Thankyou Ramsay,I’ve been doing swings not hooks all my martial life,no one has ever explained why I’ve been missing the target 70% of the time. Your demo has opened my eyes at last,great work!👏👏

I've been trying to understand hook mechanics for like a year now. This vid is perfect. Thank you!

"Improvement is not a destination. It's a way of life." I love it. Thanks for the video, Ramsey!

A swing punch is commonly called a "haymaker" here in Canada, and is the most common punch in drunk street fighting. Thanks for the video coach Ramsey.

I didn't expect a wholesome scene with Ramsey swinging with his daughter when I clicked on this video.

You're absolutely right. I love throwing hooks when i do bagwork and when I first started learning to throw hooks, i threw it in a swinging motion and every time it lands it feels powerless, awkward and it sometimes hurts me, my shoulders and wrists specifically. Then i came across your video about resistance bands and how punching is more about pulling than pushing. I applied what I made out of that video and started to imagine myself pulling something with my rear hand and at the same time rotate my body along with my lead hand, clockwise. I was surprised to how it felt so right. I just kept practicing my hooks that way by keeping my hand in a straight trajectory and only using the weight of my body to propel the punch sideways rather than swinging it.

As someone who has tried forever to teach this very lesson to his students, I liked this video based on the title alone.

Cool video Ramsey. This is a textbook old school hook. Glad you pointed out the difference from a swing. A propper hook is a highly technical punch. A swing can indeed work as well. But it not as technical complicated as a hook. That being said, there are some variations and hybrid between hooks and swings. Not all hooks are "straight"

Excellent! It took me years to throw a decent hook and it was thanks to many pieces of advice I received from people trying to help me become better. But now I understand the "first the uppercut, then the hook". Thank you so much 🙏

I was taught that this was a hook, but that there is also another kind of punch, the name of which escapes me, that intentionally does more of the "arc" motion and pulls inward with the bicep to complete the strike. It's definitely more niche but is a valid type of strike I have seen in used in boxing/striking sports. It's not a replacement for the hook, it's a flat out different tool for a totally different situation.

The hottest hook in combat sports at the moment, Alex Pereira's left hook most certainly is a swing. If you study his body mechanics, you can see that he mostly stands in an almost bladed stance with his elbow pulled back having his fist almost behind his shoulder line, then his fist travels in a circular(!) motion ending in front of the right side of his chest, during that motion, he connects with the head of his opponent. Also check the famous photo of Ali avoiding Frazier's left hook which quite obviously wasn't thrown as a straight. (Not saying Ramsey's hook is wrong, but it's certainly not the only way to throw a hook)

The elite boxers do hooks with a straight palm-down motion or a looping palm-in motion. These are different punches and some boxers prefer one method to the other. Some boxers will switch between the 2 methods because the palm down can sneak over the guard while the palm in can sneak behind the guard. The Russians even prefer the palm-out method. That's not my preference but it works for Fedor. The palm-down method is almost like a wide hard jab coming from the outside and it has the benefit of a longer range. The palm-in method can also be relatively long range but you can't fully lock out because you'll hyperextend your arms on impact. There are elite boxers that swear palm-in is the right way while other elite boxers swear palm-down is correct and the other is wrong. But there are no right ways to do hooks; just different ways with pros and cons. My preferred method is palm-in but I will sometimes use palm-down to attack from a different angle. Here's me palm-in with bare hands and no wraps going full out on a hard heavy bag. instagram.com/p/CZRsJmBIhNX/

Thank you for this valuable and practical guidance. I have been struggling with these techniques and was too ignorant to know why.

Ramsey is a voice you can trust --Excellent professional top notch advice Thank you for sharing

I like the way you explain things. As someone who has taken wing Chun, boxing, and muay thai, I know exactly what you are talking about. I always watched my coach throw his hook almost straight and could never figure out how he did it. Hearing it explained in a different way was really helpful. Thank you sir!

