How do I punch harder?

[Joe Camel]

I was thinking push ups, lifting weights, ect. Am I right? I'm tall and skinny so trying to be cut is out for me.

[HLC]

too bad zoklet search function is such shit.

start by reading through this thread.

http://bbs.zoklet.net/showthread.php?t=7161

[Fuck Apples]

^OP If you're too lazy to read that entire thread then at least just read my reply (under the handle of aliveupboy).

[BiggLJ]

Learning good punching technique is the best way to increase your power. Learn some boxing and you should get good technique. Obviously adding muscle will also help, so do that too.

Some of it is just natural ability, certain guys will be able to hit harder than others. It's not all about the power though, once you learn how to punch it's more about hitting the other guy in the right spot.

[---Beany---]

Yes. Technique plays a large part in the power of your punch.
I dunno if I punch 100% correctly, but I twist my torso which gives me a sense of when the arm begins to extend. I don't use much muscle at all (Only to guide the arm) until the arm is nearly outstretched which is when I tense up.
You can kinda feel the energy travel from one side of the torso to the other and then travel down your arm so it's at it's most powerful at the moment your arm tenses.

Or something.

[The Jitterskull]

It's about knowing how to use your body in order to maximize the momentum and force of your punch. For this, you also have to include the movement of your torso. If you focus purely on strength building, you won't get far.

Take martial arts for two months.

Do karate longer than 2 months. Maybe a year or so.
Practice punching wooden boards that are flexible. The ones that recoil when you hit. Its hard to explain, but those ones grow the bone on your knuckles, giving you a nasty punch.

[HARDMAN]

Snap your arm out. Preferably tense it right as it reaches it's maximum speed (usually at the fullest reach of your arm). You want to tense your hand and wrist.

Quickly push into the target with the punch and snap your arm back to its original position. Your foot should twist inward(imagine crushing peanuts with the ball of your foot), but it should be following the twist of the torso. Twist with your body, not your foot.

[Struwwelpeter]

Gain bodyfat/muscle mass.

[rugman]

Practice speed, punching bags ect, also how you make a fist is important, not for punching harder but to protect your hand. Some people find it better to keep your fingers straight (like the last knuckle near the tip of your fingers) pressing your fingers against the palm of your hand, using your thumb to keep your index and middle fingers tight. (this also helps from injuring your knuckles/fingers because your fingers are braced really good and cant be dislocated as easy as a normal fist.) but really its whatever you prefer, also the typical roll of pennies works well, but for me a roll of dimes fits my hand better, again whatever works.

[Anima Mundi]

too bad zoklet search function is such shit.

start by reading through this thread.

http://bbs.zoklet.net/showthread.php?t=7161

I was looking to find that, and I couldn't. Damn search function. :facepalm:

[Mor3BL7]

not to punch harder; but to stop your knuckles from breaking easy, and not bleeding, get a bucket, full of sand, and punch daily, it will callouse up your hands, and they will be able to take more beating.
:rant:

[Joe Camel]

not to punch harder; but to stop your knuckles from breaking easy, and not bleeding, get a bucket, full of sand, and punch daily, it will callouse up your hands, and they will be able to take more beating.
:rant:

I've heard of this before. Does anyone else keep their fist open until right before the hit and squeeze it closed? I feel like it speeds up my fist kind of.

[Eridani]

There's also a way of punching that uses your triceps as oppose to your biceps. It's used in Wing Chun where one of the concepts is that of muscles working in pairs ie. when you extend your arm your bicep resists it so "normal" punching is a lot weaker than it can be. I've seen Wing Chun masters (some of who look pretty flabby and out of shape to be honest) "push" guys a lot bigger than them across rooms using this technique.

[Monocle]

I am tall/lanky as well. You have a huge advantage over an opponent. I backyard boxed someone a foot shorter than me and 35 pounds heavier. When he got within range he drilled the shit outta my body and threw in a few uppercuts. I learned 2nd round and left hooked him as he came close.

[P_R_Deltoid]

Hold something heavy in your hand, like a roll of coins.

[rugman]

not to punch harder; but to stop your knuckles from breaking easy, and not bleeding, get a bucket, full of sand, and punch daily, it will callouse up your hands, and they will be able to take more beating.
:rant:

yeah this does work really well but it can also fuck up your hand, calouses dont go away, and the knuckles get bigger/warp and can fuck up, not that they WILL but they CAN... just puttin it out there

[Slave of the Beast]

Join a boxing club.

[The Cheshire Cat]

Don't just use the muscles in your arm. A powerful punch is generally created from the core muscles. Using your legs, (a solid base) to your hips, to your shoulders and then finally your arm.

Think of it this way, you're pulling energy up from the ground, and increasing it as it runs through your body with the twisting of the hips, abdomen, shoulders and finally releasing it all through your arm at your fist.

Also, you want to punch through your target. Say if you were going to punch a wall, you want to pick a point behind the wall and imagine making contact with that when you throw your punch.

;)

I love having a Tae Kwon Do master in the family