“How can I hit harder?”
This is perhaps one of the most common questions I am asked after a new student begins training. In Jeet Kune Do, the lead weapons (attacks thrown from the front arm/leg), are the primary weapons. Unlike the boxing jab or the kickboxing lead roundhouse kick which are setup attacks, the JKD frontal attacks are power strikes designed to deliver stunning or even knockout force. As simple as these techniques are, cultivation of adequate power can be challenging. First off, let me elaborate on a few important distinctions:
1. Force
2. Velocity
3. Power
In the world of physics , force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration. For our purposes, I will simply force as what causes our fists or feet to move. In order to increase the amount of striking force you can generate you will have to work on increasing your strength, which is accomplished via resistance exercises. There are martial arts specific strength training methods that will really crank up your functional strength, but I will touch on these in Part II of this series.
Velocity is essentially speed and direction, the distance traveled in a specific amount of time in a specific direction. Increasing your perceived speed will generally be related to your level of explosiveness (the rapid acceleration) along with your ability to reduce telegraphic motion. This is important because although speed is simply moving fast, the quickness that is perceived by an observer will actually be influenced by multiple factors including preparation (telegraphing).
Power, on the other hand, is the amount of work done or energy transferred in a specific amount of time. For our purposes, power is what determines the amount of compression our kicks or punches generate on a target. In terms of real world application, compression is the amount of damage caused. A high powered punch will deliver high force at high velocity to compress a target (assuming whatever you are hitting is not more durable than your hand), while a low power punch applies force at lower velocity and will simply push it back. Power therefore, is equal to the force you produce multiplied by the velocity at which yourhand or foot is moving.
Although these distinctions aren’t exactly adhering to actual textbook physics definitions, they describe athletic attributes in applicable terms that can be broken down, observed, trained and improved.
So, my point is that if you want a punch or kick that really packs some sting you’re basically going to have to hit hard AND fast.
This is obviously a very simplified breakdown of some of the important elements that determine a "powerful blow". I'll cover more in future articles.
Next I’ll touch on some specific training techniques that will help you cultivate serious strikes.
Happy training!
–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
http://www.TrueSelfMartialArts.com
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