Impact...

[SurviveNthrive]

During training a short while ago I had the experience of holding a pad for a guy doing an open hand strike. This was with the thick professional impact pad. I'm definitely not small and I like someone taking their best shot. This guy who can't weigh more than 168 pounds struck.

The pain! My God, I'm glad I took that in my wrist, elbow, and shoulder because if I'd taken it only on the wrist or elbow something would have broken. The man could do an open hand stike low that I believe could break something as stout as leg bone.

I asked him how he did that...he said he tried different things and found out he had a knack for that strike, for some reason that odd, open handed low strike develops incredible power for him.

Man, I'd love to be able to do that...I guess I just need to find my strike.

[brass hammer]

AIN'T 'pain' A ****IN'-JOY TO BEHOLD???

[SurviveNthrive]

Not that kind, I saw stars...

[Aslan]

My best strikes are direct palm strikes and ridge hand. Though I like to think my other strikes are decent. (straight punch, back fist, reverse hip, etc.)

I'm back in training - I am no longer confined to the boot for my foot. Though I still cannot do kicks with that leg. So now I get to work on my 'weak' side kicks - which makes this a blessing in disguise.

It may be that this guy is relaxed enough when doing this type of strike that he is able to bring all the muscle groups into play aligned properly.

Some times it's the littlest of things that can bring things together. Maybe he points his shoulder a bit different and brings the back and hips into play. It could be his feet move just a bit different.

We're all built slightly differently and are wired differently. You may tense up slightly when punching. He may not when doing an open hand strike.

Relaxed vs tense - huge difference in speed and power. Relaxed moves faster with more power because you're not fighting your own muscles.

Breath can play a role too. It's like golf. Conceptually a strike is very simple. In reality, there's about a hundred things that can influence the strike.

Martial arts are about self-discovery as much as they are about offense or defense.

[gripper]

Size and useful mass helps...that said,however;many folks who'm you'd not look twice at are capable of generating serious power. This often comes out of proper training/instinct...thnk of riding a uni-cycle and sticking punched,using your foot/big toe to throw the thumb/punch etc. You shoulfd be puttimg everything from the hamstring-glute-belly/back etc into torquing the strike.A good analogy is the pitcher throwing ioff of the mound,stepping under the punch. There is an application here for sweeps,throws,kicks etc.
A trainer friend of mine(boy is SHE gorgheous) describs what she ha sseen me doing as utilizing the whole posteriorchain of muscle vs the "ego trip " muscles. I always thought of it as hitting out of my weight division.:-punch:

[gripper]

Aslan;with your palm heel strikes;would you describe the favored mechanics as popping your hip behind the shoulder,leaning away from the shot and working in the old "push hand-pull elbow" feel to it??

[Aslan]

Aslan;with your palm heel strikes;would you describe the favored mechanics as popping your hip behind the shoulder,leaning away from the shot and working in the old "push hand-pull elbow" feel to it??
I find I bring the shoulder doing the strike into the target, and I am able to withdraw the strike quickly. This makes it kinda whip-like, which I beleive helps me generate a lot more power.

Typically, if I'm striking a person, I'm aiming out their back, and the shoulder comes with the strike, the arm extension starts as the strike lands. Hand rotates with the strike, just like a punch. I'm also a big reverse hips fan. (step left, strike right, vice versa). Reverse Hip brings the most muscle groups to bear. A lot of arts de-emphasize this because of the lines of attack they favor. I like to move on 45 degree angles to my opponent. Moving in straight with a reverse hip can set you up for a counter strike.

Generally, I never lean out of a strike - why give up all my body mass when I can bring into the strike? (there are techniques where this is violated, of course.)

To me, my general style of fighting is "I intend to be standing where you are standing". Some styles go for ranged, some for medium distance, because of how I'm built, I go for CQB. I intend to occupy your space and own it as mine.

This works for me (generally - there are many who can kick my a$$), it may not work for you. Again, we're all built and wired differently.

This matches my energy and build.

[gripper]

There goes that turn of the body over the sqaure of tnhe hips again...I found that keeping my ears over my shoulders throughtout the motion helps,althouogh I discovered I was doing that by accident...as my old injuries would flare,I would re-evaluate what I was doing(strikes,kicks,etc.) and try to "find the sweet spot for the move.Bringing the shoulder of the styriking side probably turns offlines it up over your center-I have found that thinking of pulling that elbow over the hip without actually "lowering the cage"facilitates the turn.At least with my leftover abilities.

