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Punch lesson 6 of 6 Lead hand

Body shot

A body shot is any punch to the torso. The classic is the lead hook to the body: Tori lowers its level with its legs and hooks into the side of Uke’s ribs, right where a high guard leaves a gap.

Slow it down How it works

For entertainment only. A robot demo that explains how the punch works. It isn’t training or advice, so don’t try it on anyone. Disclaimer

Drawing: a sensei robot lands a body shot on a sparring robot, and microchips fly from the impact.
Fist speed
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Impact, est.
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Now demonstrating

Body shot

Slow motion

Frame by frame

Camera
Auto-pause after

    Keyboard, with the 3D view focused: Space pause and play, , and . step one frame back or forward, arrow keys turn the camera.

    Robot demo for entertainment only. Please don't try it on people, pets or yourself.

    At a glance

    What the body shot is

    A punch to the body: here, the lead hook to the ribs. Tori stands orthodox, with its left foot and left hand in front. A left-handed (southpaw) fighter mirrors everything on this page.

    Hand
    Lead hand here (Tori’s left)
    Target
    Side of the lower ribs; on a person that’s the liver, on the right side of the body
    Range
    Close
    Path
    A low, level arc
    Level change
    The knees bend; the hand doesn’t just drop
    Power from
    The legs and the hips turning
    Fist at impact
    Palm facing the puncher (some prefer thumb up)
    Pad call
    “3 to the body”

    Any punch can go to the body: a jab, a cross or an uppercut. This lesson shows the lead hook, because a hook to the body is the one that finds the gap under a high guard.

    Step by step

    What Tori does, frame by frame

    These are the same steps as the buttons under the 3D view. Freeze Tori on any of them, then turn the camera to look from every side.

    1. Guard. Hands up. Uke’s guard is high, covering its head.

    2. Drop. Tori bends its knees and leans slightly to its lead side, lowering its whole body until its shoulders are level with the target. The lead hand comes down with the body, not on its own.

    3. Swing. The lead heel pivots, the hips turn and the bent arm travels round with the body, just like a hook to the head.

    4. Land. The fist lands on the side of Uke’s ribs, under its raised elbow, palm facing Tori. Tori’s rear hand is still at its own chin.

    5. Return. The fist returns to the guard as Tori turns back.

    6. Reset. Tori straightens its knees and is back in its stance.

    Diagram seen from the side: the path of Tori’s fist in the body shot, from Tori on the left to Uke on the right. TORI UKE lead fist:low arc to the ribs level drops
    Seen from the side: the whole body lowers first, so the shoulder is level with the ribs, then the fist arcs in at that height. The head stays up and guarded.

    Watch it like a coach

    • Camera Side at ¼×: the knees bend first, then the fist travels.
    • Camera Top: the low arc, round the side of Uke’s raised elbow.
    • Step frame by frame through Drop: Tori’s head stays up while its level drops.

    Where the power comes from

    From the floor to the fist

    A punch isn’t thrown by the arm alone. Each link passes the movement on to the next, from the feet up to the fist.

    1. Legs

      Lower the level, then push from the floor.

    2. Hips

      Turn exactly as for the hook to the head.

    3. Shoulders

      Stay above the knees; the back doesn’t bend forward at the waist.

    4. Arm

      Bent and locked in shape; the body turns it.

    Checkpoints

    What to look for in the demo

    Freeze Tori on Land and check each of these.

    • Bend the knees Don’t fold over at the waist.
    • Head up and guarded Eyes stay on the opponent, not on the target.
    • Rear hand at the chin The natural counter to a body shot is a hook to the head.
    • Short and tight The same arm shape as a hook to the head.
    • Come back up Straight back to the stance after the punch.

    Common mistakes

    How the body shot goes wrong

    Robots make these mistakes too, until someone updates their firmware.

    Reaching down with the arm

    The head drops forward and is open for a counter.

    What Tori does instead: Change level with the legs.

    Dropping the other hand

    The chin is left open while the body shot lands.

    What Tori does instead: Rear hand at the chin.

    Looking at the floor

    The opponent disappears from view.

    What Tori does instead: Eyes on the opponent.

    Staying low

    Crouched is slow to move and easy to hit.

    What Tori does instead: Come straight back up, or move away.

    The fist

    What a proper fist looks like

    Tori’s hands have real robot fingers. Watch them in the Close-up camera: the grip is loose in the guard and clenches at the moment of impact.

    A closed fist seen from the front: four curled fingers, the thumb folded across the index and middle fingers, and the first two knuckles marked as the striking surface. first two knuckles thumb outside, across the fingers

    Four things Tori’s hand gets right

    1. Fingers curled tight into the palm. No gaps between them.
    2. Thumb outside, folded across the middle of the index and middle fingers. Never tucked inside the fingers.
    3. Wrist straight, so the back of the hand lines up with the forearm.
    4. First two knuckles lead: the index and middle knuckles are the ones that land.

    In a fight (between robots)

    How it’s used, and how it’s stopped

    Punches are called by number on the pads in many gyms: 1 jab, 2 cross, 3 lead hook, and the uppercuts 5 and 6.

    Combinations

    • Body-head

      A body shot brings the guard down, then a hook to the head.

    • Head-body

      A jab to the head brings the guard up, then the body shot.

    • 3-3

      The double lead hook: body, then head.

    • 1-2 body

      Jab and cross to the body, with the knees bent.

    How Uke could stop it

    • Elbow

      Elbows down and in: the punch lands on the forearm.

    • Turn

      Turn the side away from the punch.

    • Step back

      Out of range.

    • Tuck

      Pull the lead elbow in over the side.

    A robot demo, not a class

    This page explains how the body shot works so the animation makes sense. It isn’t a martial arts course, and it isn’t self-defense, fitness, medical or safety advice. Tori’s version is simplified and exaggerated for the camera. Don’t hit anyone. If you want to learn to box for real, learn in person from a qualified coach and check with a doctor first.

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