Bulk vs Power

[Blue]

I was thinking about this last night as we were doing ridge hand strikes and round kicks on the pads last night..usually if the instructor see's an obvious mismatch, both size and weight, he'll put comparable people together. I was with another guy about my size, 6' tall - i weigh about 190 he weighs probably 230 or 240 - i work out on a regular basis bench 300 blah blah blah.

 

Who's kick or punch has more power ? The bigger person or the stronger person ?

[shotochem]

Since there is not that great a difference in size, I would say the one with better technique.

 

 

[taezee]

the one who has more speed

 

 

[Taikudo-ka]

Blue, you're asking the wrong question - "big" or "strong" don't really describe things accurately. Taezee is nearly right.

 

Power = Speed x Mass

 

This is a simple equation. Basic physics. But, like "perpetual motion machines", it has caused a lot of grief to those who misunderstand the principles, and end up barking up the wrong tree.

 

Speed (more accurately velocity) is how fast the impact "object" (fist, foot, elbow, etc) is moving towards the target, at moment of impact. Mass represents the amount of weight that is actually in motion.

 

The maximum mass you can put behind a strike is equal to your body weight. However, most people don't strike in such a way to use most of their weight. If you stand rigid and still and just jab from the elbow, the mass of your strike won't be much more than the weight of your fist and upper arm.

 

Speed is a matter of practise, and proper use of muscles and body leverage. If you tense the wrong muscles, you will slow down and weaken your strike. On the other hand, if you don't tense the right muscles, your strike will also be weak, and "collapse" on impact.

 

All striking martial arts are basically systems of movement designed to address these points:

 

1. Getting maximum body weight behind a strike

 

2. Using body mechanics (torque and leverage) to generate maximum speed.

 

3. Correct tension and relaxation to properly deliver the whole package.

 

There are some other good threads on striking power on the forums here.

 

Blue, if you want a powerful punch, work on your tricep fast twitch muscles. Keep your biceps loose through the whole strike (until retraction). Make sure your weight goes thru your fist, sinking into your opponent, not into the floor.

[G95champ]

Speed + Techinque = Power

 

This is the only truth I have found in karate.

 

Bulk and Size don't mean power by anymeans. The one thing it does give you a pad. Most big guys can take more hits. However that has nothing to do with power.

 

 

[Blue]

That's great info Taikudo, thanks !

[Taikudo-ka]

G, as far as proper technique will put more of your weight into the strike, it really is a multiplication effect. Proper technique will also increase the speed, no? For example the wrist snap on a backfist. So according to physics, you're actually understating the importance of technique...

 

Another point is that the force of impact is spread over the surface area of the contact point. Thus striking with a smaller surface will concentrate the power and thus cause more damage.

 

This is why stilleto heels chew up wood floors, and also explains why a knife, with an ultra fine contact point, penetrates and cuts easily. (While the blunt side doesn't cut at all.)

 

In martial arts, it explains the reasoning behind single knuckle strikes, finger jabs, seiken punch, etc. However, the smaller areas are often more fragile, so most people can unleash more force with a palm heel or hammer fist blow.