When I ask people "why do you punch like that?", the usual answer is something like "that is how my coach or instructor told me, and it is how we do it in our art". Nobody gives a valid reason for why they punch like that. Nobody says they have tested different methods, explored or experimented. In this video lesson I talk about why that matters.

It is for boxers, karateka and martial artists of any style who want to understand their punch rather than just copy it.

"Because I Was Told To" Is Not a Reason

There is nothing wrong with learning from a coach. That is how everyone starts. But at some point you have to ask why. Why that hand position? Why that angle? Why that fist? If the only answer is tradition, you do not actually know whether it is the best way for you.

The blunt truth is that the vast majority of people punch incorrectly and are taught incorrectly. Not because they are stupid, but because nobody ever asked them to question it.

What a Good Punch Needs

Whatever style you do, a good punch has to do a few things:

  • Deliver power from the whole body, not just the arm
  • Keep the hand, wrist and forearm aligned so the structure does not collapse
  • Leave you defended before, during and after the strike
  • Hit the target at the right angle

If your punch does not do those things, it needs looking at, no matter who taught it to you.

How to Test Your Punch

Do not just take my word for it either. Test it. Try your normal punch on the heavy bag, then try changing one thing at a time: the hand position, the angle, the way the body moves behind it. Notice what feels stronger, what feels more stable on the wrist, and what lets you recover your guard faster.

Film yourself. Ask a training partner to hold pads and tell you which version they felt most. Over time you build a punch you understand and can explain, not one you just inherited.

For Instructors

If you teach, be ready to answer "why?" for every technique you show. If you cannot, find out.

Take It Further

If you want to rebuild your punching from the ground up, the Learn To Box Online Course is the place to start. For more striking power, look at Power Black.