Tae Kwon Do >> Basic Forms >> Strikes & Punches
The key to performing effective punches and strikes is to engage the shoulders, while keeping them relaxed. When punching, rather than thinking "push the punching hand forward," which often causes an all-arm movement without engaging the shoulder, it helps to think about "pulling the other hand back" toward the waist. This automatically engages the shoulder for the punching hand. The additional upper-body twist, adds additional distance to the motion, concentrated in its direction, thus increasing the force of the punch:
Maybe, I need to formulate using Hooke's law and some notions of the force induced by torque. All the elements seem to be there. It can be so confusing, sometimes. You get the idea, though:
- You need to accelerate through the punch.
- Increase the distance of travel by using your shoulders.
- Ensure the direction of effort for the punch is concentrated in line with the target.
- Twist the fist in time with the "snap" of impact.
The movement gets its power from the shoulders, while the hips remain facing forward (upper body separation). The punching hand starts at and just behind the waist at belt level, hand in a fist, palm up. At the "end" of the punch, the fist "twists" palm-down, adding torque and additional power to the move.
The movement gets its power the same way low punch does: from the shoulders, while the hips remain facing forward (upper body separation). The punching hand starts at and just behind the waist at belt level, hand in a fist, palm up. At the "end" of the punch, the fist "twists" palm-down, adding torque and additional power to the move.
The front fist prepares palm down, over the opposite shoulder. The elbow should remain down so that the shoulder stays relaxed. The back fist prepares palm down, at and just behind the waist. When striking the front fist comes straight out and down from the elbow, at the center of the body. The back hand comes up about a fist's length in front of the elbow, in line with the front arm. The back hand twists, fist up, with both fists pushing forward with the strike.
Arms prepare similar to that of a down block: striking hand formed into a knife-hand, crossed under the other hand, up over the shoulders, close to the neck, palms facing the body, shoulders relaxed.
 Wikipedia contributors, "Torque," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, (accessed April 23, 2013). |
When performing in basic form, it is executed from a back stance. Since the motion is forward, to get power, it is critical that it be executed with sufficient twist of the shoulders in line with the target. The arm remains bent throughout the movement, until the very end of the strike, when the arm extends and the hand rotates. To see the efficacy of this, note the brief discussion of force and torque in the introduction and consider the effect of adding a lever. |
When performing the basic form for reverse punch, the student executes a knife-hand strike when turning prior to executing the first reverse punch.
When performing in basic form, it is executed from a back stance. The angle of motion of the upper body is in the opposite direction of the lower body. To get power from this punch, it is critical to separate the movement of the shoulders from the movement in the hips.
From front stance, the movement gets its power the same way low punch does: from the shoulders, while the hips remain facing forward (upper body separation). The punching hand starts at and just behind the waist at belt level, hand in a fist, palm up. At the "end" of the punch, the fist "twists" palm-down, adding torque and additional power to the move.
updated 23 April 2013
Tae Kwon Do >> Basic Forms >> Strikes & Punches
