to get this back on track and answer the original question. I dont think visualization belongs in any description of a martial technique. though I think it could be a useful tool in martial practice. making the arm feel 'a dead weight' is one type of ging which seems quite powerful, a drawback could be that it works better with space. A common misconception is there is one type of ging. for instance a one inch punch can bounce an opponent away (bruce was famous for this)or it can drop an opponent on the spot the punch might look the same but the energy generated by the body is different. By this I dont mean the origin of the source of power but how it is transfered along the body and transmitted.

When you punch, you visualize punching through and beyond the immediate point of contact.

Why do you need to visualise this. just end the snap of the punch behind the position of the opponent.

the 1 inch punch is not realistic but it is fun nonetheless.

REALITY CHECK: let's pretend
Why not teach it to UFC, military, police, etc and see how it stands up. It won't. 1 inch punch will work on suckers, pretenders and the unfit!
it doesn't stop bullets, doesn't stand up to knives or a baseball bat, so what';s the use?

This is not meant to stop people from pursuing it.
just a reality check.

thanks all

Stan, what technique can stop bullets none I know of but perhaps you practice one, care to share. one inch punch is for close range fighting and is not meant to project the opponent back as in bruces demos but drop them on the spot like a sack of potatoes. I have been hit with some close range power and it doubled me over, and I am no pretender. FYI the millitary and police in my country do consult with wing chun masters to improve their unarmed combat techniques.

my experience has been that well conditioned people, regardless of regimen, will not fall for the '1 inch punch' scenario.
if it works for someone, then I applaud them.
maximum eficacy in any martial endeavour means to be well rounded and the 'i inch punch' does not fall into a category that has to be pursued.

FOr those who pursue it, 'ta bueno. it all good.
if one is a stationary target, then it is obviously easy to take anybody down. A moving target is difficult.

Stan, practicing the "one-inch" punch has greatly increased my ability to strike with force over very short distances. However, I have never personally seen anyone (including my old sifu, who had AWESOME power in his strikes) be able to punch really hard over a literal space of one inch. I think the term is a figuratively inspirational one for training short range strikes. My punches probably travel about 6 to 8 inches, although for max power, I need at least a foot. That's from starting point to target, but in our system, the short strike is a circular one, so the total distance the hand moves is actually greater, kind of a wind-up. These demonstrations of people flying across the stage, they are obviously being pushed rather than punched.

One more thing, in our use of short strikes, it isn't to turn a clinch into a punching exchange, it's to be able to punch without drawing the hand back too far, thus exposing one's abdomen.

Great point Kenneth, the one inch punch is to me more important as a concept for training than application

Not wanting to barge in here, this is only my second post on the board, but power drills are a pet interest of mine.

Technically, as far as I understand it there is a gap between when a prestretched muscle releases and is able to contract again - I think its called the Amelioration phase or something like that.

Training in explosive drills like the one inch punch help you to shorten that phase, so when you punch over a useful distance, with no wind up, you get more punch for your buck so to speak.

Dave

Right if you see people punching from within another persons Guard or half guard. those guys want the maximum power over short distances normally only a couple of inches. short range power makes sense while ground fighting or fighting in the clinch ala dirty boxing. also yeah conditioning can help to minimise damage but hit a guy in the same spot over and over again and conditioning eventually does not become a factor.

Ozzy, yes, the inch-power drills have greatly increased the speed with which my arms can change directions for combos, multiples, etc. while never having to waste time "chambering".

Guys,

That is the best I have heard. it is wonderful. if it is useful, then go for it.

Try experiencing it before making judgements.

Why do you need to visualise this. just end the snap of the punch behind the position of the opponent.

Because a one inch punch is in reference to the collapsing of the hand/fingers into the fist driven from shoulder, waist up through feet and legs.

There is no "end of snap" its a punch through.

You figure out why the collapse---its a sophistated technique that is beyond the preaching of Bruce Lee.

KS,

thank you for your kindness!

Most of the time, modern internal artists have speed but no whole-bodypower or not enough experience actually hitting things. The true test for any method of punching is to first do it effectively against a focus mitt, makiwara, heavy bag etc.

When you can deliver real force on those surfaces; then practise against a target that moves, bobs, evades and finally try to apply it against an opponent who either is used to being hit or who wears protective equipment. Then tell me how great you are at shaking or fa-jing or 'short power' or the one inch punch...

I continue to be amazed by the numbers of people who equate punching the air in a variety of ways with having developed some unique kind of high-level punch.

Punching or striking with the whole body can only be learned from someone who knows how to do it for real; those few paragons can hit you quickly, precisely and with full body weight at a variety of ranges.

Sorry Guys, maybe I didn't express myself clearly enough. In my experience, short punching is a drill and MUST be conditioned on a heavy bag.

It is a whole body exercise, as you will get no effect without such coodination.

If you want to test the penetrative effects of your punch and get some feedback, have a buddy hold a phone book or two in front of their chest and try punching through it. It's a good drill for the guy holding the book too.

Stan, sorry if I sounded snide, I meant that literally. I encourage you to actually spend at least 6 weeks or so drilling this sort of thing intensively and see the changes that start in the way you punch.

Ozzy, I've personally found the WC wallbag superior to the heavy bag for this sort of thing. Also, I think the WC "inch punch" is rather different in principle from the short strikes of my Hakka system.

QYL, I am the first to down play bruce lee's skill as he has a mythos around him, which often accompanies movie stars who 'check out' before there time. But he was a well conditioned martial artist and did have a grasp of at least the basic principles of wing chun including short range power generation. It is not some mystical technique as you claim it but simple biomechanics. And colapsing the hand, I do not know what technique you are refering to but it is not wing chuns short range punch. colapsing the wrist on impact sounds dangerous for your joints and the tendons that run through it and is contry to proper biomechanics.

Nothing mystical about the one inch punch so described in the post. Its all alignment and power, nothing more.

You are right, its not wing chun but it is a one-inch punch.

Mr. Lee is irrelevant to the discussion.