The Long Range Hook

Biggiebrother**

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Just interested in how everyone executes a long range hook when required. Video would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
Just interested in how everyone executes a long range hook when required. Video would be appreciated.

Thanks

depends on how you define "long range". I like to use a "step-off" or retreating long range lead hook after a body combo. I don't think it wise to throw long range hooks from the outside unless your awfull quick or using it as a set-up punch. I.E: long lead left hook to opponents rear glove, step in with a short right (starting to throw the right just before the left hits the glove).

I.E: (while inside) short left shovel hook or UC to the body, right hook to ribs (usually around the arm of opponent), take a quick step out (off to right side \ ) while throwing a long whipping lead left. If it lands, i step right back in with a straight right.

Go on youtube and find tape of Floyd Mayweather jr, his earlier fights he used these techniques a lot. stepping out with long lead left hooks, or throwing them while he was backing up as a counter shot.
 
If you're gonna lead with a long range hook, be sure to either:
- follow it up with a straight of uppercut
- pivot out after you throw, or throw it while turning

A big factor is going to be your speed though. Against slower guys for example, if they try to hook me from the outside I'll just pop a 1-2 in their face. As you get better and better, you may want to look into throwing the lead hook off of a fake, because no matter how fast you are - your opponent's jab will be faster (given he's equal skill level)
 
theres two that im aware of. a long sweeping hook thats not really intended for damage. it just kinda loops past their head, and usually they'll move their head with the hook, and that moves their head perfectly in place for my straight left.

You can also use it as a bait hook. Which i think is the craftiest way of employing it. Because once they see that its a bunk left hook, they'll wise up and start timing it for a big right hand. The crafty part of the move is that the hook shoulder rolls you perfectly in place for a counter straight. Course it wouldnt work all the time. Depends on your body positioning and if you pivoted enough and other technical shit like that. And an experienced boxer would probably see it miles away if you didnt set it up correctly. but i just think its a cool move.


the other hook, i guess its a check hook. You have a real wide stance, and with your arm out and you sit down into a real short hook. You can counter over jabs or rights with it.
 
I rarely do it, but if im doing it with the lead arm for instance i'll take a little step forward and let myself turn a lot more sideways. It does two things for me, one it gives the hook more range where you are hopefully out of range for a counter and it also gets you in a pretty good defensive position imo. Also if it lands or opens them up it makes for a good opp. to shift your front leg back over and generate a ton of power with your follow up right from the shift, strong hip rotation in a punch is a bitch ;)
 
When I'm throwing long range hooks, I use a punch known as a Sow Choy from Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu. It's a long range hooking punch that comes at a downward angle. I strike either my forearm, the side of my fist where my thumb is or I use the second knuckles (the ones you use to knock on a door). I would never use it as an opening or entering attack, but it works well as a follow-up. If I use a lead hand backfist (which also comes at a downward angle), I can follow it right away with my rear hand Sow Choy. One misconception about this particular punch is that it's always wide with the arm almost straight. It can be done that way, but I was taught to vary the range. The key is to do it at a downward angle. If the guy blocks it, you'll usually still make contact. Even if it's not a full force hit, it's a setup for another attack. I do know that back in the early 1970s, Choy Lay Fut guys were the only ones who did well against the Muay Thai boxers. All the Karate, TaeKwonDo, and other Kung Fu guys got their asses kicked.
 
I'm going to be in a minority here and will probably get flamed a little, but I don't throw long-range hooks. The long-range hook is a punch that has to travel a relatively long distance to reach it's target, and takes an indirect route to get there. In other words, it's just plain slow. I've found long-range hooks (or roundhouse punches) easy to block or duck. Now I'm working on learning to counter them with fast straight punches.

This philosophy I learned from Jack Dempsey in his book, Championship Fighting.
 
I'm going to be in a minority here and will probably get flamed a little, but I don't throw long-range hooks. The long-range hook is a punch that has to travel a relatively long distance to reach it's target, and takes an indirect route to get there. In other words, it's just plain slow. I've found long-range hooks (or roundhouse punches) easy to block or duck. Now I'm working on learning to counter them with fast straight punches.

This philosophy I learned from Jack Dempsey in his book, Championship Fighting.


True, but most of us who use it are either throwing it as:
- a fake off of a jab (jab and you see the the guy parries too far, next time fake the jab and hook)
- throwing it in a fairly straight trajectory like a slapping jab when there's not a clear opening for a jab, to set up a second shot
 
I don't like to lead with a long hook.

one of my favorite simple combos is a 2-3 then back away towards the right (orthodox)

or sometimes i'll feint a left hook to the head, and the guy covers up I'll go to the body
 
True, but most of us who use it are either throwing it as:
- a fake off of a jab (jab and you see the the guy parries too far, next time fake the jab and hook)
- throwing it in a fairly straight trajectory like a slapping jab when there's not a clear opening for a jab, to set up a second shot
Yup I use it in that way. Throw a few jabs, then when he thinks another jab is coming, loop around his guard, land, then follow up with a cross and jab out. I like to use it moving backward and to the left as a counter as well, then follow up with a round kick to the body, jab then reset.
 
I like this thread... simple explanations without flaming or "your teacher sux", "shotokan way of doing it is gay compared to boxing", etc. etc. I'm seriosuly reading all these replies
 
Im personally not a fan of hooking from the outside. Like to hook off the jab
 
It shouldn't be used just to use it. There's ways and reasons to use it. It's useful if you're in with a guy who pulls back a lot. If you have long arms and can cause him to pull back, you can get them to run right into it. It's also good if you're in with guys who jump in and out. You can time their jumping out, toss a long hook, and catch them when they land. Not bad if you have a guy on the ropes or cornered as well. But it requires either a jab to set up, or a turn of the body...and definitely requires a clean-up punch.
 
Tunney said that he was ashamed of himself when he let Dempsey knock him down with a simple lead left hook. No set-up, no nothing: just a simple lead left hook. The point being is that no one should get hit with a shot like that. This sort of goes with what Sinister says that the hook shouldn't be used just to use it. Something should happen before you can land a long hook. Perhaps it's camouflaged with jabs, so that the opponent's reaction leads to an opening. Maybe you catch them out of position, or in the heat of things they make some stupid mistake that works out for you.

On another note, I notice that a lot of guys leap with the left hook. I think that one of the inherent problems with this besides the obvious is that your weight is on your back foot when you throw this which prevents you from planting your feet and shifting your weight into the punch.
 
How are people holding the fist for long range hooks, vertical or horizontal?
 
Tunney said that he was ashamed of himself when he let Dempsey knock him down with a simple lead left hook. No set-up, no nothing: just a simple lead left hook. The point being is that no one should get hit with a shot like that.

Sometimes that stuff works. Every once in a while I catch someone with a straight right; no set up just see their guard drift a little too far away from their chin and let one go...

Doesn't it hurt like hell to connect with a long-range hook? Your wrist is all bent at an angle; to those who say they throw them can you guys throw those at full power or do you have to take some of the heat off them?
 
I noticed Aleksander is pretty fast with this in MMA. He always throws it with his fist horizantal, not veritical. Seems all the russians do. Way faster that way, I think.
 
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