Read Punch Articles
I have noticed a definite increase in both the power and efficiency, in a relatively short time, of my students' and my own strikes since implementing a number of the drills
into my practice and teaching.
I would highly recommend the "Punch!" ebook to anyone who is seriously interested in improving
their striking skills quickly and efficiently or that of their students.
Sincerely,
-Richard Zaruba,
Head Instructor
Kuk Sool Won of Grand Forks
Punch Article ...
"Martial Artists Admit Fear that Their Punches Won't Stop a Big Attacker"
|
Article by
Can you guess the top four questions written in about punching?
I am the senior editor of one of the longest-running martial-arts ezines on the Net. Letters pour in every week with questions and requests from martial artists representing many styles (JKD, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu styles, and Boxing, to name a few).
These readers ask questions relating to every aspect of martial arts, even though the focus of the newsletter is on practical martial arts. The newsletter, Martial Arts Mastery, discusses self defense that will save someone's life against the strongest or most skilled attackers. MAM avoids competition topics such as point scoring or katas and music.
A few years ago, I started receiving more and more emails requesting advice on punching.
Before I tell you the four most asked for topics, I want to make a small request. Take a piece of paper; a scrap will do. Or open a text file on your computer.
In a minute, you'll scribble a few words about what would scare you in an attack...
Right now, take a second or two and imagine being attacked. Even if you regularly fantasize your almost superhuman skills defeated the worst attacker, this time, it's a losing battle.
For the sake of this exercise, your mental picture has a bad ending. Can you imagine being overcome in an attack?
What's happening in the fight? What are you afraid your attacker might do? What do you fear you won't be able to do.
Now, for the purpose of this article, let's get even more specific while picturing this scary scene:
In your mental movie, picture that your punches aren't doing what is needed.
Do you have your paper ready (or document open)?
In just a few words, jot down what imagined problem you're having with your punches. What's your fear or your doubt in your martial ability?
How come your punches aren't working in your visualized scene?
Be honest. Nobody has to see your note except you. Be frank with yourself.
Take the time to actually write down or type your response, because it will keep you honest with yourself.
Really. Complete this small request, for your benefit. Make a note of ... any doubts you have about your punching ability.
Go ahead. I'll wait.
Did you take the time to record your answer on paper or in a text file?
I hope so, for your benefit. (I'll explain why a little later.)
Now, put your note aside for a few minutes. We'll get back to it a little later.
Let's move on.
These were the main topics from the letters I received begging for punch help:
* The subscribers feared that their punches wouldn't have stopping power against a giant, muscular bad guy.
* Many wanted to know how to make their punches faster. They cringed at the thought that other martial artists could out-punch them on speed alone.
* Some martial artists said that they didn't know how to make their punches practical. For example, they had a feeling in the pits of their tummies that they wouldn't know how to get past a well-defended guard position.
* And last, but not least, many practitioners wrote expressing their panic at the thought of having to punch their way through multiple attackers. (Can you imagine being tackled to the ground by a gang of thugs?)
You don't have to review your note yet, but ...
Do any of those topics describe your concerns with your punching ability?
Are you afraid of multiple attackers?
Not being able to drop a muscle-bound hulk?
Do you worry about not being fast enough or lacking effective punches?
Multiple attackers and fighting effectively are categories that extend beyond punching. Those are big topics. We might have to include discussions of kicking, strategy, weapons, grappling, rear attacks, etc.
On the other hand, having above-average amounts of speed and power are two potential ways to solve both problems. Think about it.
If you had a power punch that could really drop someone straight to the ground with one blow, then fighting multiple attackers would be a lot easier. Picture this:
One hit -- down.
Turn to the next attacker. Another hit -- BAM -- down.
On to the next.
Even if three tried to rush you -- Bam, bam, bam.
Having knockdown punches is a partial solution to multiple attackers. And having a super fast punch solves any problems about effectiveness and being able to punch your target. If you were that fast, you could, pardon the pun, always beat them to the punch.
With a little help, these readers could develop much more powefrul and much faster punches -- powerful enough to do the job in an emergency.
So many of them wanted to know how much punch power is enough...
Some Eventually Figure Out Practical Punching; Others Don'tBeing able to break a board with a punch is a technique. It doesn't necessarily equate to power hits. Some board breakers have great punches. Others don't.At first, I figured that those who wanted to improve their punches were studying martial arts on their own, out of their own homes. It made sense that people taking martial arts and learning to snap boards in half would be confident in their punching ability, even if they couldn't put their skills to use in a real street fight. I was wrong. An equal number of martial artists who were formally studying wrote about doubts in their abilities:
Don't worry. I helped Chris and a bunch of other martial artists ... boxers, too.
Articles to Improve PunchingI started writing articles for subscribers to MAM, the free martial-arts ezine. The readers started with an article on punching harder -- a few secrets never shared in print before.. From there, they sunk their teeth into a few articles and reports on punching faster. The readers discovered how to make their hits more efficient and ultimately, more effective. These first articles helped build a solid foundation. I wanted to do my best to help my readers, but didn't want this information available to the masses. You had to be a subscriber to read the articles. And they had to obey the copyright notice. No posting them on-line for all to see. In the first round of articles, subscribers read:
 "Three imperative principles to consider when perfecting your punch." This was great advice for a beginner -- a good review for the seasoned martial artist or boxer.
