Improving Punching Power, Part 3

Taken From Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting E-book


The Body Is What Punches, Not Just The Arm



When you hit someone, it should feel like a piano fell out of a second story window and hit him on the end of your fist. This is in keeping with info provided earlier in this post about shifting the weight, etc. The reason why you're shifting your weight is SO THAT HE FEELS YOUR WEIGHT IN YOUR PUNCH. There's a Thai saying that a person who really knows how to hit moves fluidly but his touch is as heavy as a mountain. Sounds like good boxing to me. If your weight is settled on your feet, then that mass is not going into the punches.




Tight Fist
At the tail end of execution, the last place you can either add or lose power in a punch is in your fist itself. It should stay loose through most of your execution and tighten up just before impact.




The Snap - The Right Time and Place
The power of your punch is right on the end, where it snaps. This is true of ALL punches -- not just your linear punches. The art of punching then becomes the art of coordinating your own body mechanics (which is most of what I've talked about here) with the placement of your target AT PRECISELY THE RIGHT RANGE AT THE RIGHT TIME, where you hit target as your punch is snapping on the end. When you don't get this right, your power is either jammed because the range and timing weren't right, or it falls short or misses for the same reasons.




This, by the way, is one of several ways in which KEY attributes come together to equal success in your hitting. As far as the above paragraph, you get this ability from essentially two areas of training: sparring and fighting. Partner drilling will never in a million years give you this ability.







Secondarily, you can get some aspects of this ability from focus mitt training and the top and bottom bag -- in both cases because they simulate either the chaos or the predictable flow of sparring and fighting, where through timing and range you get your punches to meet up with the target properly.




There's more to this, in general, as far as learning to punch with power is concerned. Much of it, though, is difficult to convey in text. Much easier to show.




One last point for you, is that you have to develop your kinesthetic perception if you really want to be able to hit with power. There is a correct sequence of muscular contractions for every punch, every kick, which happens very quickly in rapid succession. In addition to contractions, there is a correct series of RELEASES (very important) -- i.e. when a certain muscle in the chain has done its job, and now needs to let go before it starts to hinder your function.

______________________________





Ever considered learning how to do proper strength training but unsure about where to start? Are you a veteran of the weight room and looking for some coaching to take your lifting to the next level? Do I have the program for you! Join me at Krav Maga Maryland - Owings Mills for Strength Camp!




This small group training program will begin Tuesday, July 14th and run through Saturday, September 5th, with a rest week during the week of August 3rd. This program is open to the public - you do not need to be a member of Krav Maga Maryland to participate!




CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR STRENGTH CAMP!




Enrollment is LIMITED

Nuggets of Knowledge - Matt 'Wiggy' Wiggins - Chapter 1

The other day I had the pleasure of sitting down and talking to one of the pioneers of strength training for Mixed Martial Arts. Matt 'Wiggy' Wiggins is a strength coach and author from North Carolina.

Wiggy designs workout programs for fighters, athletes, gym owners, soccer moms, police officers, and everybody in between. His specialy is creating workout plans that are low-tech, yet high-effect...simple, yet effective...most of all result-producing.

Introduction

MMA Talk

Sandbag Training

Skills vs S&C Training

Stay Tuned for Chapter 2..........

_______________________________________

Want to improve your chances in the ring, cage or on the mat? Want to ensure you have gas in the tank when you need it?

Don't leave your conditioning to chance with questionable MMA workouts. Turbo charge your conditioning with a blend of old school techniques put together with cutting edge science and battle-tested experience.

Check out my FREE Report, The OFFICIAL Black Market Guide to Strength Training for MMA.

I'm Giving You My Brand New Free Report On How to Train Like a Pro Fighter ... FREE! That's Right ... No Strings Attached.

CLICK HERE to request your copy NOW.

Improving Punching Power, Part 2

Taken From Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting E-book

Muscle Grouping

You WILL need:


Strong lats (pull-ups, seated row maching, shadowboxing, bag work, sparring).

