Title: Overhand: Steps, Key Details & Mistakes | DARCE

Canonical: https://darce.app/techniques/striking/overhand

> Overhand. A looping rear-hand power punch that arcs over the opponent’s guard and crashes down on the head.

# Overhand

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

A looping rear-hand power punch that arcs over the opponent’s guard and crashes down on the head. Also known as the Overhand right or the Over the top. 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

Use the overhand against an opponent who jabs with the lead hand low or leans back from your straight punches. Dip your head off the line and throw it over the top of their jab as it comes in. A low kick or a body shot that brings their hands down sets it up too.

## Step by step

1. 01

   ### Set your stance

   Hands up, ready to drop level slightly.

2. 02

   ### Loop it over the top

   Pivot the rear foot, drop the head slightly to the lead side and throw the rear hand in a high arc over their guard, smashing downward.

3. 03

   ### Recover to guard

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

## Key details

- Slip your head off-line as you throw so you avoid their counter.
- It arcs over the top. Aim down onto the head.
- Rotate the whole body; it is a committed power shot.

## Common mistakes

- Throwing it flat like a wide cross.
- Leaving the lead hand down and eating a counter.
- Over-committing and falling past the target.

## Common counters

A disciplined opponent steps inside the arc with a short lead hook or a straight punch, which lands first. Others duck under it and change levels for a takedown. Throw it with your head off the line and do not drop the hand to load it.

## How to drill it

Your partner jabs slowly with a mitt on the lead hand and holds the other mitt high: dip off the line and land the overhand over their jab. Work three rounds of two minutes, adding a lead hook as you come back to stance.

## 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)
- [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)
- [Liver Shot (Body Hook) Striking A lead hook dug into the body below the ribs: a fight-ending shot that drains the gas tank.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/liver-shot)
- [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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