Thumb Up Or Down On Hook Punches??? PLUS KO Footage w/ Left Hook
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ม.ค. 2025
- Have you been given, or seen, different advice on how to throw a hook punch?
Some people punch thumb up, some thumb down, and some throw with their palm facing down.
I've been taught all 3 and today, with footage from my Bellator fight, I break down my thoughts on the subject.
Share, like and/or subscribe if you're enjoying the videos 🙏
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I just can believe you’ve uploaded 2 videos per day with sooo high quality and value. Awesome content champ 👍
Seriously. He’s rolling out hits nonstop.
ARE U DOUBTING THE BEST MARTIAL ARTS TH-camR!??!?!?!?!
Thumb down for head, thumb up for body. I find thumb down “locks” my elbow better, and I can throw with power fairly effortlessly whereas It’s much easier for my thumb up hook to turn into a slap.
What do you guys prefer when throwing a hook? Thumb up, down or facing in?
Down for me sir that's my personal preference.
My coach has had me throwing thumbs facing in for years. I started throwing thumbs up for about a week and it feels way better.
Long hook, facing in. Short hook, thumb up.
My thumb is usually facing towards me. It starts out facing up, but as my arm comes out more...I twist my forearm and wrist a little bit. I'm a South-Paw, which has nothing to do with this, but yeah. Lol. ✌️
@@thehighcommunity247 what you just described is " corkscrew " killer punch nice!
THANK YOU! Had to explain the variables to a couple students before...because EVERY coach prior had told them thumb up was the only way.
Finally an answer on this topic that makes sense! Thank you
Highly underrated channel! Gold here and a few people will see it
yes! having a champion giving advice is always good
Shhh keep it quiet and we’ll all have the edge LOL
Very happy that I came across this channel about a month bacc.
I like thumbs down for Muay thai as enter clinch easily but thumb up for boxing and kickboxing, but I tell my students to find own way, like you said definitely personal thing, 👊🏼
Well said 👍
Really enjoy your teaching style how clearly you break down fighting concepts! Thanks!!!
You're very welcome and I'm happy to hear my teaching style is working for you.
Thanks so much! I have the same with my shoulder but many tell me to throw thumbs in, this has given me confidence to stick to what feels right!
The past 2 weeks i just keep thincking in that thing thankyou very much those are the exact words i need. Keep teaching us champ.
Great video. Actually usefull. Many people answer this question just ”I do it this way” you actually tell the mechanics.
Glad you liked it.
Awesome!!! 2 videos today! I have improved and learned so much since i discovered your Chanel. Pure Gold
Thanks. Today was just a test run to see what happens with 2 videos. I'd have to be creating content like the flash to do that all the time.
good quality !!! the channel improves every day more in quality and presentation...good job Gabriel!
Thanks a lot!
I'm aiming for constant improvement.
I remember I heard cus d’amato talking about this a loooong time ago. And cus said that he taught Tyson, to punch with his thumb up when throwing the hook. According to cus there’s two reasons for this.
1. By leaving your thumb up, you have a natural position from guard to punch. This means that you don’t lose time turning you shot around by rotating your fist. So by leaving your thumb up, you’ll be slightly faster then you would be by rotating. This was the main reason according to cus.
2. You get slightly more muscle activation by keeping your thumbs up. Even tough the power comes from the rotation of the hip/upper body, the slight more muscle activation will give a slight increase in power.
Pretty much all of the all time greats throw the hook with the thumb facing up. Even the greats in mma like alex pereira, mighty mouse, israel adesanya. So idk who is recommending throwing thumbs down but it rarely works
Thumb up to your video 🙂
For the hook I teach exactly as you showed, the only problem with thumb up is that when my fighters (kickboxers/Muay Lao) attend boxing tournaments some referees see it as slap and warn my fighters.
It's not a slap tho.
This is actually the exact way how oldschool bareknuckle fighters throw hooks! Great video, thanks
Exactly what my instructor has worked out... thumb up at close range, turn the hand more as the distance increases.
