A boxer's knockout punch is a skill desired by many aspiring pugilists. While there is some debate on what actually causes the fighter to temporarily lose consciousness, many believe it is the whip-like motion that occurs when a punch is landed to the head, compressing the circulation to the brain. The rapid compression is what turns the fighter's lights off and sends him to the canvas. Causing that rapid compression requires accuracy and the rapid transfer of force from the boxer to the opponent's chin.
Left Hook
Step 1
Start with your right leg back and your left shoulder forward in a standard boxing stance. Reverse positions if you are left-handed.
Step 2
Squat down no more than a couple of inches without changing the position of your feet. This is similar to the dip people take just before making a vertical jump.
Step 3
Push off with your right foot, twisting your hips and torso clockwise.
Step 4
Keeping the elbow bent, hook your left arm toward the right side of the opponent's jaw (or tape a dot on the heavy bag at chin height), driving through as your body continues to twist clockwise.
Straight Right
Step 1
Set up your stance to deliver the most power by putting your left shoulder forward with your weight on the back foot and knees relaxed.
Step 2
Aim for the opponent's chin, or marked spot on the heavy bag, and start the punch from your hips. Begin to twist your right hip forward, pushing off your right leg.
Step 3
Rotate your shoulders to follow the hips so your entire body is twisting counterclockwise.
Step 4
Shoot your right hand toward your opponent's chin as your body's kinetic energy flows through the shoulders and out through your fist.
Tips and Warnings
- Think of the knockout punch as transferring power from the soles of your feet through the knuckles of your hand to your opponent's chin. Power is generated from the twisting motion of the hips, not the arms.
- Knocking someone out is serious business and can cause irreparable damage. Use these techniques only for self defense or in the ring under the guidance of an experienced boxing coach.
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