Analyzing the Differences between the Two Kinds of Punches

by Al Case

[I:http://coringa.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/AlCase27.jpg]When learning the martial arts, especially if you want to be effective, you need to learn the gains and limitations of the two kinds of punches. Knowing these punches will proscribe and dictate your combat strategy. Knowing these punches will effect your training and enlighten you as as a Martial Artist.

The first punch is a thrusting punch. To do a thrusting punch imagine a train running into something and not stopping. Simply, it hits, and there is no back off, and the punch goes through.

Now, the problem with the thrusting punch is...what happens to all the cars behind the locomotive? They all stack up, collide and become a mess. Thus, the unstoppable power of a thrusting punch does risk becoming a mess.

Once delivered, the thrusting punch enters the space of the opponent and can become immersed. The body behind the punch, unless the whole body has moved forward, risks becoming unbalanced. Thrust, and you face the possibility of becoming overcommitted.

A snapping punch is the second punch. Imagine a jackhammer striking, but only impacting once. It hits, does its damage, and backs off.

Now, the problem with the snapping punch is that there has not been enough weight behind the punch. Weight is not fully committed to the punch because the body hasn't move into the action. You have your balance, but the punch didn't strike as hard as you might have wished?

Now, a thrusting punch is a strategy involving moving your body, using your entire weight, committing it to the action, and if you miss you're going to be out of place and unbalanced, and you're going to then have lots of problems. The snapping punch is a strategy where you make the strike, but don't always create enough hurt. The snapping punch gives less weight, but 95% of the weight will be left in the body of the opponent, a thrust punch commits weight, but takes fifty per cent of the shock back up the arm.

So we have to continuously assess which is better, the thrusting punch, or the snapping punch. Each punch has bad points and good, and you're going to have to gauge balance versus stability, commitment versus noncommitment, weight versus speed, weight left in the body versus weight backed up the arm, potential follow ups, positioning, and so on and so on. When you're done exploring all these possibilities, however, you're going to have the right punch for the right situation.

About the Author:

Al Case has practiced martial arts for over 40 years. You can get a doctoral dissertation on How to Punch at Monster Martial Arts.

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