[gripper]

Lots of typos...sorry Aslan.Aslan do you see many people attempting to remain with a low hand postion??I know there is a time and a place for most things,butI had an interesting bit of interation with someone at a gas pump fairly recently( don't sweat it;no LE attention@ I was not the wrong party)where a guy tried to follow tghrough on a threat in such a fashion. Others told me he had been fairly well trained after the fact( and I know a few folsk who were pupils in that school from many years back).
I found the whole thing kind of surreal in hindsight.:unhappy::confused::confused:

[SurviveNthrive]

After acquiring a pistol permit, and realizing that getting in a street fight isn't an option-I stopped studying martial arts...I also didn't worry as much about being in shape...but this is an area we can't neglect.

[gripper]

Believe me ,I was trying to get away....I was in between the pump and my car.This guy apparently chose to remedy his abad day by making mine worse.I did not feel like being a punching bag.

[Aslan]

Not sure I visualize what you're asking about the low hand thing. I try not to have may hands / arms statically positioned. If one's moving up, the others moving down. I'm trying to keep vitals covered and be able to react or strike.

I have a CCW, but a pistol is not a substitute for hand to hand skills. H2H can give you the opportunity to turn tail and run, or buy you enough time to bring a pistol into play.

Generally, if you're inside my reaction zone, pistol will be my last choice for response. I don't want to find out you're faster than me and end up shooting me with my own gun.

Also, the minute you go for the gun, you're now in a fatal outcome scenario. Someone is going to lose their life. Even if you don't shoot, the fact you drew your gun means you're prepared to use deadly force. If you aren't prepared to use deadly force, then then gun should not have come out. I don't believe all situations require (or warrant) deadly force.

The absolute best defense against any type of attack is to not be there when it happens. If that's not an option, then cheat. Actually, 98% is simply deciding not to lose.

[gripper]

Aslan,what I mean is hat except for trying to grab me and pull me into a short left,the guy never got his hands up above his hip by much....sort of like too much "fist ,palm up at hip;cocked&locked" kind of Mcdojo take out.

[Aslan]

Aslan,what I mean is hat except for trying to grab me and pull me into a short left,the guy never got his hands up above his hip by much....sort of like too much "fist ,palm up at hip;cocked&locked" kind of Mcdojo take out.


If he keeps his hands low, then he's asking to be hit somewhere above his waist. (head, throat, sternum)

I've seen beginners taught to keep hands at waist when practicing punches out of horse or similar stance. But nobody recommends that for any real combat or sparring that I'm aware of.

Even if he had really good reaction time, he's got to move his hands a long way to block a strike aimed for his upper body. Time and distance are working against him.

I've dropped my guard while sparring - result: I got hit in the face. Not because I didn't try and block the punch, but because I had to recognize and then react to it. Time and distance beat my reaction by a split second, but that's all it took.

Training does not always = skill

[gripper]

Thats what happened....I clubbed the bicep of the grasping arm and hooked his liver&left ear.Oh yeah...I gave him the old boot to the shin somewhere along the line. Moe(Mohammed) the Egyptian guy behind the counter told me he'd order out for pizza to review the surveillance tape that night.

[Aslan]

Thats what happened....I clubbed the bicep of the grasping arm and hooked his liver&left ear.Oh yeah...I gave him the old boot to the shin somewhere along the line. Moe(Mohammed) the Egyptian guy behind the counter told me he'd order out for pizza to review the surveillance tape that night.

I get out to Nashua about once a year for a conference at the Sheraton Tara. We always try to get out at least one night and head over to Boston Billards for some pool.

I'll have to try and let you know when I will be out that way....

[gripper]

Hopefully when youget here,I will be doing better...Man I am way overdue for a change (for the better).There are good Vietnamese and Indian restaurants nearby.

[Aslan]

probably won't be until may or june...

[SurviveNthrive]

mis posted thing

[whytepizza]

Alright, what you described is a ballistics hit. You take the energy from your hips (like in Aikido) and work it up from every joint into your hand. I do Systema and it is the only type of hitting we work with. Open hand always seems to work better for me too. I'm at MOST 160lbs and about 6'. I'm not a big strong guy, or a big guy.
The idea is, use NO muscle effort whatsoever. Hit like you want to b-slap the guy, let your hips draw it out for you and your arm follows like a whip. You can do it closed hand or open hand. I prefer open hand because i have shorter arms and wear wrists. It makes me keep my wrist straight without using arm muscle. If you use arm muscle it sucks.
For best result with just seeing if it works for you is to do as many pushups as you can. Stop for a little bit, then rest your wrists on the ground and your hands pionting towards each other and do as many wrist pushups as possible. Then do as many pushups as you can, then do some more. You want your arms to be so tired you CAN'T use muscle. Have a guy hold a mat for you because it doesn't have as cool of an impact on just a regular old punching bag.
Again, allow your hips to draw the path and your arm follows. It's like an Indiana Jones Whip Hit. It's taken me years to get it halfway decent with nearly every type of punch. I'm not where i want to be, but i have an idea of how to get there.