They also learned to "Develop Devastating Power Punches" with a minimal number of practice sessions. (I still get email complimenting the article and how it produces such fast results.)
Once my readers learned this super power punch, they worked on generating that kind of power with different targets and from short distances. (Ever hear of Bruce Lee's one-inch punch?)
Make Minor Adjustments to Boost PowerAfter awhile, I went back to other subjects. I stopped writing about punching. MAM ran a variety of articles about weapons, grappling, and kicking. But the requests for more punching articles kept pouring in. I finally gave the subscribers, and my customers, what they wanted:
Another set of articles poured forth, showing them how to make just a few minor adjustments to their bodies and punch positions to really crank up the power.
I myself am not a blocker, but taught those who do block an efficiency-building technique to combine with their punching strategy.
More to my taste was explaining to all how to use thier punching hands to feel for the openings. (You can react much more quickly if you let your hand to feel the opening.)
These subscribers showed their appreciation. So, more practical tips were sent to them, including:
Articles on how to beat grapplers at their own game. Interrupt the flow of the fight to really confuse a grappler trying to take you to the ground.
All about vertical punches. For those who can't rotate their punch horizontally in time, these gung fu (kung fu) punches are the answer.
What to do when a technique isn't working. This is advice of how to get out of a bad situation with a single, specific punch.
How to punch without using your fist. All about arm pops -- that jarr your attacker.
Complete instructions how to never flinch at a punch again -- I used this technique when I was a beginner. In my opinion, you'll never survive in a real fight if you don't have this skill -- especially if you are a boxer or a martial artist. Does the sharp pound of a hammer make your eyes blink? If so, this drill is a must for you.
(At my subscribers' request, they read a follow-up report that generalized the flinch elimination to include all panic responses. Can you imagine eliminating all of your panic reactions one by one?)
As They Acquired Better Punches, They Wanted More Tips, Tactics, and TechniquesMartial Arts Mastery needed to move on to other topics. I wanted to talk about strategies needed for effective counters. Some subscribers were requesting scenario training. And since I had written the book Wrist Locks, I wanted to teach about wrist locks, joint locks, and arm bars. We needed to move on. Yet, the requests still 'trickled' in. I decided to take my best punching articles and combine them with new articles, that hadn't yet been published. I arranged them, edited , and rounded out the tips. Then I reread the collection of punch articles, reports, and chapters. There was something missing. In fact, there were FIVE somethings missing. I added five extremely necessary chapters. I cleaned it all up, put everything together, and ended up with an ebook of over 160 pages, containing over 50 chapters/articles all on improving one's punches.
Do You Still Have Your NoteIf you jotted down your potential punching problem earlier, now's the time to refer to it. Either call it up on part of your computer screen, or take out your slip of paper. Reread your note, and think of your fear. If you could do all of the techniques mentioned so far in this article -- from developing brute-stopping power to feeling for openings while speed punching, would your imagined attacker still be able to overcome you? I want your honest opinion. I need you to read the rest of this report with your note in mind. When you have finished, ask yourself how much of your fear would be eliminated if you were able to defend yourself with all of the benefits mentioned in this article.
"The More Complete Your Punching Knowledge and Ability, The Better Able You Are to Defend Yourself with Complete Confidence"I have been teaching martial arts since 1982, practically my whole adult life.Over the years, student after student have developed confidence as they acquired martial competence. Naturally, they practiced kicking, timing, distance, strategy, the 5 Ways of Attack, and much more. And they learned to punch. These students learned to search for martial arts information from many sources. Now that I publish, almost all of them have read and practiced the advice on punching found in the 50+ chapters. And of course, over 1,000 martial artists from around the world now practice the strategies and techniques from this ebook, including:
Analyzing a fight. This is a new paradigm for defense -- one way to see a fight. It may just change the way you punch -- forever.
A Kickboxer tactic for getting in. More important, you find out how to stop the kickboxer tactic from being snapped on you. Use this punch tactic, before they get their attack under way.
Eight tips to develop a super back fist. (Over 70% of practitioners polled thought of this as their favorite hit.)
These back fist modifications. The famous martial arts author Loren Christensen gives us his two cents' worth on this effective technique.
One of everyone's favorite topics in the ebook was:
Get your punch in every time -- simple direct advice. Some spend years searching for this basic truth. Save yourself time and read this article. Advanced practitioners nod their heads in approval.
Other Popular Punch Discussions Included:
A 'mental exercise' that will help you improve just about any technique. Sometimes the way we consider a technque's flaws turns it into a much stronger move.
A distance fake that is so effective, I hesitated putting it in this eBook. I learned it while talking to two original Bruce Lee students. This is a perfect technique for your practice workouts.
A few chapters after that, you get a practice tip that really is worth the price of the book. It's subtle, but oh so effective. You can incorporate it into every practice session. You won't believe it until you try it for awhile. Then you'll never practice any other way.