I had this question for some time now you are a Savior ma man
Closed the video, then went back before I forgot to press the like button 😂 Thanks for your videos champ!
Boom 😀
Very appreciated!
🙏😀🙏
Totally agree on all aspects, i just started thumbs down recently to experience advantages in long distance
New intro is popping, Thanks for the video. I have always thought about this.
Man, a few coaches i know were stuck on that thumb position stuff. I tore up both rotator cuffs trying to satisfy someone else. Great vid. Thank you.
Amateur boxing rules are thumb down so if you fight you have to. Unless you're knocking ppl out or stopping them I guess
Great summary. Finally some logic instead of dogma
I agree it depends on range, in Thailand it was always thumbs in, and in the US it was always thumbs up
Best channel on striking advice on TH-cam for me! Real tecnique from real expirience. And i love how u dont get stuck in 1 style.💪💪 Great content
I appreciate that!
Fastly becoming my favourite TH-cam channel. Came across it a few weeks ago. And every video you upload is brilliant! I've got plenty of tips from you! Keep up the good work!!
Glad you like them!
That was the best segue into a 'like' request in the history of youtube!!!!!!
I can't even remember how I did it but that's good to hear.
The reason why it aggravates your shoulder joint to throw palm down or out is because your body automatically disengages the supportive muscles surrounding the shoulder joint itself (parts of your posterior chain) and leaves it VERY susceptible to impingement, tendon/ligament tears, and even dislocation if the force is too much at the wrong angle. I had a former boxing coach of mine try to get me to throw palm down on the inside and it hurt after 3 hooks. There’s a time and a place for those, but it’s good to see you throw it safely, a lot of kickboxers don’t.
Roy Jones Jr, the greatest left hooker in the world, teaches the thumbs up hook. You feel more pec & lat activation, as opposed to relying on just your shoulders for power. Good point about the range difference though. Didn't consider that.
For me, thumbs up, both for the hook itself, and for this video
3:25 mark, THATS it!!! It all depends where the hook is landing, close to you or further away.
I forgot as well shovel hooks are funky there kind of like uppercuts
i think the thumbs up , down or facing oneself when hooking is like those sets of wrenches, they are tools in a specific scenario...
the thumbs up is more shorter distanced, they can generate more power without hurting the shoulder... thumbs facing side is for med to long range and is more defensive(in my opinion) because the shoulder covers the cheeks more... and the thumbs down is for long to medium and its more on looping a shot in a sense that its easy to bypass the guard of the opponent...
Amazing explanation thank you
My goodness. What a belt collection you have
Not too bad.
I feel like a couple more are in order if the world can get this COVID thing sorted.
Thumbs up for sure for a pure hook. Anything else starts getting into swings and looping punches.
Thank you for another awesome video Gabriel. Your videos have helped me so much! If you see this, would you consider making a video on defensive drills?
Sure thing!
@@GabrielVargaOfficial thank you!!
I was told thumb up in close and thumb down at distance. It seems to work well for me
Very true dock...!
i just found the answer now.. thanks
I (Boxer) wanna add something to this, if i might:
The motion for the hook with the thumb down is supposed to be different to the motion with thumb up.
Thumb down movement is more like a upward fish hook or questionmark, coming from the inside (close to your body), going outside and then inside again to punch over/through the defense.
You‘ll see this version with many european and eastern-european boxers and sometimes in Muay Thai.
Another reason for thumb down is that, if you miss a thumb up hook, it could be seen as a backhand-punch, which is not allowed in boxing.
Other than that, i‘m completely with you on the topic of doing what works best for you!
I love the thumb down Russian style long hook. Especially if I'm doing muay thai or mma. Especially with a slight downward rotation. If the crash I have an underhook
Thanks, Sir!
Your so great at this
Hi Gabriel can you teach us how you throw uppercuts to the body?
