The shoulder is so important when it comes to getting an easier knockout, and most people barely think about it. In this video lesson I look at the shoulder turn and how you can use it at different angles.

This is for boxers and strikers who want more power without more effort, and for grapplers too, because the same movement turns up in takedowns and throws.

Why The Shoulder Matters

Power does not come from the arm. It comes from the ground, through the legs and hips, and out through the shoulder. The shoulder is the last big link in that chain before the fist. If it does not turn, a lot of what your legs and hips produced never reaches the target.

A good shoulder turn also changes the angle of the punch. And angle matters. A punch that lands at the right angle on the jaw or head does far more than one that hits straight on with the same force. That is where many knockouts come from.

Using It At Different Angles

Get used to using the shoulder turn at different angles. Once it feels natural, start to think about how you can use that same shoulder movement in your hooks and your uppercuts.

  • Straight shots. The shoulder rolls through, adds reach and protects your chin.
  • Hooks. The shoulder turns the whole body behind the punch instead of the arm swinging on its own.
  • Uppercuts. The shoulder drives the punch up through its line rather than just lifting the arm.

Not Just For Strikers

For those doing takedowns and throws, yes, you guessed it, it is the same movement again. Turning the shoulder is how you move your body as one unit. Whether you are driving a punch or turning someone over your hip, the principle is the same.

Common Mistakes

  • Arm punching. The arm moves and the shoulder stays still.
  • Over-turning. Throwing the shoulder so far that you lose balance and leave yourself open.
  • Tension. A tight shoulder is a slow shoulder. Stay relaxed until the moment of contact.

How To Practise It

Start with shadow boxing, slowly, watching your shoulder in a mirror. Then take it to the bag at different angles. Knockout work is serious, so any partner drills must be done with control and a cooperative partner, at low power, and never hard to the head.

Take It Further

If you want to build serious striking power, look at Power Black. To learn the punches properly from the ground up, try the Learn To Box Online Course.