Uppercut vs hook. What are the differences?

It’s important to know that an uppercut is not the same as a hook, so be careful not to confuse these two fighting techniques.

You can tell them apart by their positions in the fight. However, some might argue that this distinction is irrelevant because they tend to do similar damage, and it’s hard to decide which is better or worse overall.

So, what are the common differences between uppercut and Hook?

The common difference between uppercuts and hooks is most visible in boxing or mixed martial arts.

With an uppercut, a fighter aims to strike the chin of their opponent, with the force of their punch going directly up.

With a hook, a fighter aims for their opponent’s temple and rotates around so that it is coming from below rather than from the side like an uppercut.

Uppercut

An uppercut is a punch that is usually delivered by raising your elbow to strike at an angle going upwards. You can use both hands to do this or just one hand.

The other name for this move is “uppercut” because your arm has to rise up to be able to deliver the blow.

• In a fight, this can be used to knock out your opponent.
• It is also effective in taking out your opponent’s legs or those of others around you.
• If you see an uppercut coming, you should try to dodge it by either parrying the punch with a heavy weapon (like an axe or mace) or getting out of its way.
• If you do an uppercut to your opponent’s chest, they will have time to parry your punch or block it.

Hook

A hook is a punch that goes from the outside to the inside of your opponent’s body and is delivered similarly to a jab.

Your Hook can also be called a hook because of the shape that your arm is delivered into your opponent.

• The Hook is delivered with the arm almost parallel to the ground. Because this punch comes in close to your body, you have to be careful not to hit yourself in the head while delivering it.
• This punch does still have the advantage of connecting with an overall shorter reach than some other blows and can be used for various situations.
• If you are fighting another weapon-wielding opponent, you can use this maneuver to get behind them and disarm them.
• You may have also heard that a hook can break through your opponent’s guard.
• If you can successfully land a hook while they are guarding, they will shake, and the power of your punch will knock the weapon out of their hands.
• This is obviously only possible if they are not holding a weapon that is too heavy for you to break free of.
• A hook can also be called “back hand” in fencing if you are doing a kris punch. This is because the fighter does a strike from the inside out.

Differences between uppercut vs. Hook

• The uppercut is delivered with the elbow raised and the punch going upwards, whereas a hook is delivered with the elbow bent and the punch going from below.
• You would use a hook when you are fighting someone in front of you. The uppercut would be used when you are fighting someone behind you, as it is more difficult to defend yourself against an attack if your opponent is behind you.
• An uppercut is used to target your opponent’s chin and head. You would use a hook when you want to hit your opponent somewhere else, such as their temple or body.
• Traditional boxing will tell you to keep your hands up when doing an uppercut. You should have your hands close to the ground to perform a hook. This makes them easier for you to block or strike at any time.
• You can also use an uppercut in fencing, but not a hook.

Similarities between uppercut vs. Hook

• The uppercut and a hook are both punches and can be used to fight just as well as each other.
• The uppercut and a hook are meant to strike your opponent, so you should try to avoid being hit with either of these techniques if you don’t want to get injured.

When should I choose an uppercut?

• If you are fighting someone behind you, use an uppercut.
• An uppercut can be used against a weapon that is blocking your way. For example, if somebody tries to block your way with their weapon and it is too heavy for you to lift up, use an uppercut to knock the weapon out of their hands.
• You can deliver an uppercut in fencing

When should I choose Hook?

• If you are fighting someone in front of you
• If you’re fighting someone behind you and they’re using a weapon, an uppercut is not enough to get through the defense of their weapon. To do this, use a hook.
• A hook can be used to break through your opponent’s guard if they are holding a weapon.
• When you’re fencing someone, you use a hook.

On what move should I rely on Uppercut vs. Hook?

While some boxers use hooks exclusively, others will use both depending on what they are using to counter-defense or attack tactics.

Rather than worry about whether you should choose an uppercut or Hook, they’re both punches that are effective.

The most important thing to remember is that you must be able to land a punch that is able to hit your opponent.

Conclusion

As you’ve seen, the main difference between a hook and an uppercut is the position of your arm when delivering the punch.

While it’s not necessary for both of these punches to be used by every fighter, it’s nice to have them both so that you’re always prepared for any situation.

The majority of those who know how to execute an uppercut and Hook go after either their opponent’s head or neck.

This means that a fighter can use either more body blows in a fight. The technique varies depending on what area you are trying to hit and where your opponent will be protecting.