Boxing Rear Hook
Quick Information
Category
Combat Sports
Difficulty
Intermediate
Equipment
Hand Wraps, Boxing Gloves
Primary muscle group
Deltoids, Pectoralis Major, Triceps Brachii
Secondary muscle groups
Obliques, Gluteals, Quadriceps, Gastrocnemius
Movement pattern
Rotational Horizontal Push
Training goal
Skill Acquisition
Sport
Boxing, MMA, Kickboxing, General Athletic Development
Overview
Purpose. Generate a powerful close-range rear-hand punch on a horizontal arc.
How it fits the system. The rear-hand lateral punch in the Combat Sports section, usually thrown after a lead hook or as a counter. Related work in the library: Boxing Lead Hook and Boxing Uppercut-Hook-Cross Combination.
Primary muscles
Deltoids, Pectoralis Major, Triceps Brachii
Secondary muscles
Obliques, Gluteals, Quadriceps, Gastrocnemius
Movement pattern
Rotational Horizontal Push
Equipment
Hand Wraps, Boxing Gloves
Difficulty
Intermediate
How to Perform
- From the stance, pivot the rear foot fully and rotate the rear hip through.
- Bring the rear hand around with the elbow bent, forearm roughly parallel to the floor.
- Keep the lead hand high to protect the head as the body rotates.
- Return to stance immediately, resetting the feet under the hips.
Coaching Cues
- “Rear heel turns out completely.”
- “Do not reach; let the rotation deliver it.”
- “Lead hand higher than usual, because you are opening up.”
Common Mistakes
- Throwing it from too far out, where it becomes a wide, slow, telegraphed shot.
- Losing the lead-hand guard entirely during the rotation.
Progressions & Regressions
Progressions
Add it as the finish of a three-punch combination, then to the body, then as a counter over a jab.
Regressions
Drill the rotation slowly on a heavy bag at half power.
When to Use It
When to use
Technical rounds, pad work and bag work in a striking session.
When not to use
Hand, wrist or shoulder injury, or any suspected concussion.
Programming
3–5 rounds of 2–3 minutes, 60 seconds rest between rounds.
Popular
Popular Articles
