What helps put more power behind a punch?

Question

I have a small upper body bone structure, so how do I pack more punch?

Answer 1

Draw your punching power from the core(abs,hips), strengthen them. Then you perfect your rotation thru practice. You should feel the hit from the arms to the hips. Practice punching with weights

Answer 2

The most important thing is to have good form. Strong muscles is secondary to that. But, I suppose that may sound sort of vague, so I'll dissect it for you.

* Weight distribution. You must be able to shift your weight into the punch. There are 4 ways of doing this -- stepping into the punch (jabs), shifting your hips ( jabs, crosses, hooks, uppercuts, overhands), driving upwards (uppercuts), and sinking your weight (crosses, hooks, overhands). As you can see, most punches require several of these methods at once.

Anyways, this is where the vast majority of your power comes from. The only way you'll learn how to do this, though, is to get proper instruction.

* Muscle cooperation. You have to keep your muscles loose until the momentum of impact; only then, should you tense up. If you squeeze your fist during the entireity of your punch, you'll have several muscle groups working at once. One group (triceps) is used for pushing your arm outwards, while the other (biceps, and maybe some forearm muscles) will be trying to retract. This conflict between the muscle groupings will dampen the speed and power of your punch.

As such, you must make a habit of keeping your body relaxed until the moment of impact. This will maximize your punching power. Of course, you shouldn't forget to tense your fist up when you connect, otherwise you wont transfer the force properly and could hurt your hand.

* Proper distancing. As others have mentioned, it isn't sufficient to merely connect with the target; you've got to strike THROUGH the target. It's the difference between tapping a pane of glass with your knuckles and putting your fist through it. You must practice proper distancing until its habitual to punch through your target.

So pretty much all of this stuff must be habitual, meaning you've got to practice it over and over and over. Having good form is the key to punching hard, but the only way to learn it is to be taught. The only way to forge, maintain, and improve it is to constantly practice. It's a process, man.

So yeah, if you're already training, just keep it up while keeping these things in mind. If not, find a school. And, if you're not willing to do that, at least practice the second 2 components of good technique, as they're self explanatory and dont need to be taught -- just practiced.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Focus on the other side of the target. Thats where you are going to finish the punch.

Answer 4

Practice punching at sand like at the beach but first you need to meditate your chi or energy. inhale the air through your nose and exhale it through your mouth. Try to control the meridins of your body. Let your Mind move your chi or energy at your fist. After you punch you must breath deep, and shout like a thunder.

Answer 5

Actually, it's not so much punching the other side of the target, but rather "just past" the point you're striking. Not snapping back the fist allows the energy to continue forward. Using the rotation of the body will increase the force behind it by putting your full body weight behind the punch. Step punching increases this a bit further. Punching accurately to sensitive targets will increase the effectiveness. Adding speed to an accurate punch will help increase the force of the punch as well. Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.

This is the second or third time I've answered this question today. If I forgot something, just check back a page or so on the questions directory to find other info I may have put up earlier that I didn't here.

Answer 6

Plant your back foot -- opposite the punching arm -- and press forward with that leg shifting your weight onto your forward foot as you punch.

Answer 7

The power actually comes from the correct usage of the legs and hips. They control what your upper body does. Look at how Mike Tyson used to punch.

Answer 8

Punching everyday

Answer 9

get all the power from your legs and back.  your arm is really just an extension like a stick being held out while you swing it with your legs and back.  except the jab, which is the only punch you should be throwing with your arm.

Answer 10

proper technique and lost of practice. put your hips into it and hit the heavy bag daily.

Answer 11

give spirit the louder you are the harder you can punch, and more speed