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Punching Range & Power: The Science by Mark Hatmaker

 


We all want to hit hard—that’s a given. We hone technique to give a punch all its due. We condition the body to provide the muscular-skeletal support it needs to muster our best punch. We strive to hone speed fully aware that velocity plays a large role in contributing to power. And, of course, we can not overlook timing—an ill-timed punch (or any strike for that matter) is all for naught if the timing is off. (And let’s not under-estimate timing, no less an authority than the great Sugar Ray Robinson pronounced that KOs were more about timing than any other single factor). But, there is one aspect that is often overlooked when it comes to building maximum punching power and that aspect is range.

 

            We discussed range to some degree in our books SAVAGE STRIKES and BOXING MASTERY [and in several of our Black Box Training Videos] and those tenets still hold but, here we will call your attention to a bit of research that gives greater heft to the importance of range and adds a specific target range to factor into your striking computations. In the late 70’s MIT physicist Michael Field teamed up with physics under-grads Stephen Wilk and Ronald McNair (Mr. McNair lost his life in 1986 aboard the space shuttle Challenger). This team used a strobe light set-up that flashed at either 60 or 120 flashes per second and had subjects (Tae Kwon Do stylists) fire punches under the light. By counting the number of flashes before impact the team was able to determine the rate of speed of the punches.

 

            They determined that the untrained individual punched at approximately 20 feet per second whereas the trained subjects were firing at 46 feet per second. (Supposition time: My bias postulates that the trained boxer fires even faster with greater support but, then again I have no MIT study to back this up so, feel free to ignore me). The speeds attained by the trained strikers allowed for impacts of up to 2,800 newtons. OK, so far the experiment gives heft to the speed is a key component to power tenet but what about range?

 

            Cleveland State University physics instructor, Jearl Walker replicated the above study and verified the conclusions but, he went a step further. He varied the distances that the striker could stand from the impact target and found that maximum punch velocity (MPV) is reached when the arm is at approximately 80% extension. This is key information. In SAVAGE STRIKES and BOXING MASTERY we pound in the fact that KOs need room; you need to travel the fist at least 12” to 18” to build up the punch-velocity to do some damage but now we have a specific arm extension goal to target.

 

            If we strive to manipulate our range so that we can fire our punches where they make impact at the 80% extension value we are making the most of our strikes. Striking from too close (before we have reached MPV) or from to far out which means the punch has passed terminal velocity and is beginning it’s negative/cushioning phase for return is less than optimum. If we drill on the bag, the pads, the partner with an eye on 80% extension we will get a greater return on our effort. A quantifiable, qualified return. Work your range to maximize your power.

 

For deep in the weeds training and Old School Striking Power, Tactics, Strategy, and all that reality entails…

Have a gander at the following resources, perhaps even consider joining our Subscription Service and Becoming Part of the Black Box Brotherhood.

Resources for Livin’ the Warrior Life

The Black Box Warehouse

https://www.extremeselfprotection.com/

The Indigenous Ability Blog

https://indigenousability.blogspot.com/

The Rough ‘n’ Tumble Raconteur Podcast

https://anchor.fm/mark-hatmaker

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