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The Hook Debate: Palm in or Palm down? (17 threads mashed together, have fun)

  • Thread starter Thread starter PhilCollins
  • Start date Start date
Ok, so I took some savate a couple years back, and my instructor had some european training,s o when it cam to the hook he showed us to turn you wrist so that your thumb is pointing to the ceiling, wich is apparently european style. Now I'm doing boxing and the instructor is telling me to have the thumb pointing at my face, wich is the more popular way of doing it. What are your opinions on this? I don't see much difference although I prefer the european style because the punch will use all the knuckles.
 
I personally like to use European style because It gives me a little more reach on the swing where as with the traditional style I feel that I have to be really close to the guy to land it. I use traditional style when im close enough to clinch or something of that matter. It's all personal preference. A lot of fighters that I've watched I'n mma punch with their thumb up.. For ex Chuck Liddell
 
I do short tight hooks, so I prefer with my thumb up because my hooks are basically uppercuts.
 
Its all whichever feels more comfortable. I just worked out on the mitts and had my training partners tell me which one hit harder. For me it was definitely thumb up but there is no definitive right way.
 
I find it weird to have my fist horizontal (thumb towards face). I figure if you get used to that and have to throw a hook with no gloves or minimal gloves, and you misjudge the distance (or your opponents head moves back), you could end up striking with your smaller knuckles.

With the fist vertical, it's more difficult (in my opinion) to strike with the smaller knuckles.

I couldn't say how much of a concern that really is, but it's just how I've practiced my hooks and now my hands automatically turn that way.
 
my Muay Thai Kru teaches us to throw the hook with the thumb towards my face, but i prefer to throw it with the thumb towards the ceiling. it seems more ergonomic and natural for me that way. also, like someone else mentioned, throwing it with the thumb towards your face seems like it is easier to hit with the wrong knuckles if you misjudge
 
Technically speaking, I believe that most western boxing trainers will tell you to throw a hook with the palm of your hand parallel to the floor and the thumb facing your body, and I think when it is thrown with the thumb facing upward and the knuckles stacked vertically and the palm perpendicular to the floor, it is sometimes referred to as a bolo punch. There may be a range difference between the two punches, however, I don't think there is.

The first method may "technically speaking" have an advantage, if you are punching to the side of the jaw, because all knuckles can land on the jaw bone. Either one in all probability will certainly work, if it makes contact.

:icon_chee
 
There is really no consensus on hand positioning while throwing a hook. I prefer my thumb facing the ceiling because its how I was originally taught and it feels natural now.
 
ECS123 said:
Technically speaking, I believe that most western boxing trainers will tell you to throw a hook with the palm of your hand parallel to the floor and the thumb facing your body, and I think when it is thrown with the thumb facing upward and the knuckles stacked vertically and the palm perpendicular to the floor, it is sometimes referred to as a bolo punch. There may be a range difference between the two punches, however, I don't think there is.

The first method may "technically speaking" have an advantage, if you are punching to the side of the jaw, because all knuckles can land on the jaw bone. Either one in all probability will certainly work, if it makes contact.

:icon_chee
Click to expand...

Really?

All of the boxers I know throw hooks with the fist facing up. Also when I see hooks thrown in boxing, I've seen it done more often with the thumb up. That's just my experience though.

At my gym (MT) we were taught to throw hooks with the palm facing the ground however.
 
This is about as divise as the people who wipe their butt standing up, and the ones who do it sitting down.
 
mrpopenfresh said:
This is about as divise as the people who wipe their butt standing up, and the ones who do it sitting down.
Click to expand...

ive always been a sitting down kinda dude, but i remember we used to laugh at my friend in college because he used the standup technique. he was a big Russian dude and at first, we were wondering why the top his head would be sticking up where you could see it behind the bathroom stall door. when he explained it to us, we all thought it was hella funny.

however, i have to say...i tried the standup method experimentally earlier this year at work...just for the final few wipes (when all of the dirty work has already been done). i gotta say that its not as awkward as i originally thought and i will go to that method from time to time to finish things off.

either way, as i mentioned before...i like the thumb facing up technique for throwing the hook, but i never thought about the concept of landing all the knuckles to the side of someone's jaw before using the other way.
 
I like the flow of the thumbs up method. But on mits and shadowboxing I always have it facing me as I feel it makes me work harder to judge the distance of the punch better.
 
on the bags and pads its thumb up, when i shadow box i have it facing towards me. dont know why, instinctively does it :s
 
Thumb up for me
For some reason, I feel like I can't generate enough power with my palm parallel to the floor
 
I was always taught to throw the hook with the palm towards my face. I try the palm down method periodically, but can't seem to generate as much power.

I was always taught to wipe sitting down. I try the stand up method periodically, but can't seem to generate as much power.
 
Brooklyn said:
Really?

All of the boxers I know throw hooks with the fist facing up. Also when I see hooks thrown in boxing, I've seen it done more often with the thumb up. That's just my experience though.

At my gym (MT) we were taught to throw hooks with the palm facing the ground however.
Click to expand...

Watch starting at the 2:30 time mark. (2:30-3:16). Embedding is apparently disabled, just click the play button, then watch on Youtube.



:icon_chee
 
Last edited:
Thumb up. I've never heard it referred to as "european style," but it is the way i've always been taught. I see it with the palm horizontal at times

PS wiping your ass sitting down is about as masculine as taking a piss while seated.
 
c0r1nth14n said:
I never knew there were men who wiped sitting down.
Click to expand...


See???

I tried to wipe my ass standing up and clenched the toilet paper in my ass. Not a good day. Next time your'e between guys, bring up the subject, chances are everyone will give you the "well obviously I do it _______" and be shocked at any other answer.
 
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