MASTERING THE LEFT HOOK How to throw a perfect left hook : Learn 4 basic types of left hooks & when to throw them ; Ive worked with enough boxers to know that the left hook is the most difficult punch to master .like running & dancing some people are born with great body mechanics & their body moves in a way that is very efficient & artful while others seem stiff & cant get the motion to feel it right , the good news is that left hook can be taught ... DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEFT HOOKS ¤ Many people dont realize that there are many types of left hooks.some left hooks will be easier for some people than other people .I recommend you to practise & learn all of them & to use that to your advantage.. 1.POWER LEFT HOOK * You lean into it & as you punch & you pull your head out & to the side so theres body movement & you move your whole body & transfer your weight to the back foot & right hand . 2, DIGGING LEFT HOOK * You lean your head into the hook bit you only rotate your body leaving your head close to the other boxers body as you punching him .boxers will use this left hook to try & hammer to the body as they leave their head in close so that its hard to counter them .the digging left hook is also good for allowing you throw multiple left hooks in a row since your body doesnt move too far out of position when you throw it . ( some people will also use this punch in a Hooker cut manner , meaning kind of like a left hook but also like a left uppercut ) 3.PIVOTING LEFT HOOK * This kind of left hook is a pivoting left hook or a turning left hook .in this punch, , the boxers rotate on his left hook & swing his body out of the way of the opponent as he throws left hook .this type of left hook can be very powerful but also moves your body out of the harms way so that you dont get countered .its works very well ad a counter punch & allow you to keep circling your opponent . 4.LUNGING LEFT HOOK * In this punch , you lunge forward & stretch your body towards your opponent as you throw your left hand in a looping motion .the left hand starts very close to your face &then you quickly bring it out to the left & then quickly shoot it towards your opponent face ., this left hook is very different since your left arm will extend out as straight as possible to get more reach towards your opponent .its more of a left cross than a left hook .some people will lean forward & use their back as a spring when they throw this punch .this punch is one of those punches you werent supposed to be taught in the gym but with proper timing , its very dangerous & effective .. ● a perfect example of a power left hook is one thrown by Mike tyson & Arturo gatti , notice how they move their entire body .. ● a perfect example of digging left hook is one thrown by Marco antonio barrera or micky ward or ricky hatton , notice how he leaves his head there to the side when he throws it .. ● a perfect example of pivoting left hook can be seen by Miguel cotto ( he is actually good at throwing all 3 types of left hooks ) or Floyd mayweather jr .. ● a perfect example of lunging left hook is one thrown by ricky hatton ( against carlos maussa ) or roy jones or prince naseem . For the people who find left hooks to the body difficult or painful ; The reason why your left hook to the body feels weird or hurts so much is because your arm form is bad ., Try these tips ; ■ Dont throw the hook perfectly horizontal , try making it half hook & half uppercut .give it a slight upwards curving motion . ( a.k.a. hookercut ) ■ Relax & drop your shoulders & keep your elbow down when you throw that punch to the body . ■ Rotate your feet so that they both point to the right when you throw the hook . ■ if , your arm is moving too much ., move your arm less & swing your body more . ■ Dont cock your arm back when you throw the punch , just drop your left hand in front of you & punch from that position . Left hook steps to follow ; (for a power left hook to the body) 1.stand in your regular boxing stance . 2. Bend your knees & waist a little as you drop your head & left hand forward & to the left a little . 3. Quickly rotate your body to the right as you throw the hook . 4. The entire body will turn with the hook as you turn your body to face the right side . 5. Your right heel will drop to the ground as your left heel lifts up to push into the hook . 6. The fist tightens as it slams into your opponent & STOPS when it hits the opponent . 7. Stop your punch before it over-rotates so you dont get countered .,dont just swing the punch all the way through .try to think about a stopping point . 