Want to learn how to throw the gazelle hook?
The gazelle punch is one of the most powerful punches in boxing because of:
- The drive from your feet planted on the ground.
- The rotational force of your torso.
- The inertial force of your leap forward.
It’s a high-risk, high-reward punch, so you’ll need to set it up properly and use it at the right time.
Keep reading for our guide on how to throw the gazelle hook.
How To Throw The Gazelle Hook
To throw the gazelle hook:
- Set Up Your Opponent For The Shot
- Slip To Your Lead Side To Wind Up
- Explode Forward With Your Hook
- Catch Your Balance
This is an advanced move that is used by quick and explosive boxers.
If you’re a beginner, we recommend focusing on the basics before leaping around.
Apart from the athleticism required, we think that the hardest parts of throwing the gazelle hook is setting it up and catching your balance after.
Set Up Your Opponent For The Shot
The first step to throwing a gazelle hook is to set up your opponent for the shot.
Your goal is to have your opponent completely surprised by this attack.
Do this by:
- Feinting low to the body. Pay attention to whether your opponent overextends his parry and leaves his head exposed.
- Landing body shots. Condition your opponent to expect a jab or a hook to the body whenever you change levels.
- Establishing the range. If you throw the gazelle hook and miss by an inch, you’ll be thrown off balance. Add that inch and you’ll knockout your opponent. Too close and you’ll smother your own punch.
Setting up the gazelle hook is important because it’s a shot that you save for the right time.
Use it too often and you lose the element of surprise.
Slip To Your Lead Side To Wind Up
Next, slip to your lead side to wind up the gazelle hook.
Ideally this is after you’ve slipped your opponent’s straight punch and his hand hasn’t come back in time to protect his face.
Put your weight on your front foot to wind up the hook. It’s important to not put all of your weight down and not hold the stance for too long since it becomes obvious that you’re loading up the hook.
Like a coiled spring, the weight of your body is concentrated low just for a moment and will be redirected high in the next step.
Keep in mind that the gazelle hook’s windup is identical to a slight slip or the beginning of a jab to the body.
Explode Forward With Your Hook
Next, explode forward with your gazelle hook.
Take a short hop forward, rotate your hip while you’re in the air, and punch through your target.
Depending on the distance, you’ll be close enough to land it with just a short hop forward. The farther you are from your opponent, the more you have to bend your knees and jump forward to gain velocity.
Since you have the range dialed in, you shouldn’t have to leap forward too far. The “leap forward” is more of a grounded hop and the hook itself is tight; your arm shouldn’t have to stretch out to reach the target.
Watch the video below to see how Floyd Patterson used the Gazelle Hook to gain distance against his retreating opponent.
Catch Your Balance
Lastly, catch your balance after throwing the gazelle hook.
It’s easy to launch yourself at your opponent, but it’s difficult to regain your balance and be ready for the next move, even if you hop a short distance.
This goes doubly so if you miss the gazelle punch from long range.
If you’re unable to catch your balance, all your opponent has to do is throw a jab to knock you to the canvas.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to throw a gazelle hook, practice this move first shadowboxing and on the heavy bag before trying it in sparring.
The gazelle hook is high-risk and high-reward since you go all-in on offense.
While you’re mid-air and about to land the punch, you’re vulnerable for a split second.
This move also requires high athleticism, not only to build up and execute the attack, but also to be balanced enough to be ready for the next exchange.
If you’re a flatfooted boxer that prefers to stay grounded and work off your high guard, this attack isn’t for you.
Even if you set it up right and execute the gazelle hook perfectly, it’ll rarely work twice in a row. Don’t throw this every combo (or even every round!).
After you attempt a gazelle hook, go back to basics and focus on re-establishing your jab and landing body shots.
You can also use these tips if you’re defending against the gazelle hook:
- Control the range.
- Watch for the slip.
- Bring your hands back to your head with each punch.
- Have a forearm parry ready.
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