The Three Inch Break

[Fsquared21]

I don't know if this can be done. I have heard of it alot. It is where you are at hands length away from your target then close your fist as you thrust forward to punch. If this can be done i have questions about it.

 

1.) How powerful can this technique really be.

 

2.) Does the distance affect the punch.

 

3.) How good is this for conditioning your knuckles.

 

4.) Can you really break things with it.

[CanuckMA]

You've been watching too much Kill Bill 2.

[torris]

that was my thought.

[AngelaG]

Yep it's possible and can be useful in a close quarter grappling situation. The trick is to drive all the power from the hips, not the shoulders. It's hard to practice without cheating and swinging your arm quickly back but you could get a training partner to place a hand behind your elbow to notify you if you are doing this. This punch can generate quite a bit of power if done properly. You won't get the force as if you had a real swing as you won't get the acceleration up (F=MA), so the trick is to increase the mass (again by driving with your hips) . It's very useful in that people won't see it coming so won't get out of the way or block, and it can really catch them by surprise and cause BAR.

 

As for knuckle conditioning, well I guess that depends on what you are hitting. Personally I like my knuckles without big callouses on them.

[TangSooGuy]

I've seen people break two boards doing this technique, and personally have broken one doing it, although i've never tried more.

 

it's really not as hard as you might think, and as was said, has to do with driving power from the hips, rather than the shoulder and arm. it can be very effective in clode, but generally isn't going to produce as much power as a fully extended strike by the same person that is executed properly.

 

..and don't expect to be punching through the tops of any coffins with it if you happen to get buried alive .

[Vito]

its not really practical in a real fight. bruce lee did his one inch thing as a demonstration, and it made its point- but in a real fight youre best doin something else.