Power Equation

[sensei8]

In the power equation...

Does your shoulder play a part? If so, how? If not, why"

Does your shoulder lead or follow your hips? Either way, why?

Let our discussion begin.

[ps1]

The shoulder should follow the trunk, which follows the hips, which follows the knees and feet...all of which are kinetically linked to the ground. It may all feel simultaneous (or very close to simultaneous); but no matter what you do, your power is derived from the ground. If you were levitating and threw a punch or kick, the only power generated would be a result of the speed at which you threw it and the mass of your leg. Your overall body mass would be irrelevant because, without the Earth to push off of, you couldn't get your body behind the strike.

With the geeky stuff out of the way...here's how I like to use my shoulder:

My shoulder follows my hips as that's the proper kinetic link. I rotate my arm like a boxer so the shoulder blocks my chin making a counter strike less effective.

[shadowspawn]

For power, I definitely agree with the above. Shoulders should follow the hips for sure. But for speed, I find it best to have your shoulders lead with your hips moving roughly half as much as they would when throwing a finishing strike. I like to think of it like this. When you want to generate power, you need to get your entire body in on the motion starting with your legs (a powerful, rooted stance), then your hips to initiate the power, then your torso to transfer the energy into your arm. When you want to throw a fast and somewhat powerful strike, if you initiate the motion with your shoulders, it comes out a lot faster and rotating your hips a moment before impact will ensure a good amount of energy is transferred to your opponent while still getting that initial "oomf" that gets that arm out quickly. This is just my opinion of course.

[Open minded]

Karate power comes from the hips

Some martial arts say punching from the centre line is more powerful

Chi used in tai chi and aikido, arts that don't punch alot of the techniques have alot of power in it.

I actually use chi inner energy in a punch

I like to put my spirit into the punch so I don't focus to hurt the opponent but to release my energy on to the opponent that does alot more damage and a punch like that don't have to come from the hips or centre line just belief and inner energy- I'm very spiritual that is years doing Tai Chi

[JusticeZero]

The issue there is that "chi" is not tangible, but instead refers to a quality of physical movement and methodology which can vary from one school to another.

"Belief" won't deliver kinetic energy, you need to apply action/reaction, gravity, structure, and muscle to the problem. Visualization of energy flows can help to teach a student how to develop those attributes, but the visualization itself is not hitting anything.

Unfortunately, some people get hung up on the visualization method and start thinking that it really is the visualization that is hitting. They are "looking at the finger rather than at the moon".

I've held off on answering before, because I am not sure what you are talking about powering. A kick? A linear punch? A circular punch?

[Open minded]

Tell me something have you ever done chi technique like the unbendable arm chi is there of course you have a point you still need stance, positioning and technique ect

[Open minded]

Answer your question earlier I mean a linear punch or any form of attack you can still release powerful energy of it

[JusticeZero]

Tell me something have you ever done chi technique like the unbendable arm chi

Yes, and I teach the 'unbendable arm' to my own students. It is a way to get them to enact a certain relaxed, non-oppositional aliveness which is difficult to explain how to do in any other way. What it is not is a literal wizardly effect involving mystical power.

[JusticeZero]

Well the original question was the role of the shoulder in "a strike", but what type of strike was unclear. What the shoulder is doing depends on what is being used to strike with.

[bushido_man96]

I agree with ps1's assessment; shoulder follows the trunk movement, and everything starts from the ground.