When throwing a quick, snapping punch while shadow boxing that jolts the head, does this damage the brain?

Question

I've been practicing Martial Arts for over ten years, so I'm well aware of how to throw a proper punch and all that jazz, and am not in need of any lecturing, sermonizing, or chastising in this regard.

If I shadow box while slightly tense, sometimes the vigorous and rigorous execution of my punches will send jolts of kinetic energy torrenting back up through my arm and give my head a sudden shake - nothing substantial, mind you, but enough to make me cut it out, and when I observe it in the mirror, my head undergoes what appears to be a half an inch jolt, extremely quickly.

Could the effect of this energy surging through my body have any malign consequences on my brain, in that could it tear axons, cause shearing, or anything else of the sort? I realize the brain is pretty durable and well protected, elsewise mere jumping jacks and jogging on hard surfaces would cause it damage, but unlike those activities in where the head is simply bobbing up and down at a quick and exuberant rate, the motion from the punching is a more sudden, jerking one.

So can doing this cause any damage, or no? Or is contemporary silence ill equipped at this time to dislodge a comprehensive conclusion?

Answer 1

I have tried tensing up and throwing shadow punches and my head doesn't jolt, so I think you probably do need some sermonizing about how to throw a proper punch.

Answer 2

Than go ahead and damage your elbows. Snapping with improper posture can do damage to joints and are more likely to damage elbows than your brain and all that jazz.

If you are punching with all that proper jazz you should not be jerking your body enough to damage your brain.

You should not be tense while fighting any way. You know all tha jazz anyway .

Answer 3

Short answer, no. If you're truly concerned, see a doctor.

Answer 4

your instructor should tell you if you are doing somethign wrong.

Answer 5

Well, here's the thing, if you're throwing a proper punch this won't ever happen to you. Well, unless you've got some sort of medical condition -- but that's a whole other story.

When you're shadowboxing, you shouldn't really tense up at any point. If you're SOOO tense that you're jolting you're head, it's likely that you're also damaging your joints as well.