In the "Secrets of Chinese Karate" book by Mr. P., several different types of hooks are listed. Including slicing hooks, chopping hooks, horizontal and vertical variations of same, and so on. These were once a part of the stuff we trained in kenpo; multiple variations on a theme, studying the nature of the attacking weapon, it's path & line, and potential angles of incidence to available targets...those that were already available, and those that become available as a result of strike manipulation or contact/control manipulation...stuf that's there, "Because I put it there".
I learned these hooks. Hell, I learned variations of LF1 & 2 where these hooks -- in combination with some of the other obscure punches -- replaced some of the standard blows taught in canonized EPAK.
Depending on your lineage, kenpo has hooks. And nobody reesponded to the Gentleman from Jersey when he pointed out the inability of many of the listed techs, as written, to respond effectively to the classic boxers-style hook.
Now, I'm gonna ignore all that silly argumentation stuff, and get back on topic with some observations about the hook; I suggest all follow suit, as sarcasm is helpful either, is it?
I boxed for a spell. Had to...bad point sparring habit of fighting a guy with my back turned mostly to him to minimize target availability...had to get back in the habit of facing him head on. The hook I learned for boxing, from boxers, was a fixed-shoulder, palm down (generally considered US hook, in contrast to the palm-in european version), turning at the torso. This from guys that were Archi Moore's sparring partners, dogs in Foremans gym, and the like...so they know boxing.The momentum and strength come from driving the body with the legs, and the fist clips him on the way by. The wind up for a hook alone is silly, so it's typically thrown in the return to neutral from a rear cross.
To "kenpo-ize it" for kenpo students, I have them throw the rear hand all the way into a forward bow. Rather than utilizing opposing forces with the lead hand drawn to hip chamber, they chamber the left hand high, fingers at or near the temple or crown of the head. Just before returning to a neutral bow, the lead hand just drops to a position akin to a low upward block against an imaginary attack from 10:00, fixed at a parallel plane to the floor at about the level of the collarbone, 90 degree angles all the way around, and drive the torso into the blow; to make it more boxing-like, they can continue as if turing into a reverse bow, and lift the lead heel so they end up in a wide kneel of sorts facing the other direction. If the bugger is too far away, it can be transitioned into a "slanted in hook", where it's part hook, part jab. This blow maintains strength of the hook, while better adapting to distance changes. Also picks up on better/nastier target opportunities along the side of the head...mandible, under the ear, temple.
In lotsa boxing gyms, I've seen people thrown dissociated hooks. More of a tight roundhouse flail, but certainly not driven by the body and legs. A lead hook is where you should be able to get your opponent to feel the effects of all the heavy squats and step-back lunges you've been doing. If it's only your arm hitting the guy, you're following a hooking path, but not pushing hook power. The body drives the punch in a hook; not the limb.
Take an oval hula-hoop, and hold it parallel to the floor, pointy parts of the oval towards 9:00 & 3:00, bad guy at 12:00. The waist spin that returns you to your own territory will automatically draw the blow back into your own green zone, from 9:00, past 12:00, towards 3:00. The moment of contact, however, should be timed to land with the apical top of the curve about 1 inch into the targets body part. Make sense?
D.
. Just can't keep up with the man sometimes.
