Rich_2k3

I'm leaving in 5 days (Nov28).

I hear that a big part of the training in the camps is a very strict diet, they try to lose as much excess weight as possible, although Thai fighters are different builds than Western fighters.

Well, I wont be doing any training when i'm there, i'll go watch a muay thai bout though, cant wait. Anyway i'm going in 8 days and i'll be there for 7 weeks, cant wait! I'll probably spend about a week at most in phuket, its very commericalised and expensive and the beaches are pretty crowded, not much of a backpackers spot, more like Rio or Miami. Anyway wish me luck! p.s Lets just hope I dont get bird flu/tsunami/terrorattack/other!!

The SAS do alot of self-defence training, they've practically formed their own style over the years, lots of elbows, knees, locks and pressure point stuff, the kind of thing thats good for dropping the enemy quick. I've got a really good book on SAS self defence, and its got loads stuff that I dont learn from my normal martial arts training.

I remember seeing somthing on the news a couple of years ago, it was on the korean border and a few US soldiers got in an argument with a few Korean soldiers, it was over a petty disupte about a tree being cut down and it ending up with the Koreans killing the US soldiers in an unarmed fight, i'm guessing they were using tk.

A reverse punch is basically the same as a cross punch. Sorry, guys, but I think we have a communication problem on what lunge punch, cross punch and reverse punch are. I don't think we are talking of the same things with those terms. In Shotokan karate, lunch punch (oi zuki) is a stepping punch, usually straight punch type where you step forward as you punch straight. Same foot and same punching arm/fist forward. Now, reverse punch (gyaku zuki), in Shotokan karate, is punching straight forward while assuming a stance where the forward foot is opposite that of the punching arm/fist. We don't have what you call a "cross punch", but I think this should be equivalent to what we have a "hook punch" (kagi zuki), where the punch is directed not to the front but to the side at right angles to the body, usually but not always where the lead foot is opposite to the punching arm/fist. I would appreciate how you define those 3 terms which I just defined in your own karate style or organization, so we will know if we are talking of the same thing. We cannot intelligently debate on which punch is more powerful unless we are clear on what the nature of these punches are. Thanks! No, a cross punch is used in boxing and is a straight punch like the reverse. I know with a word like "cross" it sounds like a right angled punch but thats a hook (in boxing).

Why did they change the way they do the high jump? Becuase over time they discovered a new way to do it that was better. Same thing here.

A reverse punch is basically the same as a cross punch. The roundhouse punch has more power behind it than the reverse, because you can put more of your torso and hips into it compared to the reverse. However the reverse is still very powerful becuase you are hitting a relativly soft target ie. the face and can do alot more damage than, say, hitting the side of the head with a roundhouse punch. Anyway back to my original question: One thing I read about punches in the book "solo training" is that when executing a roundhouse punch you should punch with your palm side of the fist pointing towards yourself instead of towards the ground (hope thats a clear explanation), its supposed to minimise the risk of wrist injury because your forearm, wrist and hand are all in line or somthing like that. Most people punch their palm side facing down which can cause injury when hitting a hard target ie. attackers face. You have to re-train yourself to hit that way and can feel strange at first. What are your opinions on this, should I change the way I punch? it'll take some getting used too...

You can show anyone how to defend properly. Undermining the necessity of learning how to punch, or of how difficult it is to learn how to do so properly, does not give credence to your statement. Defending is a wide topic, while punching is a specific one. A more apt comparison would be that of attacking vs defending, or punching vs blocking. In either case, i would say the formers would be harder to teach, for it is more natural for someone to protect themselves than it is to hurt someone else. blocking and avoiding, as you put it, are two different things. Defense as a whole is important, obviously, but offense is infinitely more important. Without defense, you can lose. But without offense, you cannot win. The topic, as you presented, is about blocking, but i gather you are referring to more than merely blocking. Blocking is merely one approach to counter a strike. Personally, i believe it is the easiest to learn, yet the least effective and the more problematic. Parrying, avoiding/dodging, buffering, going-with, and jamming are far more effective approaches, although they take longer to grasp. So... what exactly are you wanting to discuss? This topic is about blocking, hence the topic name. About the punching vs. blocking, you can teach someone a roundhouse punch quite quickly, and you can teach someone a block quickly, but its alot harder to use that block properly in a real life situation, compared to the punch.

I already have some but sparring and sport is VERY different to real life fighting, and you cant use proper blocking techniques when full contact boxing/kickboxing.

I think blocking and avoiding getting hit is a large and probably the most important part of martial arts, its what is hard to do, and even harder to master. You can show anyone how to throw a punch properly, but being able to defend attacks requires alot of training, skill and experience. If someone attacks you and throws a punch there is a split second were your martial arts matters mosts, if you succesfully block or dodge his attack then he is open for a counterattack and the fight can be won at this moment, conversley if you fail to block his attack and your are hit, then you are instantly at a disadvantage and open for an immidiate second attack. I made this thread for people to discuss the art of blocking and what work best or doesnt work etc. any real life experience people have would be good. To start the discussion off I have a question which has always worried me. Is it wise to meet force with force when blocking a punch? for example if someone swung at me with a hook punch, I would put my left arm up and attempt to block the punch, but would this damage my forearm? would this really work? I dont really train on diverting the power of an attack (like they do in akido) or locking their arm with some sort of grappling technique, so I wouldnt try that. Ofcourse there is a dodge ie. boxing style, but this seems like somthing anyone could do and is usually a persons immidiate reaction when you throw a punch at them anyway, it just seems abit crude and could backfire easy, its also harder to counter attack. So, is it wise to block an attack by meeting it with force or atleast using the arm to guard the side of your face as the punch comes in? I feel as though this is one of the things that seems practical in theory but I could imagine being in a fight in the street and a guy throws a right hook at me and I raise my arm to meet it, and the punch either damages or breaks my arm or something. p.s this thread is only about REAL fights and not sparring/training

One thing I read about punches in the book "solo training" is that when executing a roundhouse punch you should punch with your palm side of the fist pointing towards yourself instead of towards the ground (hope thats a clear explanation), its supposed to minimise the risk of wrist injury because your forearm, wrist and hand are all in line or somthing like that. Most people punch their palm side facing down which can cause injury when hitting a hard target ie. attackers face. You have to re-train yourself to hit that way and can feel strange at first.

Just thought i'd make a thread for people to discuss how you maximise punching power of the reverse/cross punch or roundhouse/hook punch. I mean all the little things like whether to execute the punch before or after hip movement, proper footwork, correct angles etc. etc. you know the stuff I mean. So discuss

Fantasic movie! Thats all i'm gonna say.

Aefibird, I just love how you Brits say it: Jeg-you-are. We actually Jag-you-er You guys say Jag-war