There’s a few very effective techniques in landing top-rate body hooks in boxing. It’s worth putting the effort in to master these techniques. Put simply, a well-landed body hook can end pretty much any opponent. This is an in-depth boxing technique tutorial that will help you ensure that you have the best possible chance of landing that fight-winning hook.
The Long Range Bomber
There are a couple of starter ways to land your body hooks from long range.
The first is following up one of your straight punches, either your jab or your backhand.
If you are following your jab with the left hook to the body, you can put an inside slip in there to give you more leverage.
If you are using the straight backhand then you don’t need the slip because the rotation involved in that straight right hand gives you that leverage.
You can evolve the principle of following up your straight punches with body hooks by using 3 straights followed by the hooks.
This combo is about overwhelming the opponent with the head shots to leave openings for those whipped in hooks.
Close Range Options
Body punches are a fundamental part of close range fighting.
The a cool option is to switch from head to body, the logic being that if you hit the head an opening will come to the body.
The left hook to the head followed by the left hook into the liver is a really effective combination.
Aim to whack the body hook in as quickly as possible after the head shot so that you grab the opening.
There’s also what I call tap & whack.
You throw two shots – the first is a tap, the second is a whack.
Understand that you are using the tap as a diversion. So if you tap to the left side of the opponent’s head, an opening could be created on the left side of their body.
If you tap the left side of your opponent’s body an opening could be created on the right side.
If you tap up the centre of your opponent’s body then an opening can be created on either side of your opponent’s body.
You get the picture.
What if you want to attack the centreline of your opponent’s body with hooks?
Here’s where the stance switch comes in.
Normally you need to use straight punches or uppercuts to attack the centreline of the opponent.
Using the stance switch to either side means that you can attack the centreline of your opponent, specifically the solar plexus, with your power hooks.
Bonus Combo
You can also use body hooks to open up big power hooks to the head.
Try four fast, low power hooks to the body, followed by a power left hook to the head.
Start your body shots with the left hook, finish the combo with a left hook.
Speed low, power high.
The punches to the body divert the opponent’s defenses leaving them open for the hook to the head.
There you go, 5 boxing combos that bring focus to landing those body shots.
Let me know what you think below.
Cheers
Fran
by 
Sir I have said this before, but I have read this twice and started working on the combos this am. It is Awesome. I like all of them. But I used my creativity and added on to a Ricky Hatton combo. Jab, uppercut, same hand, cross and then the liver punch. I feel empowered. These are all great combos. Thank You so much. I will train using these until they are engrained in my brain. Yours in Martial Arts,,, Owen
That’s a nice variation Owen, centreline to liver.
I particularly like that uppercut after the jab. Would work to head and body but having the first 3 shots to the head is a really nice touch and would definitely leave that opening to the liver.
Thanks Owen, appreciate your continued engagement with the work I do.
Hi Fran, wouldn’t it be safer to duck with the hooks to the body, so your head ist at target height, when you punch? But I worry to be too slow, when I do the duck with the hooks and the opening ist gone… Cheers Stefan
Hey Stefan
Hope you are well.
Yes, in general I always encourage a head drop. If the opponent is leaning forward slightly you can go with the longer hook without the head drop, but you are right and it’s definitely soemthing to be aware of.
Mr Sands I thoroughly enjoy your posts, they have spurred me back into activity.
I am 62 yo and the Secretary of a Veteran Boxers Association in Australia. Getting myself active again after years of hibernation, has motivated me to improve my life all round. I appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge and expertise with everyone. Kind Regards
Hello Martyn
Sorry for the delay.
Brilliant that mate. Fella like you, with your background, once you get over the first couple of weeks you’ll be back in the groove.
I once went to a Merseyside Former Boxers Association meeting, very long time ago. Packed with fellas who plyed their trade from the 40’s onwards.
What an experience. Some extraordinary individuals with amaxing stories, fighting every week for years. Incredible.
Thanks Martyn, I very much appreciate you taking the time.