Punch question?

Question

I clearly have too much time on my hands but I was wondering:

What has a greater chance of knocking somebody down, a karate style straight punch (if right handed) or a right hook? And what would be more useful in a street fight scenario?

I know boxers favour hooks but if you watch martial arts films they always do straight punches.
Cheers!

Answer 1

Both can knock somebody down. It all depends on balance and the positioning of the feet. Sometimes, if you punch someone with a straight punch or hook and they have their feet in the right position, it would be really hard to knock him down with either of the punches.

Answer 2

It depends on your fighting style and the style of the person you are fighting. Straight punched get to the target faster but do not deliver the same force as a hook. A hook takes a split second longer to find the mark but hits with a stronger impact. Straight punches tend to use arm strength more and a hook incorporates more of your body weight behind the punch. If you are fighting a guy bigger than you then straight punches are good because you will land your punch before he lands his (big guys tend to throw big punches) and you can knock him off balance before he gets his body behind the punch.

If you want to knock someone down your best bet is actually a combination of those two punches. A quick straight shot with your off hand (jab) followed by the big hook with your lead hand (hook). Rarely does a knock down occur with one punch (unless your Tyson). It is most often a combination of punches that takes a person down.

Answer 3

Both can knock a person down although it is harder for a person to develop their power with the straight punch to do it. That is one of the things that karate teaches you how to do and helps you to develop.

The hook is easier to learn but travels an indirect or circular path to the target so that's why a straight jab or straight right hand will stop it and the fighter that is attempting to throw it if you have good reflexes and time his motion and movement to throw it. That is done by watching him move slightly to one side of center and the shoulder starting to dip as he drops down to turn back in and throw it. If he does it with out the motion of the step and his body then it just is an arm punch and not nearly as effective because he is not turning his heals and hips into it at impact.

Answer 4

Hooks tend to be more powerful but straight punches are faster, generally it depends on your style but you should use both depending on the situation.

In a street fight scenario the answer is more simple...
Neither. Surprising as it might seem it's true. There are VERY few strikes that will take down an opponent in one hit and in a street fight your not aiming to score 'points' your trying to make sure that YOU are the one that walks away.

1. Don't be there. If they run at you just step out of the way and trip them up. - It works - My teacher used this trick before and took the opponent completely by surprise.
2. Learn a martial art more suited to street fighting - eg a lock, throw and grappling based martial art with a minimum of striking because 90% of street fights end up with grappling on the ground - very few are settled by striking. I would recomend Jiu-Jitsu because it seems to be the most balanced. If you are in scotland check out - www.sjja.net for more info.

Answer 5

That depends on where you hit them, and the force you can generate. Generally, you can generate more power when throwing hooks, but end up sacrificing speed and, even accuracy at times. Normally, in an actual fight, you would not want to throw a hook unless you are sure you will hit the target (or if you follow up with good combinations to overpower the opponent), because it could leave you vulnerable to a counter. Better to use the straight punch to test your opponent first.

Answer 6

Depends on the opportunity. A straight punch TKD style is most powerful punch known. Arguable is the Wing Chun role punch is as or more powerful. The hook punch is if you are in too close and the opportunity is there. Boxers are usually in close. If your in close in a street fight you are not in the right place.

Answer 7

It all comes down to angles... If you throw a straight punch from the side of your opponent it is effectively a cross punch and has a great chance of nocking out your opponent...

PS I think that the cross punch is a much better nock out punch as it combines the extra momentum and muscle recruitment of a round attack yet follows a more linear path allowing for better structure behind the hit thus maximising the force forward and minimizing the returning force.

Answer 8

The hook has more potential for knocking someone out because of the physics of what it does to you. It triggers the things that make someone loose consciousness temporarily by adding the rotation to the neck and head, in addition to the trauma.

But you shouldn't try to make just hook shots, you should get your punches in any way you can. If you just attempt to do one thing, you are predicable and limited in your arsenal.