Fantastico coach! Whenever I teach boxing I say " believe it or not, your most important weapon are your feet " glad to see Im not the only one 🤜😁🤛 the fight is everything! The way is in training. ⚔️

This was really eye opening. I'm not the most experienced with martial arts, but I always had a punching bag that I would practice learning how to punch. Always hurt my left shoulder trying to throw hooks! Now I understand the mechanics but I need to start retraining my habits. Thank you

I respectfully disagree, this is just one way of hooking. Assuming you learn how to punch properly you will hook correctly. Swinging hooks do work and do get points in boxing. There is a purpose to everything. Just like a jab isn’t meant to knock out someone, a quick swinging hook is the same. Like a slap. If you punch completely straight at any angle… it’s s straight punch… not really a hook. I do understand the message though… you want to keep your body behind your punch and not reach outside of your center of gravity when throwing it. It’s better to hook with the whole body and not just your arm.

Great video, that explains why I never land hooks in sparring.

Excellent video! Thanks Ramsay! it was another view on the subject!

Well i'll be... I'm a boxing coach, and i been watching your videos a fair bit recently and they'll be "recomended homework" from here on out, you explain what i teach far better than i ever could

Your XMartial promo is the most inspiring ad I’ve ever seen!

This was super informative, Thank you Coach!!👏👏🙏❤❤

Been waiting on this video for a while, cheers bro.

This video made me realize the uppercut punch is essentially a vertical trajectory hook punch!!!

Dang brother. I loved this explanation. Thank you!

Thanks so much for the cue with the rope or double end bag - giving a cream simple tool for self correction is gold!!

Awesome video, Ramsey.

Amazing video and explanation 🙌🏻

Thanks Coach. I go back and forth on hook technique, there's more than one way of doing them, but some forms are more efficient and effective than others. Cheers.

Thank you for the awesome video ❤

Great teaching, love your music in this, also seeing the outside, very calming

I found you by accident, got recommended your video about conditioning fists and took a look at your other videos. Honestly I could only wish I have coach as good as you, your explanations are clear, simple, sometimes funny, they generally make more sense than explanations I got from my coaches or any other channel about combat sports.

Thanks Ramsey this is really good

Best explanation of this I have ever seen. Great video.

This is the content I've been looking for.

Thanks Ramsey now I got a lesson to show my class today. *update my students loved the class thank you so much

I love this! I'd been growing an idea in my mind about this because it seemed to work very well in sparring. I hadn't formulated it into a coherent principle yet. Thank you coach!

great content as always.

What an awesome video mate

VERY informative. I wish I could train under Ramsey for several months.

This is literally my combo for my white belt exam in Hapkido next weekend and I've always questioned the practicality of a hook used after a jab and cross. This makes a LOT more sense now. Thank you!

Excellent stuff coach. I was taught that way. Also that the leading leg should always point in the direction of the punch, I can’t think of any exceptions to this rule.

thank you so much for this tip. gonna start applying this technique on the bag to make it look seamless.

Super helpful! Great reminder to remember what we're actually trying to do instead of just throwing random punches out there that aren't strategic.

Nice video. Thanks. And funny thing, the kind of exercices that I gonna teach this week

Yes!!!! I have described and taught a hook like a piston for years. I always thought it was a great analogy. Preach it coach!

This is the simplest yet best lesson on hooks. I'm more of a lean back counter hook. But I'll definitely implement your step out hooks, particularly the right. 👍🤛

this video has taught me that footwork is important more important in simple punches like hooks than I actually thought, so thank you for this

WOW!! I just came across your channel. GREAT STUFF!!!!!!

This is going to help me get better with my hooks. Thank you for sharing ☺️.

It’s difficult to get people to understand that you don’t THROW or SWING punches when I’m teaching new students. They tend to want to throw a punch like a ball or swing their punches. Thank you for making this video! I’m going to try implementing your lesson!

Reminds me of a video with Seth and Mike. All turning/spin kicks are straight line kicks. Man there is so much to learn in the world. Thank you for sharing your knoweledge! ❤

6:00 There is also a technical reason for that. I'd always drop the arm downward also because the dropping action adds a bit more energy to the impulse and another thing is it feels safer for my joints to do so. There is a health benefit as well. It's also quite similar to how you strike with an elbow. Your knuckles do that similar grazing motion which adds to the damage. That is if you're fighting with bare knuckles. Grazing is safer for your hands than blunt striking barehanded.

