Wrist Rotation...WHEN?

[todome]

without seeing your technique, I would say, remember to fully rotate just before impact.

But if you fully rotate the fist before impact, you lose the rifling effect of the fist rotation and the trauma caused by it, as the fist penetrated your opponents body.

Tbh, I vary rarely use a twisting punch in application, but the principle is there.

Chitsu

To tell you the truth my punch is powerful enough to not have to worry about scoring a noogy at the same time.

[Kuma]

To tell you the truth my punch is powerful enough to not have to worry about scoring a noogy at the same time.

You'll see this exact same rotation in a boxer's punches. If you're not doing it, you're only cheating yourself IMO.

[todome]

oh absolutely. I just think the whole twisting it in on impact thing is incidental to the basic biomechanical advantages it affords.

I agree about the boxing thing. I'm a firm believer that the most significant difference between a classic right cross and a shotokan reverse punch is the rules they're delivered under. Boxers need to be more fleet of foot, have no worries about kicks and need be less committed to it being the final punch of the match. Other than that the same basics are all there. Boxers are just more upright. roughly speaking.

[Kuma]

I think he was saying rotate before impact, not upon impact. Though some karate styles do this too ("drilling", as I've heard it called), it's more something you can do without gloves than with.

[joesteph]

I think he was saying rotate before impact, not upon impact.

This is the most comfortable--and doable--for me. I'd say that half the time my fist is in motion, it's in the vertical position. I also prefer the three-quarters fist, so I'm not rotating as much as when I'm performing a form.

[Chitsu]

I think he was saying rotate before impact, not upon impact.

This is the most comfortable--and doable--for me. I'd say that half the time my fist is in motion, it's in the vertical position. I also prefer the three-quarters fist, so I'm not rotating as much as when I'm performing a form.

Hello,

Can I ask, if you complete you fist rotation prior to impact, what do you feel is the reason behind rotating the fist in the first place?

Chitsu

[joesteph]

[W]hat do you feel is the reason behind rotating the fist in the first place?

I understand that many people feel it adds power to their punch.

. . . if you complete you fist rotation prior to impact . . .

In Martial Mechanics by Phillip Starr, on p. 24 is a series of photos of a rotating fist aimed at the reader. Starr says, "[W]hen you execute a punch, the fist should screw over at the instant just before impact." (emphasis mine)

That's a different view from some who maintain that the fist should complete that motion within the target. It looks like it's not just when you should rotate, but where that we're examining.

For me, the vertical fist and/or the rotation to three-quarters works best for speed and the power I need to generate. A jab by me would be a vertical fist, but a reverse punch would be three-quarters. If performing a straight lead JKD-style, I do it with a vertical fist as I was taught, power added by my bodyweight following the "falling step" concept.

[JAKEHE3078]

The reason you twist just before impact, is because in theory if you have good timing and distancing, the fist should still be twisting when you make contact with the opponent. This will cause the punch to dig in and drive through the opponent a little more.

[SlowHands]

the way we learned was to twist right before impact, and i don't know if this falls under biomechanical like todome mentioned, but if you were extend your hand out from a chambered position your wrist will turn on its on as it nears full extension.

[Toptomcat]

Speaking as one of the 'finish immediately before impact' crowd, I've always thought that the specific biomechanical explanation for it was that it helped to involve the shoulder muscles.