Point of most power

[savedbygrace]

This is probably gonna sound like a stupid question....if so please forgive me, but I'll try to ask this without confusing ya'll with my stupidity.... .............at what point or "distance" would you say that a kick or punch has the most power?.......i know most people would say at the very end of the kick or punch, but is it possible that the "highest" point of power could be just before full extension of a kick or punch? I know that sounds stupid but I was curious to everyones thoughts.

[Scotty]

Well I think that you get more power if you aim behind your target, because then you travel through it instead of just stopping on impact. So I would guess that you get the most power just before full extension.

Of course, that's only my opinion so feel free to disagree! =D

[parkerlineage]

I would agree that it's just before full extension - but you'll get more if you strike before full extension and push all the way to the max. Kinetic energy is funny that way.

[savedbygrace]

Good posts ya'll. I know its a very techniqal question but I enjoy learning things like this...........guess I'm kind-of a science geek.......

[alsey]

a strike will transfer the most energy to the target at the point at which the striking surface is moving fastest. as others have said, this is before full extention.

when a strike is thrown, the limb extends and picks up speed and energy, reaching maximum speed near the end of the strike. this is when you want to make contact. just before the strike is completed, the striking surface rapidly decelerates. at full extention, the striking surface is stationary and carries no kinetic energy.

[parkerlineage]

I'm impressed, alsey.

[savedbygrace]

I'm impressed, alsey.

Took the words from my mouth.........

[alsey]

i've spent the last four years doing a physics degree...this stuff is my bread and butter

[KamasandSais]

This is probably gonna sound like a stupid question....if so please forgive me, but I'll try to ask this without confusing ya'll with my stupidity.... .............at what point or "distance" would you say that a kick or punch has the most power?.......i know most people would say at the very end of the kick or punch, but is it possible that the "highest" point of power could be just before full extension of a kick or punch? I know that sounds stupid but I was curious to everyones thoughts.

im pretty sure that right before your arm or leg is fully extended is when you have the most point of power

[Zorbasan]

when you flick someone with a towel, what hurts mre, hitting them right on the tip, or when it is fully extended?

the closer you get the towel to the tip the more it hurts the person. the most power would be at full extension, for the reasons above, but this is also the point that you tense up, thus there would be less recoil thru your arm/leg.

(this is out of my head, no science involved, it could be wrong but seems common sense to me)