A valuable piece of advice for training to take a straight blast -- a barrage of punches. If you feel that taking one punch is possible, but defending against a flury of punches isn't, then you need to read this article.
Another straight blast defense technique. I want to make sure you don't panic when the punches fly.
3 Ways to Make Your Punches Even BetterIf you regularly practice punching, or have consistently practiced in the past, then it's time to approach your martial arts with a critical eye.Here are 3 ways to improve your punches, if you are feeling stuck in your training:
Modify moves by turning on your technique filter. Choose a criterion for the perfect punch. What is an element of a desirable punch?Now, apply it to a particular punch. Specifically use this technique to eliminate the inefficient. Or add finesse to what's working. (There's a specific example of how to stop someone from clothes-lining you across the throat.)
Have someone help you feel the difference. This is the right way to think about speed punching. It only takes 5 minutes with someone's help.Definitely one of my secret tips for punching faster.
Use different footwork, to change the feel and range of a punch. This footwork differs from traditional karate and boxing. This is a great boxing tip. Play with it -- learn to get to your opponent in record time.Perfect footwork for the above speed punch.
You get more useful tips for punching -- one is a way to make your punches 300% more effective. Several tips offer advice for working through punching problems -- when you are having difficulties countering effective techniques.
More Pieces of the Puzzle to Martial MasteryIf you only know a few punches and a trick or two about distance, you might survive the most basic of attacks.As a martial artist (boxers included), you need to be well informed. Your skill (speed, power, and effectiveness) has to be better than the bad guy's. In The Punch Papers, you get more than 50 pieces of the punch puzzle. You know, this ebook was never meant to be a complete course on martial arts. I was trying to help people see fast improments in thier punches. I also wanted to show everyone that you didn't need rippling muscles to punch hard. In fact, big muscles can actually slow down your punch speed. What you need is some knowledge, how-to instructions not available in other books, and you need some practice -- practical drills.
Now that You've Read this Article ...Now that you've just about finished this article, I am sure you want to have the best punches possible by reading The Punch Papers. My prediction is that over 90% of the martial artists won't do what it takes to improve their punches. They think, "Hey a punch is a punch." You know differently. Besides, geting up and getting motivated is a problem that effects so many. This is your chance to reach your goal of confidently defending yourself and your loved ones. If you want to be a competent puncher, you have to do something. Get ahold of The Punch Papers; it's is an easy first step. For less than the price of a (medium-priced) dinner for two, you can read The Punch Papers, (on PDF) now: Now, only ...
 The Punch Papers $27
Limited Time Offer.Download your copy now, and get the followng eBonuses as my gifts to you:Bonus #1: Taking On a Boxer No, I am not implying that after reading this 45 page report, everyone will be able to defeat a quality boxer. Let's be realistic. You do get over a dozen articles of more great punching tips ... and yes, some of them will work on seasoned boxers, if you do them correctly.You'll find out sneaky tricks and unfair tactics. You get specific advice for taking on someone who bob -n- weaves. You even get an article on what to do against clinchers. Good solid recommendations. And who knows, maybe you will be able to use your martial arts against a boxer after all ???
Bonus #2: Punch to the 7th Power!
Let's talk punches -- seven of them. You need to learn about knocking your opponent unconscious What's your best chance of stopping your attacker with a power punch? Read article #2. #3 discusses internal bleeding. Knowledge, I hope you never have to use. Warning! Use the punches in this bonus at your own risk! Article #4 is another lesson in being sneaky -- I couldn't resist. From there we move into a discussion of a few killer shots ... quite literally. Can you afford to miss out on this eBonus? You decide.
Bonus #3: The Speed-e-Book Originally offered only as a bonus with Wrist Locks, now Punch-Paper readers also learn: Speedy Reactions: if you don't know this exercise, then it could be the single most imprtant factor for you to speed your quick-reaction response. Speedy Secondary Hits: For some, this will be their first taste of The Invisible Hand (sometimes refered to as the Third Hand). Those familiar with the tactic may find sme new variations worth considering. Defense Techniques: What? Why does this appear in the middle of an e-booklet on Speed? You'll just have to read this chapter to find out. Fast Kicks: I bet I can make your kicks faster than they are now. Try these quick tips. OK -- so, this chapter isn't about punching, but you're interested anyway, aren't you?
Order Through a Secure Server:For only $27, you get an immediate download of the following:
Plus, order now, and you'll get to read two more special ebonuses. One ebook is 42 pages long and all about punching.
Use Your Credit Card:
No Credit Card ,Paypal Account, or on-line checks? No Problem. Click here! |
Keith Pascal is one of those rare individuals ... a realistic martial artist with a talent for both writing and teaching.
He tells it like it is with his own style of writing -- with humor injected to keep things even more interesting.
I recommend Mr. Pascal to anyone wanting good, realistic martial arts instruction in any format.
-Sensei J. Richard Kirkham B.Sc
Head Instructor Universal System
of Self-Defense
PunchHarder.com
2749 Friendly St., Suite 777
Eugene, Oregon 97405
USA