Point of most power

[Shui Tora]

This is a really good discussion, everyone. You guys are all very knowledgable about physics. I may have to take notes. There may be enough info here for me to get some college credits!

Well; if you need anything explaining, or need any help with Maths, Chemistry, Biology and Physics, you can always PM Me Bushido!

Maybe we should set up a thread for those that need help with stuff?

[bushido_man96]

Hey, cool. I would be printing off notes until I had a notebook full of cool stuff to explain the physics of MA.

[Jiffy]

Definately!!

[Orca]

I'm enjoying the physics discussion above, but I have to say that they are mostly based on Newtonian mechanics, which are outdated (kind of). With something so complex as the human body (and mind), the application of the momentum, power, work, etc., equations is kind of tricky. For example, different body types will have a different optimum power generation strategy. A lean, long-legs body type will probably be able to use pendulum motions more effectively, while a stocky body type might use rotation and vibration better. The same goes for punching and the final rotation of the punch. I would think a long, light-limbed person would benefit more from going full-rotation than a short, heavy-armed person. Of course, there are many combinations of body types and people need to find their optimum trayectory.

Taking into account where you are starting from is called "sensistivity to initial conditions", a characteristic of complex systems, studied by non-linear physics ( the more cutting-edge stuff taught at universities nowadays). The good thing about well-developed traditional MA systems is that they have enough collective experience/wisdom in them to accomodate most combinations of characteristics. In a sense, their historical depth makes them well-suited to deal with the complexity of human body characteristics in a population.

[koryu]

this is somewhat of a controversial subject... i was always taught to strike through the target, but i've seen some amazing things done at full extension as well. for now, i strike through the target. if something else works better 20 years down the road, i may do that instead.

[alsey]

I'm enjoying the physics discussion above, but I have to say that they are mostly based on Newtonian mechanics, which are outdated (kind of). With something so complex as the human body (and mind), the application of the momentum, power, work, etc., equations is kind of tricky. For example, different body types will have a different optimum power generation strategy. A lean, long-legs body type will probably be able to use pendulum motions more effectively, while a stocky body type might use rotation and vibration better. The same goes for punching and the final rotation of the punch. I would think a long, light-limbed person would benefit more from going full-rotation than a short, heavy-armed person. Of course, there are many combinations of body types and people need to find their optimum trayectory.

Taking into account where you are starting from is called "sensistivity to initial conditions", a characteristic of complex systems, studied by non-linear physics ( the more cutting-edge stuff taught at universities nowadays). The good thing about well-developed traditional MA systems is that they have enough collective experience/wisdom in them to accomodate most combinations of characteristics. In a sense, their historical depth makes them well-suited to deal with the complexity of human body characteristics in a population.

newtonian mechanics has been shown to be incorrect, but when you're dealing with a macroscopic system with everyday energies, newtonian mechanics (or its equivalent, hamiltonian mechanics) is still used and gives accurate results.

when you have a non-linear problem, the standard approach is to approximate it with a linear one, which is what i did in a simple form in my previous posts. if that doesn't work, then you have to get into the non-linear math, but in this case the linear approximation works very well.

but like i said, all the physics can really tell you is that to transmit as much energy into the target as possible, you have to hit the target when the strike has maximum speed, and the strike has maximum speed before full extention. everything else has to be done by experiment, i.e. practice. none of the old masters got out a piece of paper and calculated how to do a punch, they worked it out through practice.

[Orca]

That is one VERY TRUE statement, my friend.

[Jiffy]

Indeed. That doesn't mean that scientific proof doesn't work though.