Thumb up oN the video, that’s undeniable 👍🏻
The first time I saw someone hook with the thumb down and knuckles inward was Igor Vovchanchyn. That guy was laying people out in Pride.
Gabriel can you please do Petr Yan's style for a vid? It's so sick.
Awesome vid! What about some beginning tips like how to punch, kick, etc? Love the vids keep up the good work!
I have had problems with longer distance hooks because i prefer thumbs up... Maybe you just solved my problem thank you! 😂
I messed up left hand. Got a injury to a knuckle that will not heal. I have to jab with a vertical fist to ensure that the impact is on my two big knuckles. Goes against a lot of training and instruction I have been given.
this is basically the same way I use hooks with the exception of if I happen to be at an 'odd' type of angle where I am moving around basically crowding one hip of my opponent and I hook that way, I will have my thumb towards me.
very good explanation
I personally throw all variations dependent on the situation, the glove size, the persons guard, distance, and what I’m trying to accomplish. I’ve found that thumb down, I can get more whip on it. With thumb up, way more power. Splitting guard, for example, I’d throw thumb up. If I’m trying to catch head movement backwards, I’d throw thumb down to whip their jaw harder. Just my experience, hopefully it helps someone on their journey.
I have been told to generaly not to throw the the Hook with the thumb up because it could be seen as a slap by some judges in amature fights
Oddly I've never thrown thumbs up.
Though I have had several shoulder injuries.
Perhaps I shall give it a shot, thanks Gabriel.
I hope it helps you out.
No more shoulder injures.
Palm in during close/medium range,body hooks etc palm down during long range or using check hooks.
Interesting. I go thumb up on pretty much all body hooks.
But whatever works for each person individually is great.
I generally punch with the thumb facing up. I tend to damage a little and get pain in my wrists in other forms and I feel like I can transfer more power this way too.
I love this channel
Love your content brother
Great content as always
Glad you enjoyed it
I prefer to throw the hook with the thumb up, but lately I have been feeling pain in the ulnar part of my wrist. I will try to change the hook style, but the problem will remain with the ups.
Awesome content👍
I always have the feeling that the thumbs in version connects better with the chin and causes an easier knockout. Maybe it’s just me. I often hit with my finger or the whole fist throwing the hook thumbs up. It does feel like it has more power but also less knockout potential because of the accuracy from my own experience but whatever. Both works and I also use both
just a personal opinion, for closer hook i like to keep the thumb up but for longer range or gazelle hooks I keep the thumb down or horizontal
Amazing Video!
Mr Varga, when should you start to learn fighting in the opposite stance plus, any cardio tips???
hey Gabriel can you make a video on the left hook counter to the cross?
Thumb up on the left hook, thumb toward me on the right hook. That's always how I've felt it. Not sure how thumb down would be good? never heard of that.
I train with 2 coaches. 1 say thumbs up (so all knuckles land at the same time to protect your little finger from breaks) the other says thumb in as he feels it gives a stronger wrist and he doesn’t care about little fingers. I prefer thumbs in as just feels more natural to me. I also saw a vid by Roy Jones Jr and he said thumbs in so I can’t knock that.
I feel I better get much more shoulder snap when my thumb is parallel (facing me/parallel to the ground)
Amazing content!
Thank you!
Nice! I like to throw my hook thumbs up when going the temple or jaw and turn my wrist when going for the chin. For body shots I tend to do a mix between the hook and upper to dig it in but change a bit depending on the distance and combination
This is what a needed
Thumbs up most of the time for pretty much the same reason except it’s my wrist that hurts with thumbs side or down. That’s mostly on a bag though. On an opponent, I’ll mix it up a little but still 95% thumbs up. I find it easier to throw multiple hooks thumbs up. More strong muscle groups are lined up with thumbs up and it feels smoother to throw.
I mostly use the middle version.
Might be interesting to actually do an experiment with something measuring the force of the impact for the different versions …
i dont think theres much difference in output force its more to do with the strange it puts on your muscles and how well your knuckles connect
@@plogplog207 Could be.