I always end up wrapping myself up on the double end bag I'm going to have to think about this thank you. I always thought my left hook was really good as well I land it in sparring often but I've never landed a clean right hook

Great video. I learned a thing!

Coach, please also make a video on uppercuts. I really like when you break fown the basic things. Gives me cool things for my gane every time.

As i agree with the boxing definition of minimalistic "straight punch" hook, i do believe there are bunch of other "hooks" that can be done as a swing and still connect. Floyd mayweather throws one from his philly shell, Ryan Garcia merking everyone with his insane hook, and Roy jones jr. the actual Captain Hook. Learn, use and master both.

I have a bad rotator cuff and everytime I see someone swinging I cringe really hard as I feel the pain in my mind. Thank you for explaining this! My shoulders will be healthier now !

Perfect way to explain the hook awesome.

I love the mental image of you, sitting on the swings with your daughter, having an Important Fatherly Heart to Heart with her... about the biomechanics of punching.

I typically knew the difference between a punch and a "swing". But I'd say sometime this yr, maybe last yr, I noticed the "stright" part of the hook/uppercut. I've been training on/off for yrs. And learned/trained some of the position steps you mentioned.

Great point about the need to incorporate footwork, even in what some would consider just "punch" technique work. You'll never be punching without footwork, so why practice it without? Working out which steps to take and where are a fundamental part of any combat sport. I think following that coaching tip that you showcase would clean up a tonne of misconceptions like you show here with the hook.

Describe uppercuts too Ramsey, you have great knowledge

I've been doing it wrong this entire time. Thanks for teaching me and I'll try this out!

Coach, I think you might have just solved one of my major questions about xingyi. I've always wondered where the hook punches were, and it turns out they were just straight punches with angled footwork imported from one of the basic forms. I'm beginning to think the linear footwork in taolu is the root of a whole lot of problems with modern kung fu, and somewhere taiji and bagua have a distinct advantage.

You are the man Ramsey!

Well, this was more useful than I thought. I do boxing just to keep myself fit, but I like proper form... And this video solved an issue I didn't even know I had. Thank you.

I’m not sure if you’ll see this as it’s an old video but this video is amazing. I’m just getting started with fighting and have had a ton of trouble trying to connect combos because I don’t know how to move my feet the right way but this video helps a lot!

Honestly, watching your videos and practicing myself afterwards tought me how to make a decent hook much better, than regular muay thai class 😅 Thanks coach Ramsey!

"Throwing" part requires shoulder mobility. When you slow demonstrate "throwing straight forearm" resembles a stiff punch with weight behind it.

Had my students practicing this the other week while talking about front stance to front stance for power

i like how u are including all ur students in the videos

If I ever go to China, your gym will be the first place I'll wanna go, your videos helped me so much!

Thx coach ❤️🙂

Throwing a hook is same as a slap but just turning your fist over

In one year of boxing training no one taught me what you do here in a few minutes, thanks!

See, for RD, his footwork and swings are awesome and he naturally has good head movement and is never on center line! great video!

It is horizontal adduction of the shoulder, The humerus is swinging the foremen and fist are connected, Even if you travel too short of distance to see the arc, Or articulate the elbow so the fist travels a strait line, It is still objectively swinging.

Thanks for this explanation. The jab makes sense in 30 seconds, the cross makes sense in 1 minute, same with the uppercut. I've never understood the hook until now.

I was lucky as I was taught this way. Good video.

Great video

I've had a lot of success with "swinged" hooks like showed in the example at 7:56 in many amateur Thai boxing fights. I've been seeing a common trend with a lot of youtube "martial artists" trying ot re invent fighting. Just my observation.

Great intro I'm gonna trust you

I have been using this since your pivot footwork video to land more hooks and uppercuts but I got shamed by a coach from local Muay Thai national team. He said I must swing because the sound on the heavy bag is not as loud as his. When I start using walking step pivot in padwork, he also forced me to stand still doing the jab cross "swing" because that's how he land his "hooks" from that distance. Have to say I left that gym in the next day

I use to think hook was bad because I didnt understand it. I were going to die without know that. Youre the only who teach that.

