The check hook is an essential technique to learn if you want to stop aggressive fighters.
It’ll make you a dangerous and flexible fighter that can attack and defend at the same time!
Keep reading to learn how to throw a check hook!
How To Throw A Check Hook
To throw a check hook:
- Step Off The Center Line With Your Lead Foot
- Throw The Lead Hook
- Follow or Pivot With Your Rear Foot
Step Off The Center Line With Your Lead Foot
First, step off the center line with your lead foot, almost 90 degrees towards your lead side.
Some people teach you to pivot off the lead foot and that works too.
However, the sharp angle will give you a couple of advantages:
- It will take your head off the center line and out of harm’s way.
- It will rotate your body, providing you with the torque to drive your hook’s power.
- It will create distance so you can find new angles of attack.
There are a number of variations of the check hook.
You can step backwards with your rear foot and shift your weight back as you throw the lead hook. This creates space for you to load up the cross or rear uppercut, but you won’t be able to step out of the way if your opponent rushes forward.
You can also take the original check hook and do everything in reverse: take the same angle outward with your rear foot.
Your footwork is the key to your check hook’s success.
Throw the Lead Hook
Next, throw the lead hook and aim for your opponent’s head.
While you stay grounded with the regular hook and leap forward with the gazelle hook, on the other hand, you execute the check hook while you’re escaping the pocket.
You’ll have less power than the regular or gazelle hook since you’re not rooted or leaping forward with your body, but you can still hurt your opponent.
Your stance is wider than what you are used to, so this technique may feel awkward at first.
With this hook, you’re betting that your opponent’s head will be wide open as he’s focused on attacking forward rather than defending.
Depending on the range, you can throw a tight, shorter hook or a looping, longer hook.
Timing is the key factor to landing the check hook.
See the video below to see how Ryan Garcia times Francisco Fonseca with the check hook.
Follow or Pivot With Your Rear Foot
Lastly, follow or pivot with your lead foot.
With this last step, escape your opponent’s attack and create a new angle of attack.
Keep in mind that if you throw the check hook variation and step backwards with your rear foot, you’ll make a trade off. You won’t be able to step out of harm’s way, but you’ll be able to load up the cross or rear uppercut.
Balance is the key to this step and finishing the check hook.
Common Mistakes When Throwing The Check Hook
Some common mistakes beginners make when throwing the check hook are:
- Not Stepping To The Side
- Not Timing It Right
- Throwing The Hook From A Loose Guard
Not Stepping To The Side
The first mistake you can make when throwing a hook is not stepping to the side.
Footwork is one of the crucial factors for getting the check hook right.
Without it, you’ll still be in your opponent’s line of attack.
We like to think of this technique as a matador gracefully stepping to the side as a bull tries to thrash him.
Not Timing It Right
The next common mistake you can make when throwing a hook is not timing it right.
Timing is another crucial factor to throwing a successful check hook.
Too soon, you’ll miss your opponent by inches and he’ll trap you against the ropes.
Too late, you’ll smother your punch and give your opponent the chance to attack your inside.
Throwing The Hook From A Loose Guard
The next common mistake you can make when throwing a hook is to throw the hook from a loose guard.
This allows you to throw fast, tight, and controlled hooks and makes it easy to return back to your guard.
With a loose guard, there’s still a chance that your opponent can catch you with a counter.
Why You Should Learn To Throw The Check Hook
You should learn to throw the check hook because it’s one of the few boxing techniques where offense and defense are used at the same time.
This technique is an essential technique to use against an aggressive opponent advancing towards you.
It’s great for when you’re fighting on the back foot against a pressure fighter and need to cut an angle.
Like a matador facing a charging bull, use this technique if you’re backed into the corner and need to escape.
See the most famous example of this technique in the video below: Floyd Mayweather Jr. using the check hook against Ricky Hatton.
Where Should You Go From Here?
Now that you know how to throw a check hook, you’ll be able to catch your opponent off-guard when he’s pressuring you.
All three steps listed above, stepping off the center line with your lead foot, throwing the lead hook, and following or pivoting with your rear foot, should happen almost at the same time.
To perform the check hook, you need good footwork, timing, and balance.
At first practice the step to the side first. One step 90 degrees to the lead side and then another to the rear side. Once you get that down, add the hooks.
After you get the mechanics down in shadowboxing, the best way to practice is through pad work on the focus mitts. Your trainer attacks you with one mitt and presents the other as a target.
Mix this technique with the Philly Shell stance. Hold your lead hand low and then shoot upward for the hook; your opponent won’t expect it!
Once you master these techniques, you’ll be an even more dangerous and flexible fighter!
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