Hooks are Straight Punches, not Swings 

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!

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.

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.

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

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 🙏

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

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!

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.

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

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

Thank you for this tip. As a southpaw, this walking step not only makes my left hook more practical, but also seems like a good opportunity to switch hit to orthodox.

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.

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

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.

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 !

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!

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 just subscribed. Why? I liked the way you were punching the speed bag. I like the calm voice you use to instruct. Your slow mo demos are clean, direct, and powerful. Your explanations are clear and easy to follow. Thx

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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! ❤

This is the content I've been looking for.

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

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.

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.

we call that taking a step off the centerline fighting half the man in arnis

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 .

From a boxing stand point, it doesn't look like the best hook one can throw but the "steps" are correct. You don't necessarily need to step outside, unless you're really in a bad position to throw a hook, but it is very helpful and should be used often. Your heard position allows you to find openings

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

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.

The swing: The primary technique of Schoolyardfight-Do....

Sometimes i see boxers leap in with the hook, mike tyson or tommy gunn were two of my favourite growing up.

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.

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!

Arcing the hook and using the uppercut to lift the chin. First time ive ever heard this yet its so obvious.

5:35 not to leave out the liver/spleen hook!🎃

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. 👍🤛

I was taught that hooks should be fixed at the elbow joint without pushing through at the point of contact.

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

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

If it uses shoulder swing dip power I call it "Gorilla hook" when you fade or lean your body in 1 direction and add a "Rope and Cannon ball" type slinging hook.

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

In straight punch, the elbow goes from bent to straight. In hooks the elbow is bent, and is swung at the target but with the fist making the contract. Basically you swing the bent elbow. Its like throwing an elbow but make contact with fist.

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

I've been trying to explain this to my fellow Wing Chunners as well as anti-Wing Chunners who keep trying to tell me Wing Chun doesn't have hooks.

In fairness you can swing and hook, if the opponent is covering up their face if you swing keeping your elbow up it kind of moves like a scythe does

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

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!

I explained to students as pretend your arm is in a cast then just piviot the feet, and still slip step.

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.

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

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

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’m sorry, I must disagree. I’m a professionally licensed trainer, in Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA. I’ve cornered Professional Boxing ranked in the top 10. A hook is a curvilinear arcing punch, that is utilizing rotational inertia to develop kinetic energy. What you have shown here is not what professional fighters do.

I thought "take a swing" was slang for taking a risky chance. Who's back yard patio are you on?!? lol

Dang brother. I loved this explanation. Thank you!

You would enjoy Tom Yankello's boxing content. He speaks in detail about correct mobility

Wide swings can be useful. It's not exactly proper but as someone who competes Muay Thai against mostly taller opponents it's good to make them lean back and set something up.

Perfect way to explain the hook awesome.

Ramsey Dewey should be a narrator 🤷🏾‍♂️

Thanks Ramsey this is really good

"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.

your voice is incredible

As a former expat in Shanghai, I love it when you have exterior shots. I can feel the mist slick ground and damp cold and get weirdly nostalgic. Suddenly I want to go find some dumplings. I'm curious how much the city has changed since I was last there. Back then there was like one serious gym, and very few martial arts places.

Ramsey I am waiting for your response! Really excited to talk about biomechanics with one of my favourite coaches, its my passion.

Well, yet another way to throw a hook, adding confusion to confusion for me.

If I had Bruce Wayne money and Batman determination I would do my best to secure this mans teachings. Awesome stuff brother.

I know I suck at hooks, so since I train my boys, I also have sent this to them! Thanks Ramsey!!

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

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

You are the man Ramsey!

A few tries on the standing bag has it lifting off its stand, whereas before my lead hook bopped my shoulder more than it did the bag. Not a significant achievement in itself perhaps, but the credit to this technique is that this more powerful punch is also fast and pain-free.

There's a difference between loading a punch and swinging it too, if I'm standing orthodox, I was told the footwork of loading that hook is the same as throwing a straight right, but no right hand, then as I throw the hook I basically show my but to my opponent, That's a decent hook right there

The POWER comes from a rotationish motion, but the PUNCH is a TANGENT LINE of that rotation!!

What an awesome video mate

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

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.

if you didnt hit with the jab & cross, the best bet is the he has also went off line and has gotten very closer and you can take him with your stationary/pivoting hook and uppercut that Mr Ramsey warned about making a miss,, so be ready , track the footwork of the enemy and you can let your senses feel where the shoulders are, between the shoulders is the head. counter hooks with uppercut or vice versa then step back dont be so eager to step in the flanks as what Mr. Ramsey does, you may need to do hooks and upper cuts while retreating offline as well so practice all variations and always practice with a swinging bag and learn to hit it while it is in motion never predict the enemy's movement but instead feel the prescence and be aware of the spaces between you and enemy and the spaces around him as well. never fight for points !,,,,, instead fght for what is available based on his movement. fight so that he will miss in his attacks , a missed attack is energy wasted , no more energy = no more fighter, no fighter = no injury , losing on points = a big WIN ! this is a Aikijutsu Figthing Technique !

Hey coach so this is the first time I respectfully disagree. Boxing biomechanics are my specialty and It's something I've spent hundreds of hours analyzing and learning. The hook can be thrown properly and effectively at any range (as is done in boxing with perfect biomechanics), aslong as the user is aware of utilizing proper biomechanics. Your punch biomechanics seem to be off. From looking at your biomehcanics in the footage it seems due to serratus weakness/upper trap dominance. Notice how your punches come out and upward while your torso is leaning forward, you shoulders are not staying level with your torso and your torso isn't rotating enough. your using too much trap and shoulder and not enough middle back and serratus. Look at 7:54. Notice the position you end in, your hips and shoulders are not level with the ground, hindering your ability to follow up and reposition and also limiting the kinetic rotation and muscle activation. It should be a purely horizontal movement, that can be altered vertically as necessary. The perfect example of this is Ryan Garcia. He swings his lead hook but also incoporates perfect hip core and torso rotation in the horizontal plane, and he will alter the verticality when necessary.

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!

Never did I ever think my hook technique would get improved by a grappler 🙈

I'm going to miss getting jabbed in my eyeballs every time I throw a hook

I have practiced mma and kickboxing for two years but only after I started boxing I understood that my hooks & uppercuts were all wrong.

These are some fantasti cues, thanks a lot!

What if you hook without moving off the centre line? Definitely something you do see pretty frequently

You are the "ChatGPT" for the martial art world.

wow, you look like Master Wong in that tracky

great content as always.

There is no need to be closed-minded, and believe that there is only one correct way to do it, the swing has its pros and cons, the swing gives you more power and gives you more hitting angles but makes the trajectory of the punch a little longer

A long range hook is definitely more of a swing. Especially when done traditionally with the palms turned outward.

1:42 that's what she kept saying to me when we did it, it was kinda weird you know 🤣