Right Cross Hook Kick Kickboxing

Muscles worked

Setup

1. Assume a left-lead fighting stance with your left foot forward, right foot back, and hands up guarding your chin.
2. Distribute your weight evenly on the balls of your feet with a slight bend in the knees.
3. Align your torso at a 45-degree angle to your target, keeping your elbows tucked in.

How to do it

1. Rotate your hips and back foot inward while extending your right arm for a cross, exhaling sharply on the strike.
2. Quickly retract the right hand to your face while shifting your weight onto the rear leg.
3. Pivot your rear foot 90-180 degrees away from the target as you swing your left leg in a horizontal arc, hooking the heel through the target.
4. Inhale as you snap the leg back and return to your original fighting stance with full balance.

Form checklist

• Keep the non-striking hand glued to your cheek to maintain your guard.
• Ensure the standing foot pivots fully during the kick to protect the knee joint.
• Maintain a tall spine and tight core to facilitate efficient power transfer during rotation.
• Point the toes of the kicking foot away to strike with the heel or lower shin.

Pro tips

• Think of the cross as a setup to load your obliques, creating a 'rubber band' effect for the subsequent hook kick.
• Focus on 'turning the hip over' during the kick to engage the glutes and increase the horizontal cutting force.

Make it harder

• Perform the combination on a heavy bag to add impact resistance and test your stability.
• Increase the tempo by eliminating the pause between the punch retraction and the kick chamber.

Frequently asked

What muscles does the right cross hook kick kickboxing work?

The right cross hook kick kickboxing primarily targets the abs, deltoids, glutes, hamstrings, obliques, pectorals, and quadriceps, and also works the adductors, erector spinae, and hip flexors as secondary muscles.

What equipment do you need for the right cross hook kick kickboxing?

The right cross hook kick kickboxing requires no equipment — just your body weight.

Is the right cross hook kick kickboxing good for beginners?

The right cross hook kick kickboxing is rated advanced. Build a base with simpler variations first, then progress to it with light load and strict form.

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