Hook (boxing)

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For other uses, see Hook (disambiguation).
Also known as

Israel Israel: מגל

Spain Spain: Gancho

Estonia Estonia: Haak

Serbia Serbia: Kroše

Finland Finland: Koukku

France France: Coup crocheté (crochet)

Germany Germany: Haken

Romania Romania: Croşeu

Russia Russia: Хук

Italy Italy: Gancio

Thailand Thailand: Mat Wiyeng San

Burma Burma: Wai Latt-di

Poland Poland: Sierpowy

Greece Greece: Κροσέ (krose)

Turkey Turkey: Kroşe (croche)

China China: 摆拳

Latvia Latvia: Āķis

Lithuania Lithuania: Kablys
Focus Striking

A hook is a punch in boxing.[1] 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.[1][2] A hook is usually aimed at the chin, but it can also be used for body shots, especially to the liver.

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/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, Bob Foster, Jack Dempsey and Mike Tyson.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ a b Dempsey, Jack (1950). Championship Fighting. Retrieved July 7, 2014. 
  2. ^ "The Science of Mike Tyson and Elements of Peek-A-Boo: part V". SugarBoxing. 2014-03-26. Retrieved 2014-07-30.