Defense Against a Hook Punch


Technique Review 

Shalom, everyone. I am back and I am glad we are here. I’m not sure I know who you are, maybe I do, maybe we know each other. So, anyhow, this week’s technique review is about defending the hooks, so it’s a bit too material. . .

Video transcript

Shalom, everyone. I am back and I am glad we are here. I’m not sure I know who you are, maybe I do, maybe we know each other. So, anyhow, this week’s technique review is about defending the hooks, so it’s a bit too material. However, when we think about this thing, it’s not the 360, it sort of have a very long aim, like swings like this, it’s a much shorter one.

So, if it is at short range, we have problem with time of response. Usually, the reaction time is a problem here. But, let’s talk not about the reaction time, let’s talk about the techniques, the possibilities, because reaction time very much depends on your level of training.

Look at every boxer, every striker, when they are fighting, some of them are extremely good with defending the hooks. The main thing of defending the hooks in boxing, many times, is a certain type of absorbing. For us, if, let’s say, it’s a bit of a problem, we don’t have the gloves, we assume there may be a knife, a sharp object in the hand of the aggressor. So, just absorbing, like this, is not a very recommended solution, however, we definitely agree that sometimes, that’s the best solution, obviously, when you have little, little amount of reaction time.

So, John, please, be kind. What we are thinking about, we are thinking that the attacker is hitting us with the hook, bam. With the other side, bam, that’s the idea. The hook can be part of a combination. For example, if I am the attacker, I strike high, low … With hooks and straight attacks, this is an example. Imagine, kicking, striking and here, at the close range, I move with the hooks and other attacks.

We understand that most of the hooks are in the short range. There are hooks that are longer range, but then, it’s different structure of the hand and definitely, there’s not this big hole here. This group here, that is difficult to defend against, because he can slide in this crook and that’s practically … That’s not stopped the attack.

One very, very common solution is giving me a hook … Oh, what is this? This is the bobbing and weaving, this is getting under the problem. How common is this? Okay, so, practically, naturally responses. If he’s attacking me, natural response is this, that, I guess. One more time. Natural response is this, natural response, yes. One more time. Natural response is this and the truth is, less response than for most people.

Most people naturally will not duck under a hook, unless they’ve been taught and trained against it. But, look at the way we do things, yes? So, if he’s giving me a hook and I go down, why should I come up with a strike? Why shouldn’t I strike here? One more time. Or, strike here and then, get up and moving, yes?

If you think about it, if he’s giving me a hook and I move away … Giving the kick here, in this case, could be wonderful, for me I mean, yes? He’s attacking me, I will do something like this. I move away, I cover my head and in this case … He is vulnerable, low. So, if you do it in the correct timing, definitely it’s a good solution. But, this all were ducking under, moving away, what if you didn’t do this? What if you are in this position and your natural behaving and action is more forward or in place and you are more or less in that type of response, yes?

What to do in this case? The answer is … Forearm defenses, based on something in the 360. Imagine, if I’m giving him the hook and that’s the crook here, imagine … That this hook is practically like a punch coming from the side. Straight punch from the nook of the forearm, right? Pivot around my elbow. That’s it, yes?

So, in the hook is, let’s do it at this for a moment, this hole here is definitely a problem, that his hand is sinking into him. What do we say? We say, “Look at this forearm, that’s the direction of the strike. Put myself in a straight strike, from here, it looks the same.” Which defense does he need to do in this case? He threw an outside difference, backwards, sending the forearm backwards. That’s the solution.

When he’s striking my head, something like this, one more time, strike. Strike harder, yes. So, what happens is this, I am defending and my defense composed of several actions. One, again, imagine, he is punching me a straight punch and it’s from the side. Can I do, slowly, can I do this? The answer: Of course not. Can’t do this one, have to go there.

I have to go behind me, that’s the issue here with the hook. I need to go, please, behind me, right? To send it backwards is a sweeping defense. Hopefully, you know what the sweeping difference is. It’s a sweeping difference. From the … Forward place, I move backwards, that’s sweeping. So, I am sending my forearm backwards, that’s one thing. Except of this, when he is striking me, I lift with him. So, he flies past me, ducking under, I, one more time, send him over.

I am going out, I am going up and I am going backwards. Look where I start, look where I finish, you understand? It’s up, it’s back and it’s out. Fleshy part, slanted, so impact would slide over my head, that’s the idea here. Regarding the contact, contact that low, possible, contact high … One more time.

Contact that high … One more time. Contact with the knee, contact with the headbutt, they’re all possible contact acts. However, remember, if you need to send the forearm backwards, into rotate, just remember that this rotation should not disturb your counterattack, maybe even you use this rotation for your counterattack.

Again, for example, something like this, I use the counterattack with a spin, one more time. I use this one to counterattack, one more time. I use that one as a counterattack, the elbow. So, they are all possible options.

This is the thinking about defending the hook. If the hook is with the other hand, it’s from here, it’s the same thing … Out, up and back. Timing is of an essence, of course. He’s attacking and counterattack, with whatever you feel is good for you. Possible for you. In order to feel, you have to train, you have to practice. So, it will come naturally, intuitively. That’s the idea.

Now, a hook, which is a longer hook, then there’s no crook here, it’s easier to do double 360 if you’ve got the time. If you don’t have the time, you won’t be able to turn the forearm and catch away, you’ll do a shorter distance of a defense.

Hopefully, everything is clear. If not … Go to your instructor, ask certified KMG instructor. All the best guys, Johnathan, thank you for assisting me. See you next time. Ciao guys.

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