I think another point to consider is angles. Depending on where you're hitting and at what angle, the different positions will give your knuckles the best way to the target.
👌 gabe!
My opinion, thumbs down is a hook thrown that’s less telegraphed and more better for counters like the “check hook”, and with a hook thrown with the thumbs up is more Telegraphed but in my opinion has more power and is best thrown at someone who doesn’t block well or has their hands down a lot but that’s just my opinion everyone is different as far as me I throw both for different reasons💯
What do you think of the thumb up hook that reaches long and curls back the fist when making contact. Boxer Adrien Broner comes to mind as a someone who hooks this way.
I think that sort of a slappy hook. And it definitely works you him. Floyd Mayweather also has a long right hook that works.
If it's effective I say go for it.
I personally prefer the thumb down because you're more likely to hit with your first two knuckles which are stronger. If you throw thumb up you have a higher chance of hitting with your lower knuckles(pinky), at least for the head. Body hooks it doesn't matter soft tissue there.
Something I've wondered - if you're punching with your thumb horizontal, could that make it more likely that you'd beak your little finger knuckle in a street situation? I always assumed it was a good habit to throw a hook with the thumb up for that reason because irrespective of range to your target, all your knuckles will connect at the same time. Very niche situation though I suppose, and I doubt it matters all that much in the scheme of things.
People would assume that for a fighter that fights long range a thumbs to the side would give him the most distance between him and his opponent...
Great video. New subscriber.
Awesome, thank you 🙏
Thumb up is a hook when someone is lower than you. Thumb down is for higher hook. Just try and do a thumb down hook to the body, or a thumb up hook above your head.
OK, that was surprising. I was expecting thumb up for distance, thumb sideways for short. Then he goes and says the opposite is true for him :0
Isn't it interesting how everyone can do things differently. What works for me might not work for you.
That's a good thing for kickboxing instructors to note.
Yea too many gyms are like "ok this is how you throw the hook" Then its just the coach's preference and he will never teach it in any other way
I used both hooks
I notice palm down is easier for me to keep my elbow in line.
Body hook thumbs up. Head hook facing in. Long head hook, thumbs down. I do this because it feels better overall. When hitting bags, pads and humans.
I throw thumb up 80% of the time, I feel I can deliver the most amount of power. Depending on distance and angle I might throw a hook with thumb on the side or facing down! For me throwing a hook with thumb down tends to hurt my wrist not so much my shoulder!
There's a good thump to the punch with the thumb down. GGG style.
My preference is thumbs down because I can better rotate my hand while throwing the hook
Gabriel, you mentioned that using change MMA gloves might change how you threw certain hooks. If you were fighting without gloves, how would that change your views (if at all)?
Oh man. probably thumb up.
Thumb down is all the back of the knuckles. I feel like that would wreck your hand against something hard.
I'm 5'6" and short-armed. Its difficult/uncomfortable for me to go thumb up and keep my arm parallel to the ground, and even just hold that position, and a hook like that from me is hot garbage- thumb DOWN is more comfortable and more relaxed, which for me means more speed and power. It drives my tall/long armed coaches crazy.
I waw yesterday think about this ??❤
It looks like when you landed that hook with palms down on that guy, his head was off to the left of your head so it was almost like throwing a wide looping jab. That's probably why it felt good palms down. If his head was straight in front of your head, you would have probably thrown palms facing yourself. This is my preference for the hook.
That could definitely be it.
@@GabrielVargaOfficial I still like palm inwards even at longer ranges. It does require that I fold my wrist inwards so that I can still land with the knucks. The biggest danger I face for this is hyperextending the elbows if are close enough to straight. At that point, it's easier to turn the palm down and use a wide looping jab that punches forward and across.
i have bad shoulders, so i throw hooks palm facing me😌
Do you have gloves with your name on them because you're a pro or is there a way for me to do that too?
Thumb up.
Thumb up, elbows should be at 90 degrees. My personal preference. ☺️