These are some fantasti cues, thanks a lot!

I know nothing about boxing, and this explains a lot. Very interesting.

love the right hook mention, I forget to throw it most sessions. Some say to stir the pot with a hook, interesting that you teach to piston.

Super helpful! And damn, I miss Shanghai so much. Reminds me of my own training outside while being there.

Hey Ramseyyy, I just came from my first kickbox match (kicklight). I am from a karate shotokan background but did some muay thai and box. I just want to let you know that your videos made me understand what happened during the fight. I lost, of course ahaha, I could not expect more than that. I was up against a boxer who practically was trying to knock me out cold (even though its kinda against the rules I think). On a happier note, it was sooo fun man. Really, I could see first hand how it is to be in a match against someone more experienced. Now I understand how important it is to be aggressive and how its good to understand violence too. Shame on me too for not doing enough sparring to prepare for the fight (like, did only two, but shotokan kumite LOL). Now, with that said, an important lesson from this, is that it is necessary to go through this situation, take punches in the face, and just go through it. Its clear now why some people live inside the power fantasy world, its too convenient to believe that only because you know techniques, that you can handle yourself in a fight. At least now I have a more grounded idea of how to improve. Now two questions for you if you ever see this comment ahahaha: First, is it okay to be beaten and not feel any fear? Like, I was just being hit really hard, but man I was just chilling, not taking the situation seriously, even now I dont feel anything, other than happiness and eagerness to go to another fight. Is it maybe because I don't understand violence or I am a natural pushover? The punches despite being hard was not causing any emotional effects on me. The other guy was giving his best, but I really feel like I was not doing the same thing, really not taking the situation seriously - I felt after that I was disrespecting him. Second, I have a really hard time trying to find fighters to spar with, or any type of experienced coach in my city. (I even paid some good fighters a lot to do that, but they wanted me to drill techniques and barely did any sparring, I see this same pattern in a lot of coaches). Despite knowing that drilling is a good thing, should I still go after these guys now that I have this experience of fighting and being beaten? Maybe I was missing their point and misunderstood them, I don't know ahahaha. All in all keep up your good work, your videos open my eyes every day and I feel like if it wasn't for them, I would have done something pretty silly, something like enroll for a K1 fight instead of kick-light as my first fight ahahaha.

no, they are hook punches shot in a somewhat straight L. They can be swung also as there are a few variations of them.

I don't know why people don't like your voice, it's absolutely great, you can be a good bedtime storyteller lol

I learned a lot about hooks from watching joe Louis. Great video.

Dang thank you you for clarifying this . I've been training for a mma fight (heavyweight) with a middleweight as my main sparring partner and I keep saying i cant land any hooks on him because he seems like he's always out of range and too fast and in turn he says I'm flailing too much...this was a major lighbulb moment sir.

Ty coach. I've always felt like all punches have essentially the same body mechanics. The only difference being the angle of the forearm and shoulder.

"A hook is not a swing, its a straight punch from the side" I wish i stumbled upon this earlier cuz by swinging my arms my hooks were ineffective and busted my shoulders.

I’ve noticed this how mike tryson throws his hooks , it’s especially apparent when he slips to the side and retracts to the same path he throws them from .

Hey Ramsey thanks for the video. Any chance of giving advice? Can you recommend where I can purchase online a decent speed bag? I'm not experienced enough to know which is or isn't a good System. I purchased one that is rather forget than remember. Sorry for the hassle

You get that elite ko power once after u master the proper hook mechanics and then add the swing at the end. You make your arms swinging separate from the full body hook mechanics. The body pivots as one solid block from your toes up through your torso and all that force flows into your locked arm bit if you add the swing back into the arm before it lands and becomes rigid, you essentially double the force of that punch. It's all about timing so that everything comes together in one instant. You know you've done it right when all the force goes into the bag and doesn't recoil back into your arm. The back shakes in place and caves in around your fist, making a thudding sound, usually leaving a dent where you landed.