Strong shoulders and traps (upright rows, standing flyes, skipping rope, LOTS of shadowboxing, etc.).

Strong Abs and Lower Back -- for conveying hip torque to the sweep of the shoulders.

Strong Quads and Calves -- Legs and abs should be seen as a pyramid which generates your power and shifting.

Strong Forearms -- for keeping the wrist aligned, and for a dense fist (underrated aspect of power punching). Wrist curls, hand squeezers, fingertip pushups, etc.

Secondarily:

Strong Pectoralis Major -- this can help in your power (projecting and aligning the shoulder of the punching arm) if you already have good form. People who start with large pec's, though, tend to throw shoulder punches (like a bench press). No real power there.

You DON'T need:

Strong Biceps -- these do NOT add to your straight punching power, and only help in holding the angle of the elbow in your hook, and drawing it in on the end (that's the french curve I talked about before). Same for the uppercut. People with huge biceps are usually the easiest ones to slip.

Relax

I always tell my students that "tension" is the opposite of everything good or favorable in your performance. Tension is the opposite of speed. Tension is the opposite of POWER. Tension is the opposite of nontelegraphy. Tension is also the opposite of mobility. Tension is a drain on endurance.

In the case of punching power, which is the subject at hand, it is TENSION IN THE SHOULDERS that most often diminishes not only one's power, but also one's ability to land the punch on an opponent -- because of its effect on the aforementioned aspects of a successful punch (speed, nontelegraphy, mobility, etc.).
__________________________________________

Don't leave your conditioning to chance with questionable MMA workouts. Turbo charge your conditioning with a blend of old school techniques put together with cutting edge science and battle-tested experience. Check out my FREE Report, The OFFICIAL Black Market Guide to Strength Training for MMA.

CLICK HERE to request your copy NOW.
_________________________________________

Ever considered learning how to do proper strength training but unsure about where to start? Are you a veteran of the weight room and looking for some coaching to take your lifting to the next level? Do I have the program for you! Join me at Krav Maga Maryland - Owings Mills for Strength Camp!

This small group training program will begin Tuesday, July 14th and run through Saturday, September 5th, with a rest week during the week of August 3rd. This program is open to the public - you do not need to be a member of Krav Maga Maryland to participate!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR STRENGTH CAMP!

Enrollment is LIMITED and register BEFORE June 19th to take advantage of our EARLY BIRD SPECIAL price. AFTER June 19th the price goes UP.

Register NOW

Nuggets of Knowledge - Interview with Coach Morgan

The other day I had the pleasure of having a conversation with one of the real OLD SCHOOL players in the STRENGTH game. Coach David Morgan David has a Masters Degree in Health and Exercise Physiology. Additionally, he is credentialed with CSCS “D” which is Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, with Distinction and National Strength and Conditioning Assoc. Certified Personal Trainer with Distinction. Dave is also a Level I Kettlebell Instructor with KBC. Coach Morgan is President/Owner of Enhanced Fitness and Performance Inc. and a certified Red Cross Instructor.

Inroduction

Recovery Methods

GPP Before Stength

Fire Fire Fitness

Training Women

__________________________________________

Want to improve your chances in the ring, cage or on the mat? Want to ensure you have gas in the tank when you need it?

Check out my FREE Report, The OFFICIAL Black Market Guide to Strength Training for MMA.

CLICK HERE to request your copy NOW.

Improving Punching Power, Part 1

Taken From Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting E-book


There are a number of ways to increase your punching power. But, the most important way initially is to cultivate good form.
In talking about good form, we'll start with alignment and work from there.


Bone Alignment
With good form, you derive your power from proper bone alignment. From there, any of the other key attributes you develop will just multiply this effect. This is not to blow my own horn, but I've knocked the wind out of people holding the heavy bag for me as I punched it. It came from proper alignment.



