What constitutes a "Real" punch

[DeeBoy]

I recently trhu 347 punches in 60 sec. all hitting a focus mitt with enough power to slowly move my partner back. the opponent i was up against was throwing punches like you would on a speedball with no force, but still making contact with the focus mitt. my opponent thru more punches than me on this occasion, but many people were dissapointed with the decision to allow the punches as different MA styles have different techniques.

As this was for a Guiness world record, do you think people should be striking a pressure plate to achieve a minimum impact range for it to constitute a "real" punch?

[alsey]

so you were trying to do the most punches in a given time for a world record? i agree, i think using a pressure plate to measure the punch would be a good idea in this case, but you'd still have to decide on how powerful a real punch is.

[Zorbasan]

i think in this case, making contact with a pad using your knuckles constituted a punch

[al.karate]

I recently trhu 347 punches in 60 sec. all hitting a focus mitt with enough power to slowly move my partner back. the opponent i was up against was throwing punches like you would on a speedball with no force, but still making contact with the focus mitt. my opponent thru more punches than me on this occasion, but many people were dissapointed with the decision to allow the punches as different MA styles have different techniques.

As this was for a Guiness world record, do you think people should be striking a pressure plate to achieve a minimum impact range for it to constitute a "real" punch?

i agree but before the start you willhave to agree on how hard a real punch is.

[bushido_man96]

How hard a punch is also has to include what you expect a punch to do. Like a jab--it won't usually knock someone out. A cross can. Or is the prerequisite for a punch just to contact an object with a closed fist? From what postition does the punch have to be initiated? Does it start from the rib, or from an advanced arm base? Does have to travel 12 inches, or just 2?

There are just too many variables.

[Jiffy]

Absoloutly.

Punch:

–noun 1. a thrusting blow, esp. with the fist.

2. forcefulness, effectiveness, or pungency in content or appeal; power; zest: a letter to voters that needs more punch.

–verb (used with object) 3. to give a sharp thrust or blow to, esp. with the fist.

As per the above description from the dictionary, a punch is about force. If there is no force, it is not a punch. Tapping something with a closed palm does not constitute a punch.

[Zorbasan]

this is the guiness people tho.

[kenpo.stylist]

I think a certain standard would have to set in regard to how much force the pad is struck with, then the standard should be held. There should also be certain guidelines with respect to technique...for example, can a backfist be considered a punch? I can backfist more times that I can throw a decently forceful punch, but I can throw sloppy little tap punches much more quickly than I can backfist...even if there's little power to them.

Too many variables...

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=61590

I did find ^^^^^ that interesting link ^^^^^ but it didn't list power or technique...perhaps it doesn't matter.

[bushido_man96]

Do you think of a backfist as a thrusting technique, or a snapping/swinging technique? I think it snaps more than thrusts, but that is just my interpretation.

[kenpo.stylist]

yeah, more of a whipping technique.