Remote Online Martial Arts Teacher Training: "Discovering" the Hook

22.11.2025

Remote teacher training for martial artists

Teaching boxing remotely presents unique challenges, especially when introducing complex techniques like the hook. In the second part of my remote online teaching consultation and teacher training with Hinnerup Karate in Denmark, we focused on developing their Boxing programme. This session used a series of games and drills designed to help instructors and students "discover" the hook naturally. The approach combined live-driven learning with principles from ecological dynamics and the constraints-led method, aiming to build a solid foundation for their kickboxing syllabus.

Remote Online Martial Arts Teacher Training

This blog shares practical exercises that martial arts teachers can use in remote training environments to improve their students’ boxing skills, emphasizing intuitive use of angles before introducing the hook.

Building Intuition with Angles

Before teaching the hook, it was essential to confirm that students understood and could apply angles effectively. Angles are critical in boxing for both offense and defense, allowing fighters to create openings and avoid attacks.

We began with a simple but effective exercise:

• One boxer’s goal was to touch the area just above the cheek, under the front of the collarbone.

• The other boxer aimed to defend by catching or blocking with jabs.

  
  

This drill encouraged students to think about positioning and timing rather than just throwing punches. It also helped them develop spatial awareness and control over their range.

Expanding the Challenge with Shoulder Tagging

Once the initial exercise was comfortable, we increased the complexity. The tagging boxer now had to tag not only from the front but also behind the opponent’s shoulder, all while avoiding being caught by a jab.

This variation forced students to:

• Use angles more creatively

• Move their bodies to create openings

• Anticipate the opponent’s defense

  
  

By adding this layer, the drill became more dynamic and closer to real fight scenarios. It also encouraged students to think beyond straightforward attacks and develop fluid movement.

Introducing Jab and Overhand Punch Combination

The final game shifted the tagging boxer’s role to landing a jab followed by an overhand punch, while still avoiding jabs from the opponent.

This drill introduced the concept of combination punching and timing, two essential skills for effective boxing. Students learned to:

• Chain punches smoothly

• Use the jab to set up power shots

• Maintain defensive awareness while attacking

  
  

The combination of jab and overhand punch naturally led to the introduction of the hook next up, as students began to understand how to create openings and exploit angles.

Finding the Hook in Live Training

I encouraged drawing the hook out by setting an objective; targets dictate weapons after all. This was done by setting up a series of constraint-led layered rounds. During the rounds not only did the conditions help shape the need to find the hook punch, but also helped set up some simple tactics to land this particular punch. It helped build defence against this punch.

1. Attack versus defence: attacking boxer can use straight punches, but their objective is to place a punch on the side of their opponent's head.

2. Attack versus defence: attacking boxer can only land straight punches to the body, but their objective is still to land a punch to the side of their opponent's head.

3. Jab/cross/hook versus straight punches. Now the fighter trying to land the hook has to contend with their opponent fighting back whereas the opponent looks to time their defence with their attacks and counters.

4. Hooks to the body going toe-to-toe. Here both boxers are permitted only body shots with restricted space. Again, rather than teaching the actual hook the boxers were given the side of the ribs as targets, which dictate the body hook. It is too early to refine these into liver and spleen targets for the shovel hook.

   
   

   Strengthening the Rear Hand Defence.

   
   

   The rear hand and arm are used to block against hooks. If dropping the chin in the last defence against straight shots then the rear hand is probably all that stands between a lead hand hook a knockout (if we assume that both fighters are in the same stance). I used two layered specific sparring rounds to better train this behaviour.

5. The first one had one fighter restricted to jabs, holding a small item, such as a tennis ball or beanbag to the side of their head, whilst their opponent tried to get them to drop the item with whatever techniques they liked setting up for the hook.

6. The second game had the defending fighter now pin an item to their ribs at the same time, helping to defend against hooks to the body as well. Again, the opponent's job was to get the fighter to drop these items, setting them up for hooks.

It's important to mention here that the rear hand needs to dynamic, so this exercise only serves to strengthen the defence and other games should be included to ensure the rear hand does not remain "dead" in that position.

Ducking and Rolling

This drill involved both fighters ducking under hooks and rolling up to deliver their own as their partner times their reaction to do the same. Both sides should be trained. Then I introduced hooks the body to be layered on. The exercise can then turned into a toe-to-toe specific sparring exercise.

Partial Introduction to the Uppercut

We went back to the jabbing machine, introduced in the previous lesson. However, this time one fighter uses uppercuts. It will be a concept expanded upon in the next lesson, using the the pivot step and the shifting step.

Applying These Drills in Martial Arts Remote Teacher Training

These exercises are especially useful for martial arts remote teacher training because they:

• Require minimal equipment and space

• Encourage active problem-solving and adaptability

• Can be easily explained and demonstrated via video calls

• Promote engagement through game-like scenarios

  
  

Instructors can adapt these drills to their students’ skill levels and gradually introduce more complex techniques like the hook and kickboxing combinations.

Practical Tips for Remote Teaching of Boxing Techniques

To make the most of these drills in a remote setting, consider the following:

• Use clear, concise instructions and demonstrate each drill slowly before increasing speed.

• Encourage students to record their practice and share videos for feedback.

• Break down techniques into small, manageable parts to avoid overwhelming learners.

• Use live sessions to observe and correct form, focusing on angles and timing.

• Foster a supportive environment where students feel comfortable experimenting with movement.

  
  

Final Thoughts on Enhancing Boxing Skills Remotely

Teaching boxing remotely requires creativity and a focus on foundational skills. By using games and drills that emphasize angles, timing, and combinations, martial arts teachers can help students discover techniques like the hook naturally. These exercises not only improve boxing skills but also build confidence and adaptability, essential traits for any fighter.

For instructors involved in martial arts remote teacher training, incorporating these drills into your syllabus can strengthen your programme and prepare students for more advanced kickboxing techniques. Keep exploring ways to make remote learning interactive and engaging, and your students will continue to grow their skills effectively.

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