Rear Hook
- Striking
- Punches
- intermediate
- Orthodox stance
- 3 steps
A power hook from the rear hand, turning the whole body to land on the side of the head. Also known as the Right hook (orthodox). 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 rear hook at close range when the opponent slips or leans toward your rear side. It lands well after a lead hook has turned their head and guard the other way. Save it for the end of a combination, once the jab and cross have them covering in front.
Step by step
- 01
Set your stance
Hands high, ready to rotate.
- 02
Turn the rear hook
Pivot hard on the rear foot, raise the rear elbow to shoulder height and rotate the body to swing the bent arm across.
- 03
Recover to guard
Snap the hand straight back to your chin and reset your stance. Never leave it out.
Key details
- Rotate the rear foot and hip fully. The hook lives in the pivot.
- Keep the elbow level with the fist, not trailing.
- Best landed after a jab or cross has set the range.
Common mistakes
- Throwing it from too far. The rear hook is short range.
- Dropping the lead hand while loading.
- Looping the arm wide and slow.
Common counters
The rear hook travels a long way, so a sharp opponent steps inside it with a short lead hook or a straight punch. Others cover tight against the side of the head and fire back as your arm comes across. Keep it compact and never throw it from outside punching range.
How to drill it
Lead hook, rear hook on the heavy bag from close range, standing a forearm’s length from the bag. Work three-minute rounds where every pair ends with a roll under an imagined return hook and both hands back at your chin.
Related techniques
- JabStrikingThe lead-hand straight punch: your range-finder, rhythm-setter and the setup for everything else.
- CrossStrikingThe rear-hand straight punch: your primary power shot, driven by rotating the hip and pivoting the rear foot.
- Lead HookStrikingA short horizontal lead-hand punch that turns through the side of the target on the pivot of the hips.
- Lead UppercutStrikingA short rising lead-hand punch up the centre, ideal inside the pocket against a high guard.
- Rear UppercutStrikingA rising rear-hand punch up the centre, driven by a small dip and a powerful leg drive.
- OverhandStrikingA looping rear-hand power punch that arcs over the opponent’s guard and crashes down on the head.
Train it with the AI coach