Executing a Karate Punch Crofton MD

Karate punches are famous throughout the world for their unusual power. This is not by accident. Through centuries of study, practice and application, karateka (karate practitioners) learned how to incorporate as much of their body mass as possible into their punch. They understood that force, or energy, is a product of mass and acceleration. Maximizing both of these factors increases the amount of force delivered by a punch.

The biggest element in generating force in a punch is the proper use of the hips. The hips are the connection with the largest and strongest muscles, which are contained in the lower part of your body. Without proper use of your hips, you are punching with less then half your available body mass. It is a fairly easy concept to understand but requires a great deal of practice to make effective. The karate punch is executed as follows:

1. The punch begins with your hand in a chamber position. Palm up and tucked along your hip or under your shoulder, depending on your style. The palm up position helps maintain contact between your latissimus dorsi, or back muscle, and your shoulder. The elbow extends straight back and is pointed at the ground. Think of the chamber position as a rubber band, the tighter you pull it, the more velocity is created when you let it go.
2. To initiate the punch, you use your legs to push your hip forward on the same side of the punching hand. The hip will be connected to your shoulder through your latissimus dorsi driving your shoulder forward. The shoulder in turn drives the elbow forward, which pushes the fist. Do not lean forward. Your upper body should remain upright throughout the strike. You are merely rotating around a central vertical axis running through the middle of your body. ...

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Author: Bart Scovill