How to Give a Knock Out Punch

One of the fundamentals of boxing is that punching power comes from the feet. To generate a knock-out punch, you need to throw power punches with the proper technique. That is the hard part, which must be practiced in the gym until it becomes second nature. After that, you just need to hit the right target: the chin, jawbone or the thin part of the skull along the temples.

Instructions

  1. Straight Right

    • 1

      Adopt your boxing stance. If you are a beginner, set your feet shoulder-width apart with your left foot leading (right foot for left-handers). Raise your fists so they are guarding your face, with your left hand leading again.

    • 2

      Practice pivoting off the ball of your right foot. A good way to imagine this movement is if you were stubbing out a cigarette or grinding up a cockroach.

    • 3

      Aim for an imaginary target about one inch inside the surface of the real target. A good target for the straight right is the chin.

    • 4

      Throw the straight right by using the pivot movement from Step 2 to propel your body forward. It should be in motion a split second before the punch even starts from your shoulder. Throw your right arm straight out at the target, and then bring it straight back to your guard position.

    Left Hook

    • 5

      Practice turning your upper body using your hips alone. A good place to do this is on a stool, as it immobilizes your feet and legs without getting in the way of your back and shoulders.

    • 6

      Practice a pivot motion similar to that of the straight right, but this time practice it on the ball of your left foot. Then combine the pivot with the hip turn from Step 1.

    • 7

      Treat your arm as if it were a lever to throw a left hook. The "throw" of the punch is just in putting the arm in the right position. All the power is coming from the foot pivot and hip turn as you put your entire body in motion behind the arm from left to right. Good targets for the hook are the jawbone and the temple.