How do you increase punching power?

Hi applegm

The best way to improve your punching power is lots of practice on a bag, preferrably after being shown the correct way by your instructor.
if you have a training partner to practice with, you can give each other feedback.
Sharon

proper body mechanics ie. hip rotation, shifting of body weight,etc. This ensures you are not "arm" punching.
Consult your teacher for further info., I am sure he could come up with an exercise,form for you to do several hundred times to increase your understanding of generating power.

learn and develope punching by punching something with resistance, like a makiwara or heavy bag..or another person [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG]
remember intent, focus, penetration, and a certain amount of follow through.
bruce lee recommended putting a metal cylinder in your hand when punching, provides resistance...and makes your fist tighter on impact which means less injury to your hand..and a tighter fist even without the cylinder. and before long you will notice your punches are stronger even without the weights in your hand.
you can also imagine your hands are heavy (placing ki/chi in your hands when striking)....imagine a dull loud thud sound on impact. picture your fist going right through the target.
and kiai...you dont have to yell really loud for a kiai (kihap)...the point is that you are expelling air (energy) when you strike...dont just blow, hold your wind pipe closed slightly and sort of force the air out. hope this helps and makes some sense lol
good luck

Punch things - not air.

So get a punch bag and practice.

Remember the 5 P's

Perfect Practice Prevents Poor Performance.

This means hit the punch bag as hard as you can - but do it right!!

As related strictly to your arm, punching power comes primarily from your triceps, NOT your biceps (in fact, over large, or improperly designed biceps can reduce the speed and rapid repetition of punches, such as repeated jabs).

Total punching power comes from your footwork and gathers power throughout your entire body, through leg, hip, and shoulder rotation and technique.

Finally, many individual techniques play a critical role. For example, punching through your centerline (Wing Chun or JKD style), with a vertical fist delivers a more powerful punch, because the arm is better rooted to the body in this position. Other techniques add to punching power (such as proper relaxation of antagonistic muscles, which lead to faster punch delivery, and thus more power), but this is a good start.

actually i would have to disagree with that statement somewhat....a vertical punch is stronger than a horizontal punch...yes but it would be even stronger if you didnt originate the punch from your centerline, nor end it inline with your center. even many jkd schools have realized this, and towards the end, bruce lee advised not using a vertical punch, nor a horizontal punch, but a diagonal punch as found in karate jutsu (original method of okinawa)...also known as a 3/4 twist punch.
watch anyone who is known to hit hard, and know how to punch hit a makiwara or heavy bag...i doubt their punch originates or ends along their centerline.
i have an artical on it written by a medical doctor, who says the 3/4 twist is the strongest, most damaging, and safest on you. the reason for the twist or snap at the end is a whole other story...also there are alot more weapons on the fist than just the "main" knuckles.

[This message has been edited by kempo_jujitsu (edited 07-13-2003).]

I agree with the 3/4th punch, and it's the punch I use most often, only sticking to a true vertical position with a straight blast attack. However, in the beginning I recommend people to stick with a vertical punch, more so to learn the difference from normal boxing-style, or karate-style full hand rotation punches (trying hitting a bag rapidly, alternating hands, with this style, and you'll see its weakness <g> ). A punch coming from the centerline really helps bring through the idea of using your entire body, especially your hips. It also provides a natural barrier. But again, rotating the hand 45 degrees does seem more natural and maximizes power.

This is something i know alot about cause ive trained for 5 years not mainly on getting more power in hand attacks.

Ive found that these three training methods work best for power.

1)Lifting weights-probally the best thing you can do, work chest,back,shoulders,triceps,biceps,forearms,and legs evenly and not with real heavy weight, weights heavy enougth to be challenging through 3 sets of 8-12 reps and do 3 excercises for back,chest,and legs and 2 for all others except forearms and trapiez muscl 1 is good enougth for these.

Look at ExRx.net under muscle and excercise directory for excercises for each group.

2) Practicing full power on heavy bag(heavier the better) bare handed. If you get hurt stop for the day.

3) Practicing proper form, practice techniques in air, do it hard and always kihap it gives you much more power and helps focus energy into attacks.(Kihap whenever you strike someone or something)

I know this is a old topic, but i can't help wanting to know what is the 3/4 twist you guys mentioned, some pictures or video files anyone.

Ok this is out of topic, it more about penetration than power. It goes like this, you punch something with sufficient resistance, like a very compact punching bag or the wall, not too hard though lest u hurt your knuckles. Then upon contact, u count to 10, 10,9,8....1, ah, next u give a slight push. Sounds simple? try it yourself and you'd know the effect. For further improvement, try reducing the count to 3 and finally 1. It gets really long to explain the mechanism, and do give feedback if it really works.

I'm a complete fanatic when it comes to punches hehe!