8. When you finish the left hook , your head , left fist , body & feet should all be facing to the right . NOTES * Exhale when you punch , spin your feet & hips as hard as you can & dont forget to recover .. If youre doing digging left hook , rotate your body but leave your head right where you dropped it .in most cases , youll want to drop your head close to your opponents elbow so that you can really dig that left hook in without worrying about his right hand counter too much .youll also want to make this hook somewhat of a half hook , half uppercut ( hookercut ) so that it really dig through .youll have to try it to see what I mean . If youre doing pivoting left hook , think of the arm travelling little strighter , its more of a left cross than left hook..you keep your left hand a little closer to your face for more power .as you throw the pivoting left hook your whole body will rotate & your left hand will swing out infront of you as your right foot swings behind you turning your body out of the way , your body will probably turn 60 -80% clockwise when you throw the pivoting left hook . If youre doing a lunging left hook , quickly snap your left hand out & then quickly back in at your opponents head ., its almost like a slingshot effect as you let your left fist out & then back in .again its more of a left cross than left hook ,youll jump or quickly reach forward when you do this & your head will come straight towards your opponent leaving you open to a sharp counter punch .when you throw this punch , your arm is extending out straight so ythat you have more reach . THROWING MULTIPLE LEFT HOOKS * If you have been experimenting with steps above ,.you have probably realized its very difficult to throw 2 power hooks in a row with minimum power .the most common way to throw two left hooks in a row is to throw a digging left hook first & than a power left hook , so what youll do is lean your head & left it there for the first left hook ( digging left hook ) & then youll yank your head out as you rotate your whole body for the second left hook ( power left hook ) ., you can also throw a digging left hook to the body & then a pivoting left hook to the head ... TIPS TO THROW A MULTIPLE LEFT HOOK * ■ WEAK & STRONG : Make one of them weak & other one strong .the weaker left hook should be used just to tap & force the opponent to shift his weight into the block at the wrong time. [ throwing strong then weak is also , ok ] ■ SLOW & FAST : Throw one of the left hook slow & then a really fast one right after . [ throwing strong & then weak is also , ok ] ■ LOW & HIGH : Throw first one to the body , the second one to the head. . [ throwing high , then weak is also , ok ] WHEN TO THROW THE LEFT HOOK * Many boxers have mastered left hook but never learned when to throw it .instead they wait around all the day for the perfect occasion but the opportunity never present itself .the important thing is to think of the left hook as more than just a weapon..you can use it to cause damage , open up your opponent for bigger punches from the right hand , or distract him ., the important thing is to have confidence & throw it without being scared of getting counter punched . { almost always , you should try to throw the left hook when , your opponent is trying to move in lateral or side movements .,because hook comes from a side angle & it will feel more powerful in that situation } GREAT LEFT HOOK COMBOS TO TRY * ● AFTER A RIGHT CROSS - The one is obvious .,just about any boxer follows the right cross with a left hook . ● AFTER A LEFT HOOK - Another obvious mentioned above .many boxers are taught to defend right -left-right .youll trick them up if you throw two left hooks in a row . ● THROWING A PIVOTING LEFT HOOK FOLLOWED BY RIGHT HAND - Make sure you plant your feet right after the pivoting left hook so that the right cross does more damage . ● Quick left hooks to the body to drop your opponents right hand & then you throw a jab to the head . ● Hard left hook to the body to drop your opponents right guard & lunging left hook to the head ., follow it up with whatever you want . ● if you see your opponent keeping his right glove tight to his face , throw your hook at his glove any way & the damage will carry through . ● Side step to your right & then quickly throwing a pivoting left hook if he chases you with his guard down,,.another thing you can do to get his guard down is to TEMPORARILY dropyour own guard for a split second . ( but you should be very cautious , if your opponent throws a big punch ) ● throw a light left hook to the head followed by a quick jab & then a big right cross . ● When youre being chased or youre standing square with your back against the ropes , bend down at waist as you throw a right hand to the body & then come back up as you throw a lunging left hook to the head ...,.,.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 09:33:21 +0000