types of punches

3 Types of Punches in All Combat & Martial Arts

There are 3 types of punches that are used by all combat systems/sports and martial arts. They are:

  1. Straight punches (Jab & Cross, Rear Straight)
  2. Hooks (Rear, Lead Hook, Body Hooks)
  3. Uppercuts (Rear & Lead)

Whether muay thai, boxing, karate, savate, Sanda or MMA each use these 3 types of punches in combat and fighting.

Each punch itself can be delivered with differences that make them unique to their style.

Outside of the three main types of punches discussed in this post we also look at commonly used outliers that do not fit well under the three main types of punches.

These unique differences will be discussed below as we cover the three different types of punches across various styles of combat.

Muay Thai Punches vs Boxing Punches

Most people’s knowledge of types of punches comes from Western boxing.

It is true that boxing is a complete style involving punches movement and defense among many other aspects.

Muay thai is also a complete style and while it takes a lot of things from boxing such as the ring, boxing rounds, gloves, judges as well as techniques; muay thai as a competitive styles beginning in the 1920-30s has its own distinct style.

This includes the muay thai style of punches.

The main difference between muay thai and boxing punches is probably the length of muay thai punches. Especialy for stright punches, in muay thai these are thrown aiming long and a mid-long range.

The mid-close range is better suited for elbows, knees and also short more Western boxing type punches.

Boxing punches on the other hand tend to be more compact, direct and involve more hip, foot and shoulder movement.

1. Straight Punches

i)Jab

The Jab is the lead straight punch. If you are Southpaw (left dominant) it is your right hand.

The opposite applies for Orthodox (right dominant). The Jab is thrown with the left hand which is the lead side.

It is your closest punch with the most reach to your opoonent.

The Jab is very useful for finding range to set up other strikes.

Muay Thai Jab

There are different types of jabs in muay thai specifically that all are basically lead straight punches.

  1. Standard jab
  2. Jab to the body
  3. Stepping jab
  4. Defensive jab
  5. Long jab
  6. Shotgun jab
  7. Up jab
  8. Stiff jab (posting)
  9. Axe jab

In muay thai the Jab is often followed by a rear kick to the leg, head or body.

Have a look at former muay thai multi-time champion, Namsaknoi. In this case the Jab is used more to gauge distance together with footwork.

ii)Rear Straight

Also called the ‘cross’, the rear straight punch is mostly delivered as a power punch from your dominant side.


It is essentially a straight punch thrown from the rear (power) side.

The Jab is often used to set up the rear straight punch delivered powerfully.

The rear overhand is not quite as straight as the rear cross. As implied in the name it does travel up and over.

In any style of fighting the rear punch is a potential KO punch.

The advantage of straight punches is you remain protected with your guard up and chin down.

2. Hooks

Hooks are round punches that can be aimed high or low.

In boxing turning on the toe and pivoting the foot of the punching side is essential in the boxing hook.

Muay Thai Hooks

Muay thai hooks emphasize less of a pivot. Often the lead hook is followed by a rear roundhouse and over pivoting on the lead foot can make your rear kick slow.

You can see the distinct muay thai lead hook below with little pivoting on the lead foot. Though the lead foot does step forward to deliver with power.

i)Head Hooks

Whether from the lead or rear, head hooks are aimed high on the opponent.

The distinct hooking action of the punching arm gives this punch it name.

The palm can be facing either down or facing toward you.

The head hook facing toward you can incolve more a slapping/ swating motion.

types of punches

ii)Body Hooks

Under the overall hook types of punch, body hooks have a completely different target but can also get the KO.

Devastating body hooks and liver shots have dropped many tough fighters.

Delivered accurately and powerfully body hooks can wear down an opponent and also end the fight.

Dutch Style Head-Body Combos

Dutch style kickboxing is influenced by muay thai, karate, kickboxing and Western boxing.

Heavy low kicks combined with powerful boxing combinations are a feature of Dutch style.

High-Low or Head-Body combos are heavily used in Dutch style to keep the opponent off balance and vulnerable.

A famour exponent of the dutch style in muay thai is Ramon Dekkers.

3. Uppercuts

Delivered in an upward motion using momentum generated through hip shoulder and arm movement, the uppercut is another potentially fight ending power punch.

The uppercut can be delivered from either the lead or rear side.

The technique involves loading slightly to the punching arm side and delivering the uppercut with the hip and shoulder as well as the feet.

The uppercut similar to the body shot is best delivered in closer range.

i)Lead Uppercut

The lead uppercut will be more frequently used than the rear as it is more accessible for most fighters and easier to land on an opponent.

The lead uppercut has a similar motion to the lead hook.

Loading slightly on the lead side and rotating the hips and shoulder and delivering the uppercut or lead hook begins with this loading to the lead side in order to generate the punch.

The lead uppercut may feel a bit weird when throwing it as a single punch. Leading with a uppercut without a set up is definitely easier to see and defend.

This is why it is recommended to throw the uppercut as part of a combination.

ii) Rear Uppercut

The rear uppercut is more powerful than the lead, coming from your power side.

Again, uppercuts are not ‘arm dominant’ punches. The feet, hips and shoulders work together in a rotating motion to generate momentum for the rear uppercut.

Unique Types of Punches – Outliers

Outside of the three types of punches focussed on in this post are some unique punches that do not fit nicely into the three types of punches dicussed here or i) Straights ii) Hooks and iii) Uppercuts.

These outlier punches are used fairly often in fighting through they are not as common.

Looping Overhand Rear Punch

A devastating and powerful punch if landed.

Difficult to see by the opponent. The looping overhand can be a fight ending punch.

It does not fit strictly under the ‘straight punch’ or hook punch category.

Generally the looping overhand is more a longer distance punch. Throwing this punch does require ‘sitting down’ on the punch and sinking your weight down and forward to generate power.

Shovel Hook

A cross between an uppercut and a hook, the shovel hook is another fairly well used punch that does not fit directly under a hook or an uppercut.

It is usually landed on your opponents body and is a heavy punch that can punish your opponent and keep them guessing and off balance.

The shovel hook is more ‘long range’ than body hooks.

Below are 4 excellent set ups for the shovel hook.

Bolo Punch

While it is still recognizable as an uppercut punch, the Bolo punch is very unique and distinct as well as unconventional.

The bolo punch comes from matial arts and is not widely used in boxing.

According to wikipedia: bolo is the Filipino word for machete. The bolo punch involves a whipping action similar to the slinging of the machete for clearing vegetation.