Controlling power when punching

[Big Game]

Recently while sparring I noticed that I am hitting a little hard. What are some things that I can do to work on controlling my punches and kicks but at the same time be fast while I am doing them?

[Withers M.A.A.]

For the sake of selfcontrol you should first try to relax. Being tense is cause for hitting too hard. Being relaxed and loose will let you work on speed without hitting your partner too hard.

 

Pete

[ninjanurse]

Relax! Control comes with repetition, repitition, repitition-the muscles first need to develop memory before you can concentrate on control. Try adding controlled kicking and punching (slow motion, concentrated) to your practice time. Eventually you will be able to control your techniques to the mm without even thinking about it!

 

[hongkongfooi]

come your sparring hit them hard just have a little controll when hitting the face

[SaiFightsMS]

Practice. Control comes with a lot of practice. It is a learning process that will take place over time.

[delta1]

Try some focus drills. Hang strips of paper from strings taped to your cieling at varying heights. Move around and strike them in rapid successsion, but try not to hit them. They should just move a little from the rush of air from your strike.

 

If your training area is a little drafty, hang tennis balls instead and try to just barely tap them with full power punches.

 

Have a partner hold up a pair of focus pads and strike them with full power punches. But the pad holder will call out yes for a solid hit and no for a pulled shot. So if he says "Yes-no-no-yes", you'd hit the first pad hard, pull the punch to the second pad and the next punch to the first pad, then hit the second pad. Developes focus and concentration, and really developes control.

[Big Game]

Thanks Delta1 - This will help me out quite a bit. I am getting ready to leave for a tournament in a few hours. I will definately use these drills in my training.

[Yoshimitsu]

How would you connect the tennis ball to the string? I'm semi interested in this as I'm doing something similar with 2 liter bottles. I tie them up to tree limbs and fill them full of water. They are a good way to build up your knuckle toughness and blocking techniques.

[tommarker]

old-school answer of the day

 

find a brick wall.

 

stand in front of it.

 

punch at it.

 

if you hit it too hard, back off a bit.

[monkeygirl]

Brick wall all the way! Being able to judge your distance so you don't hit things is OK, and a very useful skill to have. However, you still have to land your punches, and for that you'll need to control the power of your punches, not just the range.

 

The brick wall uses the incredibly wise Sensei Pain! Make sure you're still using good technique, though. You don't want to get in the habit of throwing slow punches just because it's easier to keep them soft. After a little practice, start increasing the speed of your punches to the brick wall. Controlling power at high speed can be pretty difficult, but will pay off in the end. Good luck!