…

"In the "normal" punching position, the outside left hook is very useful as a lead that shoots behind the guarding right hand. And it is useful as a counter that "beats to the punch" a straight right started by your opponent. However, it is so difficult to get proper power into an outside left hook (without telegraphing) that the "corkscrew" is used. The late Kid McCoy, foxy old-time middleweight, made famous the corkscrew left hook.

"Try the corkscrew on the bag. Stand in normal position. Do the following movements slowly:

-Start your shoulder whirl as if you were to shoot a medium-range left jab. No preparatory movement.

-Instead of jabbing, however, SNAP YOUR LEFT FOREARM AND FIST DOWN AND YOUR LEFT ELBOW UP.

-Your left fist snaps down with a screwing motion that causes your striking knuckles to land properly on the target.

-When your fist explodes against the target, your forearm is almost parallel to the floor (illustration is shown in book).

"When you first try the corkscrew, the combination of movements will seem silly and futile. Ti will seem like a fizzle. With a little practice, however, you'll master it.

"Let me help you at this point by admitting that the corkscrew usually is a medium-range punch, and that it's usually delivered while you are circling to your opponent's right. For that reason, it's nearly impossible to keep the corkscrew as pure - as tight - as the hooks you were throwing from the ideal position. Nevertheless, you can make the corkscrew...."

"...explosive enough to stun an opponent, or at least to set him up for another punch. Moreover, if you have a potent left corkscrew that flashes in without warning, your opponent will be very cautious about menacing you with his right fist. Remember that your left hand, in normal position, is always closer to your opponent's head than his right hand is to your head. As he attempts to start a straight right, you can beat him to the punch with your countering corkscrew. Moreover, if he permits his guarding right hand to creep too far forward as he blocks or parries your left jabs, your corkscrew can snap down behind that guarding right and nail his jaw.

"Can the left corkscrew be used for body punches?

"Yes, it can be used effectively for landing left hooks to the right kidney or to the liver. It is best used, of course after a feint to the head lifts your opponent's guarding right hand high. You can use the corkscrew then as a lead. You can counter with a left corkscrew to the body, as you slip under a straight right. I'll explain "slipping" later. Let me caution you that it's dangerous to lead with a left corkscrew to the body, for your left side is open to right counters, and your head is in position to be nailed by a countering left hook.

"Can the corkscrew be used with the right hand?

"A right corkscrew to the head can be used properly only in one instance - as a counter-punch AFTER YOU HAVE BLOCKED AN OPPONENT'S LEFT HOOK WITH YOUR RIGHT FOREARM. At the instant the block is achieved, your right fist flashes down in a corkscrew hook to your opponent's left jawbone. (illustration shown in book). You can use a right corkscrew to the body as you slip under a left jab.

"Thus far we have considered hooks thrown only when the feet are motionless - both shovel hooks and outside hooks; for hooks are purer and more explosive when delivered without a step. However, about 1/3 of all hooking openings can be reached only by stepping in, to bring the target within hooking range."

"Always try to nail a long-range target (either body or head) with stepping straight punches. However, if your opponent is blocking, evading, or countering those straight blows, you can resort to long-range hooking attempts. YOU CAN STEP IN WITH ANY TYPE OF HOOK, IF NECCESSARY.

"You'll step in most with the left corkscrew. But when you step with the corkscrew, you do not move in with a straight-forward falling step. Instead, you move in with a "pivot step." You:

-step forward and slightly to your own left, pointing the toe sharply in.

-Your body pivots on the ball of your left foot as you left arm and fist snap down to the target.

-At the instant of the fist-landing, your right foot generally is in the air; but it settles immediately behind you (illustration shown in the book).

"If your opponents is using hooks that are "open" or "semi-swings", you can step inside his left hook and land your own right shovel hook to his chin or to his body. In reverse, you can step inside his right hook with your own left shovel to chin or body.

"Usually when you slip a straight punch you can step beneath it with a corkscrew to the body. You can step in with hooks whenever you feel that the openings require it; but don't let your stepping cause you to open your hooks so they become swings or semi-swings. And once you do step in with a hook - regardless of its effect upon your opponent - be prepared to let that hook be first in a barrage of hooks, or the fist in a combination series of hooks. In the barrage you merely blaze away to the body and head, trying to land as many stunning hooks in the shortest time possible. The barrage may be shifted at any time from body to head, if it has brought your opponent's guard down; or, from head to body, if your opponent's guard has gone up."

"Quite different is the combination series. The series has been practiced many times in advance. It may include from three to six punches. Each punch has its particular target, and you try to make each punch find that target as you deliver them with rapid-fire speed. However, the chief aim of the series is that combination of hooks, shooting for various targets, will so confuse your opponent that his target for the final punch will be wide open.

"A series of five, for example, might be designed to open an opponent's chin for a crushing right outside hook to the chin. Such a series could be thrown like this:

1) as you slip under his left jab, you smash him in the solar plexus with a right corkscrew, followed immediately by this outside hooks:

- a left to the chin

- a right to the chin

- a left to the kidney

- a terrific right to the jaw

…

Jason

-----Original Message-----
From: classicpugilism@yahoogroups.com [mailto:classicpugilism@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Chuck Wyatt
Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2005 1:00 PM
To: classicpugilism@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [classicpugilism] Re: Solar Plexus Punch

"Dempsey devotes a small section of his book to Kid McCoys
corkscrew."

Hi Ken,
Could you give us an overview of  what  Dempsey had to say about the
Corkscrew punch?
Not word for word, cliff noted would be great.
Chuck

--- In classicpugilism@yahoogroups.com, Ken Pfrenger
<kenpfrenger@g...> wrote:
> Solar Plexus punch.....possibly the most devastating body shot.
>
> As for the real McCoy and Kid McCoy.....Kid McCoy fought around the
> turn of the century mostly in the 1890's IIRC. If there are earlier
> references even if they are about the real McKay then the idea that
> the term is referenced to the boxer is most likely a folk
etymology.
>
> Dempsey devotes a small section of his book to Kid McCoys
corkscrew.
>
> Ken