Mike Tyson's front hook and uppercut were some of the most devastating punches boxing has ever seen. In this video lesson I show how to use the rear hip to generate the torque for the front hook and uppercut, in the way Tyson did. It is for boxers and martial artists who want short, explosive power from the lead hand.

The Rear Hip Is The Engine

Most people think a lead hook is all about the front side of the body. The arm, the front shoulder and the front hip. That gives you some power, but it leaves a lot on the table.

The secret is the rear hip. When the rear hip drives forward and round, it winds the body up like a spring and then releases it into the front hand. That rotation is torque, and torque is what makes a short punch hit like a long one.

Why It Works For The Hook And The Uppercut

The same hip action powers both punches. For the hook, the rotation travels round horizontally. For the uppercut, the same drive comes up and through at an angle. Because the engine is the same, you can switch between them without changing your set-up, which makes them very hard to read.

This is one reason the style was so effective. The power came from the body, the punches were short, and they flowed one into the next.

Getting It Right

  • Drive from the ground. The rear foot pushes and the hip follows.
  • Keep the arm compact. The arm transmits the power, it does not create it.
  • Stay low and tight. Bend the knees and keep the chin tucked.
  • Do not overswing. The rotation should be sharp and short, not a big sweep.

How To Practise

Start without punching at all. Stand in your stance and practise driving the rear hip forward and round, feeling the front side whip in response. Then add the hook slowly on the pads. Then the uppercut. Then put them together.

Keep partner work controlled and light, with a cooperative partner, as these are knockout punches and are meant to be.

Take It Further

Learning to generate this kind of torque is a big part of my Learn To Box Online Course. For more on power from the body rather than the arm, see Power Black.