Angular Attack

Angular attacks employ the use of sideways and diagonal footwork in an attempt to find or create open targets which to attack. This method is often used in conjunction with the other methods of attack. 

Cross->Shifting Cross->Pivoting Hook->Rear Round Kick *Carlos Condit Example

Slide Step Into A Long Bob (Crouch)->Cross

Jab with Angle Step->Pivot *Gabriel Varga

BJJ Scout: Dominick Cruz Study Part 1 - Stances, Footwork and Takedowns

BJJ Scout: Dominick Cruz Study Part 2 - Footwork and Counter Strategy Explained (Remastered)

BJJ Scout: Dominick Cruz Study Part 3 - Next Level Footwork & UFN Boston Preview

Oblique Kick

 

Jon Jones oblique kick to Rampage Jackson

The oblique kick is a mid range kick that strikes the opponents lead knee or lower thigh with the flat of your rear foot. It is an odd and deceptive kick which is effective at inhibiting your opponents forward movement. It also has the potential of hyperextending the opponents knee which can cause serious damage.

Oblique kick used a couple times during this fight

Jon Jones using the oblique kick in fights

Carlos Condit uses oblique kick against Dany Hardy

Holly Holm

Tutorial: The Oblique Kick With Jon Jones & Mike Winkeljohn

Tutorial: Carlos Condit

Overhand

The overhand is a curved or arcing punch delivered in a downward motion to the opponents head. 

Offensively it is often used to go over an opponents guard. Defensively, it can be usd as an intercepting counter punch, traveling around and over your opponents punch. The punch can be thrown with the lead hand but is more often used as a rear hand punch. 

1. Lead Overhand

2. Rear Overhand *Gabriel Varga Tutorial

Hang Overhand

1) Lead Hand *example

2) Rear Hand *example *Cruz example

Default Positions/Responses

Default positions refer to defensive responses which provide a high degree of momentary protection to a variety of common attacks. 

Many self-defense situations do not allow you the distance or reaction time necessary to use defensive tools geared to specific attacks. At best you are able to detect your opponent coming at you with some sort of aggressive motion. Why is this? Because verbal exchanges with unknown contacts sometimes happen at medium range where there is very little time to analyze and react to an attack (not to mention the psychological distractions these ditags may use). In these situations, a good default response is likely to provide enough protection against the initial assault and place you in a good position to begin a counter attack. 

Common default positions:

Spear (Tony Blauer)

Helmet (Burton Richardson

Modified Helmet (Craig Douglas, Red Zone)

Stickgrappler: Self-Defense: SouthNarc (aka Craig Douglas) - Some thoughts on the "Default Position"

Stickgrappler: Self-Defense: Lee Aldridge - Default Positions, Pre-Emptive Striking, and Mass Confusion

Functional Self Defense: Default Response Clarification

Stark Reality: The "Peek-A-Boo" Tactic in Modern Martial Arts

Hook

Chris Curtis catches Andre Fialho with a right hook

The horizontal curved punch is referred to as the hook.

Basic Mechanics

When throwing the hook, the punching arm should be bent. For a close range hook, the arm forms approximately a 90 degree angle. The angle increases when delivering longer hooks. The bend of the arm does not extend at the end of the punch - fully extending the arm is a common beginner mistake. The forearm of the punching arm should stay roughly parallel to the ground. 

Rotate to the right with the left hook, slightly pivoting off the left foot. As you throw the punch, transfer about 10-20% of your weight from the left foot to the right foot. 

Rotate to the left with the right hook, pivoting on the right foot. Transfer about 10-20% of your weight from the right foot to the left foot. 

Often the lead hook is loaded before it is executed by first throwing a rear hand strike or by simply first using a slipping/bobbing like motion, but this isn't always the case. 

Fist Position

Two fist positions are generally utilized: vertical fist and horizontal fist. Regardless of which you use, you want to try and strike with the first two knuckles of the fist. 

Head Positions

The head positions are generally going to be:

I. Lead Hook

1) Middle 

2) Rear Side 

II. Rear 

1) Middle

2) Lead Side

You can also probably go lead side with the lead hook but I would think it would be used even less than the jab lead side head shift. 

Hooks can also be thrown from lowered versions of the above positions. 

Hook Variations

Hook to the Body

There are various ways body hooks are thrown. Some say that you have to squat down so that you do not leave your head exposed when throwing the punch. Others say that it is a more successful punch when thrown from an upright position and worth the risk. 

Boxing How To Guide - Left Hook to the Body: 

How To Throw Hooks To The Body: Pullmans Gym

*Secret* Tips For Throwing A Perfect Hook To The Body: Tony Jeffries

Why Your Body Hook Might Not Be Awesome....Yet

Changing Levels #6 - Body Hooks & Shovel Punches: Bazooka Joe Vatellini

Curved Step Lead Hook

Used to get you offline at the end of the punch.

*example

Lead Hook with Rear Foot Side Step

*example

Check Hook

The check hook is a hook combined with some sort of evasive footwork used to escape an opponents aggressively moving forward or evade their counter punch. These are generally counter punch techniques so I will likely remove from this section.

1) Front Foot Pivot Check Hook - *example

2) Front Foot Side Step Check Hook *example *example

3) Snap Back & Check Hook

Gazelle/Leaping Hook Punch

A hook punch which uses the gazelle step to cover the distance between you and your opponent. 

How to Throw a Gazelle Knockout Punch

Rocky Marciano's Gazelle Punch Explained - Technique Breakdown