Stretch Yourself

Common Errors in Punches: Missed Opportunities at Close Distance

by Thomas Kurz, author of Stretching Scientifically, Secrets of Stretching, Science of Sports Training, and co-author of Basic Instincts of Self-Defense.

This is the fifty-ninth installment of my column on training.

To read the previous installment click here.

At a close distance, poor punching skills make fighters miss opportunities for scoring
points, for putting their opponents off-balance and thus setting up a few good kicks, or for
knocking some wind out of them. All those taekwondo players who don't punch when up
close are laughable. And so is their explanation that punches don't score points
because they can't get the “trembling shock” on someone wearing a chest protector.
Believe me, if you punch correctly, from up close, the chest protector won't really
nullify a good uppercut to the floating ribs or to the solar plexus. An opponent who
gets a good shot to the stomach or is knocked down will lose confidence and will be
easier to score on with kicks.


The video above shows clinch-distance punches: Ninomiya-tsuki (sliding punch),
uraken-shita-tsuki (uppercut), and seiken-tsuki (normal-fist thrust). These three body
punches work well at a very close distance.

1. Ninomiya-tsuki is a sliding punch that bruises the chest muscles or sternum as it
pushes down toward the solar plexus or lower--toward the top of the pubic bone;

2. uraken-shita-tsuki is a low uppercut, to the abdomen or to the floating ribs; and

3. seiken-tsuki is the basic normal-fist punch that works at a range of distances--from
less than a foot-length to an arm-length--depending on the height of the target (the
lower the target, the shorter the distance).

A candle in this video is a testing tool. It shows whether the form of each punch is
correct enough to generate the velocity needed for a meaningful impact--from a short
distance. (People who have not experienced these punches might doubt their power, so
here is the proof.)

The point of this demo is that these punches, especially the uraken-tsuki and
seiken-tsuki, undo (often KO or KD) the opponent, with very little effort. That
requires correct form plus good timing.

The form is verified by extinguishing the candle. If movements from the toes to the
fist are not coordinated well, their velocities do not add up to push the air in front
of the fist fast enough to put out the candle (i.e., the punch doesn't pack enough
power to fold an opponent).

The timing ought to be such that the punch hits the opponent as he or she breathes in.
This is taught through an easy sparring drill. But first the form must be correct.

In the video I don't explain in detail how to do these punches. As I said on the
video, it is enough to know the basic normal-fist punch (seiken-tsuki) to understand
the technique of all the other punches.

Students of competent m.a. instructors (no matter the origin of the martial art) do
standard punches with good form and so can put out the candle most of the time. I
videotaped my short practice session (or “don't-get-too-rusty session”) to show how
the same test of good form may be used for these other, less practiced punches.

This column is based on an exchange of posts on Stadion's forum, between me and Mr.
Greg White. You can read our posts at http://stadion.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=22.

If you have any questions on training you can post them at Stadion's Sports and Martial Arts Training Discussion Forum at http://www.stadion.com/phpBB3.

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