A hook is a
punch in
boxing
Boxing is a combat sport and martial art. Taking place in a boxing ring, it involves two people – usually wearing protective equipment, such as boxing glove, protective gloves, hand wraps, and mouthguards – throwing Punch (combat), punch ...
.
It is performed by turning the
core muscles and back, thereby swinging the arm, which is bent at an angle near or at 90 degrees, in a horizontal arc into the opponent.
A hook is usually aimed at the
jaw, but it can also be used for body shots, especially to the
liver
The liver is a major metabolic organ (anatomy), organ exclusively found in vertebrates, which performs many essential biological Function (biology), functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the Protein biosynthesis, synthesis of var ...
.
Technique and variations
Hook punches can be thrown by either the lead hand or the rear hand, but the term used without a qualifier usually refers to a lead hook.
When throwing a hook, the puncher shifts his body weight to the lead foot, allowing him to pivot his lead foot and generate kinetic energy through the hip, torso, and shoulder, swinging his lead fist horizontally toward the opponent. Sometimes, depending on style and what feels comfortable to the individual, the lead foot is not pivoted. Pivoting increases the power of the punch, but leaves one lacking in options to follow up with, such as the right
uppercut or right hook.
The hook is a powerful punch with
knockout power.
Variations of the hook are the ''shovel hook'' or ''upper-hook''; they are body punches that combine characteristics of both the hook and the uppercut.
Another variation on the hook is the
check hook, which combines an ordinary hook with footwork that removes a boxer from the path of a lunging opponent.
Several boxers noted for their hooks are
Joe Frazier
Joseph William Frazier (January 12, 1944November 7, 2011) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1965 to 1981. Nicknamed "Smokin' Joe", he is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. He was known for ...
,
Bob Foster,
Jack Dempsey,
Henry Cooper,
David Tua,
Tommy Morrison,
Rubén Olivares,
Félix Trinidad,
Andy Lee,
Sam Hyde and
Mike Tyson.
Gallery
Field Manual No. 3-25.150 Combatives Hook.jpg, A hook
Crochet5.jpg, Hook in shadowboxing
Lecon crochet.jpg, Another hook
Crochet1.jpg, Left hook in medium range
See also
*
Bolo punch
A bolo punch is a punch used in martial arts. The bolo punch is not among the traditional boxing punches (jab, uppercut, Hook (boxing), hook and Cross (boxing), cross).
''Bolo knife, Bolo'' is a Filipino single-edged knife similar to the machete ...
*
Cross (boxing)
*
Jab
*
Uppercut
References
External links
*
{{Boxing
Boxing terminology
Kickboxing terminology
Punches (combat)