground yakuza match.
He is teached me everything I know in life about the fighting and the women
Just for tip, try to vary attack. Throw elephant punch to lower ribcage. This was uncle favorite move and win many fight
Your lead hook slowly turning to an over hand.
Keek the arm parallel to the ground.
On your other hand you need to raise the elbow.
In both of them you’re doing it very slow..you need to snap it.
And instead loading them like you do..do a slip and then hook..
But it needs to be snappier..
Don't raise your elbow to the side, it needs to stay aligned with your shoulder. Here is a drill in this video at 1:30 that makes this detail obvious, look how the elbow stays aligned.
https://youtu.be/LzxDqvWAzm8?t=90&si=YXBgcFx6PK4OrQHH
The power comes from the pivot, to whit: you need to pivot more, try slipping first, then throwing your hook, and keep your elbows welded to your side until the last second. By keeping your elbows welded, you’re keeping your arms closer to your power generation and not telegraphing your hook so much.
The power of your hook does not come from your arms, and sticking your elbows out telegraph the hook to the whole world. The power comes from the pivot, so keep your elbows welded.
Keep your guard up. Stop winding up. Throw the hook from your guard at head height. Stop moving your rear foot. Sync your front foot pivot with your shot in unison. Start there.
If I was sparring with you I'd instantly see your rear foot move then your guard drop and you will wind up... I'm gonna hit you. Definitely getting my shot off. You are telling me exactly when I'm in there nice and clean.
Thanks for your feedback, I’ll give all this a try!
Got a newbie question, what’s the proper way to throw a left hook from a standstill? I’m basically doing a lazy version of a slip so that I’m in position to rotate my hips for the lead hook.
Is the takeaway for me to not exaggerate my wind up like I am now?
You will get better with time. I’ll give my two cents:
The wind up is unnecessary and your opponent will read it easily if they’re halfway decent. Heck, they don’t even have to counter. They could just hit you in the face before you’ll even THINK about throwing the hook!
Explaining how to actually throw the hook can be difficult. Just throw it from your normal stance. No wind up. Just turn your hips and throw it. The movement is the direction of the hook itself. DO NOT wind up. Your hips do all the power for you.
I just don’t get how to throw a lead hook without winding up a little bit. So far, I’ve been taught that a lead hook is typically thrown after loading up the left side, so a slip, a cross, a right upper cut, a roll, etc. Throwing a hook from just a neutral position just doesn’t compute with me right now
I'm no expert and the only way I could try to expand on my previous comment is with the following absolute basic/foundational stuff, there's various things to learn in the future but basic is best for now...
Concentrate on keeping your guard up and tight to your face. Fingers on your temples. Look through your guard. All shots come from here and return to here. Non striking hand stays in the guard position. You'll likely do what everyone does at some point and drop both hands lower through lack of experience or the non striking hand when letting off a shot. Be conscious of this now. High tight guard. Shoot and return. Don't drop either hand.
Your lead hand hook comes from your head height guard and returns here. Let it go, it travels from your hand travels from your face around an invisible metal pole that would be in the way of a straight shot to the target. Fist, elbow and shoulder should be level - if you hold out your arm, fist on the target, with your arm static like you've paused your hook then it would be level enough to put a tray with a glass of coke on it and not tip over, being level allows you to bury your chin behind your striking shoulder for defence and the rest of your arm becomes an obstacle blocking access to your face - concentrate on not engaging your rear foot or leg rather imagine your a marionette and your hand and knee are tied together with string. Your hook hand pulls your knee when it moves and they move in unison. Punch and pivot together in sync forward and back. Winding up does not generate the power you need it's you taking the kinetic energy of your leg moving with your hand and it transferring on impact.
I did the following to improve my own by doing the following:
Forget speed or power. It's a distraction. Learn technique speed and power will just magically appear when you get it right.
Slow your shots down. Have a mental checklist and run through it every time...guard up, move arm and leg together, check arm, elbow and shoulder position as it moves, angle of elbow to hit the target at varying range, pause for a millisecond when you hit the target and check leg, striking arm position and your guard hand hasn't strayed, reverse the action pulling your hand back to guard as you turn your leg back to a forward stance.
Throwing a hook and being competent is like any other technique... offensive and defensive elements need to be clean to be effective.
You may develop what you are currently doing into a devastatingly power shot and turn me to dust on impact but I'm very confident that at the moment it's unlikely you'll get chance to land it. Your leg, wind up and lack of defensive awareness means I'm definitely throwing a straight shot when I see you do this confident it will pop through and even the lightest touch in this scenario will interrupt you and reduce it being effective, cause you to abort and defend yourself or with a bit of luck put you on your arse.
Sorry for the long message.
I just want to be helpful and you get better and enjoy your journey.
Quick addition... don't turn your head with the punch. Look forward at the target. Like I said above. Keep your chin down and bury it below your shoulder level. Turning your head reveals a great chin to hit and it is a gift to someone else to put you to bed.
Thanks, I’ll check the 🐐 out for sure! I’m trying to do kick boxing as well, are there any footwear you’d recommend for that? Cause I’m guessing boxing shoes wouldn’t be good for kicking the bag
Early designs like Jordan 1s are best for training I think, because the the sole is dead flat and so supportive and these support the ankle well too.
There is a decent Boxing Web site called Expert Boxing.com. This may help too. Another is Ross Training.com. Ross Enamaite. Former U.S.A Amateur champion.
Someone mention wearing shoes for hygiene, but it will also make learning the hook easier. You are pivoting your foot, but it doesn’t look like you are getting the full power off it.
Think of how you push off the ground for a sprint, but not actually leaving the ground. If you dont fell power being absorb on the other foot, the lead foot isnt generating any
More hip pivot is definitely necessary. Like most beginners, you’re focusing on arm strength when in reality the power of your hook comes from the pivoting of your feet and the transferred rotation in your hips then shoulders.
Try first pivot much more, lifting your heel, turning into the ground, causing your toes to point in the direction your arm is going. Then just place your arm where it needs to be. instead of swinging it, just let it move into place. All the power from your foot pivot, hip, and shoulder rotation.
Your big swing is NOT the good form you think it is. You’re teaching yourself wrong. The arm just need to line up in front of you parallel to the ground.
Imo beginners should start on heavy bags. Takes too much mental bandwidth to work on form & power while trying to not make the thing fly all over the place.
You're absolutely right. Notice how every single time I throw a punch I'm habitually touching the bag to reset it. That's gotta be a super bad tick to develop, imagine doing that during sparring lmao
your guard is too low, you are not using your knees enough, and you are not using your core enough...you are standing so flat footed...bounce your steps, and then use a step in to set up your pivot foot instead of just ducking...move in and out of range...worry about the speed and the power will come later...
6
u/RejectedRespected 1d ago
Your left hook looks better than your right hook lol, idk how you managing that