The Hook punch is the most powerful punch you can throw • Bourelle Martial Arts (2024)

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That big right (or left) hook knocks out sport fighters all the time and is used by all as their primary strike therefore it is obviously the most powerful punch you can throw, right? Not quite, but it’s easy to be fooled by the results.

The hook punch is extremely versatile and has one of the highest chances of making contact compared to other hand strikes. However, it is not the most powerful. That distinction belongs to the straight punch.

What determines power? Power, or force, is the result of the speed of mass. Though it can be debated as to which is faster, the straight punch or the hook, in my opinion they are equal or close to equal assuming the practitioner has practiced both equally. With a hook, the punch is sent out from the body in a swinging motion, therefore the mass is the weight of the arm. With the straight punch, the arm is kept within the body’s frame; therefore the entire body weight is applied to the mass. This is assuming the punches are thrown with a solid base and not falling backward as this would change the results. So if power is determined by the speed of mass, and the speed is equal in both but the mass is heavily favored by the straight punch (the weight of an arm vs. the weight of the entire body), then it is clear to see that the straight punch has more power transferred to the target.

There is one thing additional attribute to look at however, and that’s the angle at which the punch strikes the target. A solid strike on the chin can twist the head and neck in a bad position that can instantly knock out the opponent. As for the straight punch the same is true but not in a twisting motion, in a snap back motion which can also lead to instant knock out. The issue is whether or not the opponent has their head and chin down, if so, the hook punch will have a higher success of knocking out the opponent compared to the straight punch that will struggle to snap the head back when the chin is down.

So why is the hook punch used more than the straight punch? Because it can get around an opponent’s guard easier and has a higher success rate of making contact to a moving target. It takes years to throw an accurate straight punch. Think throwing a baseball at a moving object versus swinging a ball and chain.

One last note that warrants mentioning is the fact that many knockouts you see from both hooks and swinging kicks such as round kicks or hook kicks are the result of brachial plexus knockouts and not a concussive blow to the head. The brachial plexus is a nerve on the side of the neck that when struck can lead to motor dysfunction or unconsciousness. So the next time you see a knockout blow, look closely, was it a hit to the head, or was it on the side of the neck? I find it’s nearly 50/50.

More Myths and Misconceptions about Martial Arts

Part I – Martial Arts are all about Fighting

Part II – Sport vs. self-Defense

Part III –Size and Strength are of no importance in Martial Arts

Part IV –Horizontal Punch vs. Vertical Punch

Part V –Dim Mak (pressure points)

Part VI –Military fighting systems, such as Krav Maga, are the best self defense systems to be learned for self defense.

Part VII –My martial art is better than your martial art

Part VIII –The Hook punch is the most powerful punch you can throw

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