Leverage
It starts in your base. Many people neglect this. You need a pivoting, weight-shifting base if you want real follow-through punching power. This pivoting base is what transfers weight down at the feet and legs, which in turn sends the hip, which in turn sends the shoulder. When you throw a cross, for instance, turn your rear heel out (pivot on ball of foot), and shift your weight onto your front foot (toes pointing forward at this time).



We Lose Leverage At Our Joints
One of the most common faults in a person's punching technique (which results in lost power) is that POWER IS LOST IN THE JOINTS. This usually means the shoulder, elbow, or wrist. All bones function as perfect transmitters of force, but where one bone ends and another begins is where we tend to lose it. Misaligned, over-tensed, or under-tensed joints will vent off your power. People who wing their punches, for instance, will tend to lose power at the shoulder and elbow.


People who bend their wrist when they hook, for another example, will tend to lose the power of that punch at the wrist.



Never "Lock Out" Your Punches
Power in a punch also comes from follow-through. You don't lock out your punches. Same goes for kicks (although they look "prettier" when you do them that way). I know a lot of classically trained martial arts teach you to lock out that "reverse punch", but I would differ on that methodology. I spent a lot of years in traditional martial arts, and I've spent a lot of years training around boxers and such. The latter hit much harder. A lot of it has to do with the follow-through allowed by a mobile, pivoting, weight-shifting, bent-knee base.

___________________________________________

Want to improve your chances in the ring, cage or on the mat? Want to ensure you have gas in the tank when you need it?

Don't leave your conditioning to chance with questionable MMA workouts. Turbo charge your conditioning with a blend of old school techniques put together with cutting edge science and battle-tested experience.

Check out my FREE Report, The OFFICIAL Black Market Guide to Strength Training for MMA.

I'm Giving You My Brand New Free Report On How to Train Like a Pro Fighter ... FREE! That's Right ... No Strings Attached. CLICK HERE to request your copy NOW.

_____________________________________________

Ever considered learning how to do proper strength training but unsure about where to start? Are you a veteran of the weight room and looking for some coaching to take your lifting to the next level? Do I have the program for you! Join me at Krav Maga Maryland - Owings Mills for Strength Camp!


This small group training program will begin Tuesday, July 14th and run through Saturday, September 5th, with a rest week during the week of August 3rd. This program is open to the public - you do not need to be a member of Krav Maga Maryland to participate!


CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR STRENGTH CAMP!
Enrollment is LIMITED

Boxing Lessons From Baltimore Fight Club's Boxing Pro

Last weekend I paid a visit with my old training partner and general boxing bad ass Boul at his new gym, Fight Club in Reisterstown, MD. Take a look.....

We worked out a little bit and shot the breeze and he shared with me some very important, little known secretes to being a better fighter so I thought I would share....

More to come, but in the mean time... ever considered learning how to do proper strength training but unsure about where to start? Are you a veteran of the weight room and looking for some coaching to take your lifting to the next level? Do I have the program for you! Join me at Krav Maga Maryland - Owings Mills for Strength Camp!

This small group training program will begin Tuesday, July 14th and run through Saturday, September 5th, with a rest week during the week of August 3rd. This program is open to the public - you do not need to be a member of Krav Maga Maryland to participate!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR STRENGTH CAMP!

Enrollment is LIMITED

The 4-Hour Work Week and Kettlebells

Tim Ferriss has done what most people only dream of doing, raced motorcycles in Europe, skied the Andes Mountains, scuba dived in Panama, became a martial arts champion, danced the tango in Buenos Aires, etc.....

He has spent more than five years learning the secrets of what he calls the "New Rich", a fast-growing subculture who has abandoned the “deferred-life plan” and instead mastered the new currencies—time and mobility—to create luxury lifestyles in the here and now.

The 4-Hour Work Week is a delightful book in the way it presents new ideas and challenges the status quo of living your life the way you've always lived it.