Title: Lead Hook: Steps, Key Details & Mistakes | DARCE

Canonical: https://darce.app/techniques/striking/lead-hook

> Lead Hook. A short horizontal lead-hand punch that turns through the side of the target on the pivot of the hips.

# Lead Hook

- Striking
- Punches
- intermediate
- Orthodox stance
- 3 steps

A short horizontal lead-hand punch that turns through the side of the target on the pivot of the hips. Also known as the Left hook (orthodox) or the Mud Wiang San. Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 3 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.

## When to use it

Throw the lead hook at close range, straight after a cross has turned your hips and loaded it. It lands when the opponent circles toward your lead hand or drops their rear guard to parry your jab. Feint the jab and hook off it so they cover the straight line and miss the angle.

## Step by step

1. 01

   ### Set your stance

   Stay compact, weight centred.

2. 02

   ### Turn the hook over

   Lift the lead elbow to shoulder height and whip the fist horizontally across, pivoting the lead foot and turning the hip into it.

3. 03

   ### Recover to guard

   Snap the hand straight back to your chin and reset your stance. Never leave it out.

## Key details

- Power is in the pivot. Foot, hip and shoulder turn as one.
- Keep the elbow bent ~90° so it is a hook, not a swing.
- Rear hand stays at the chin throughout.

## Common mistakes

- Winding the arm back and telegraphing.
- Dropping the lead shoulder and exposing the chin.
- Swinging a straight arm instead of turning a bent one.

## Common counters

The common answer is a straight rear hand down the middle as your hook opens up, or a roll under it into a hook of their own. A wide, looping hook gives them time for both. Turn it short with the rear hand glued to your chin.

## How to drill it

Cross into lead hook on the mitts: the holder flashes the hook mitt the moment they take the cross, so the hook has to come off the rotation. Do five sets of ten, then add a roll under a return hook from the holder after every rep.

## Related techniques

- [Jab Striking The lead-hand straight punch: your range-finder, rhythm-setter and the setup for everything else.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/jab)
- [Cross Striking The rear-hand straight punch: your primary power shot, driven by rotating the hip and pivoting the rear foot.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/cross)
- [Rear Hook Striking A power hook from the rear hand, turning the whole body to land on the side of the head.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/rear-hook)
- [Lead Uppercut Striking A short rising lead-hand punch up the centre, ideal inside the pocket against a high guard.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/lead-uppercut)
- [Rear Uppercut Striking A rising rear-hand punch up the centre, driven by a small dip and a powerful leg drive.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/rear-uppercut)
- [Spinning Backfist Striking A spinning strike that lands the back of the fist, generating power from the rotation of the body.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/spinning-backfist)

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