Boxer's Punching Power

Tim's Discussion Board: Martial Arts - Miscellaneous: Boxer's Punching Power
   By Tim on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 04:05 am: Edit Post

Short and interesting article.

http://www.sciam.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=5538765E-E7F2-99DF-393E0A0CD7821157

The boxer tested is a welterweight (142-152 lbs).


   By robert on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 01:48 pm: Edit Post

if there is one thing i hate, its converting kilograms to lbs. 400 kilograms, thats 881.8 lbs, if i read that website correctly, lol.


holy crap, thats amazing. must be tapping into "the force"


   By Enforcer on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 06:56 pm: Edit Post

well its a lame comparison. They are training boxers who also weight lift to people who only lift pencils for a living. Why not at least compare boxers to other weight lifters?


   By Backarcher on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 03:20 am: Edit Post

Standard weight lifting has very little to do with punching power.

People who do not understand biomechanics think a "good bench" and heavy curls will give you punching power.

More educated athletes and trainers understand that punching power comes from relaxation/tension ratio, leg drive, glut recruitment, core muscle torque and lastly and least the shoulder.

More "muscle bound" people generate often less power due to their lack of selective tension.

Weight lifting has just recently been more included in boxing regiments. But, it's not the type of lifting you would likely see other gym rats doing.

In the old days, weightlifting was a "no-no". They thought it would slow the fighters down. For speed is an essential element of power.


   By Enforcer on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 04:16 am: Edit Post

I dont know how true that is, if it were true why would boxing coaches and mma coaches constantly advocate weight training and tank abbot spend such a huge portion of hsi training just on bench press?


   By Backarcher on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 12:02 pm: Edit Post

Read what I wrote again.

Please, do not mention Tank Abbotts name in an intelligent conversation about athletes or guys who actually win fights! It's 2008.


   By Willis on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 03:20 pm: Edit Post

I totally agree with the 'archer. Wanderlei Silva got all bulked up since coming to the US and doing all the lifting training, and he just doesn't move like he used to. Much "tighter" and muscle bound these days. I believe too much weightlifting will actually decrease your power for striking. A whip is a good example of the type of power a good boxer/striker uses. Like Muhammad Ali, Roy Jones Jr. Those guys don't have bodybuilder/weight lifting physiques but can generate plenty of power and remain loose/ relaxed. That's the ideal type of physique for fighting.


   By Backarcher on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 06:16 pm: Edit Post

Please don't get me wrong. It was a flaw of trainers not to incorporate weightlifting in their routines in the old days.

It's not weight lifting, but how you lift.

The type of weightlifting that isn't good for power is the type Enforcer was talking about. You know guys who go to the gym for just a "good bench" or the kind that only do bodybuilding type exercises.

Smart weightlifting for power incorporates plyometrics, squatting and lunging motions, core rotational work, upper back work that is equal to upper anterior resistance movement.

An example of SPP(sport specific pre) for boxing would be benching in a power rack with a lightweight. But you don't "press" it up, rather you "explode" it up without actually gripping the bar. Your hands are held open and you push the bar about 1 to 2 feet up into the power rack and catch it with bent elbows as it comes down.

Same concept as clapping push ups.

You can do the same movement with a medicine ball.

Also, jumping squats with light weights.

This isn't the type of training muscleheads do in your typical gyms.

The rotational core movements are best done with clubs, hammers, ball on a rope and bands.

One of the things I tell my fighters is..."the gym with the least impressive physique usually wins in MMA(not always but usually)for while one guy is working on benching more, bigger biceps...the other guy is in the gym working on his technique." Tank Abbott is an exception, for he doesn't have a great physique and he has only won one fight since 1998: http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/David-Abbott-110

Strength through structure and power through technique!

Fedor is a great example of explosive power! He couldn't be as powerful or fast if he had more more mass and less flexibility.

Look at Mark Coleman's body and Fedor's body. Who has the most knockout power?

Look at the UFC champs: Nogueira, Griffin, Silva, GSP, Penn. The most impressive physique comes from GSP, but the gym is very lean, flexible and slender.


   By Enforcer on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 06:16 pm: Edit Post

but can u seriousl;y say that if two untrained guys punched you in the face and you can pick which one of them to hit you, you wouldnt mind picking the average joe voer the power lifter? the bench press makes their impact softer on their tendons and joints so they cna hit harder without getting hurt/feeling it near the shoulder area. Why do u think almost all the ufc/mma guys are huge like that?


   By Backarcher on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 08:03 pm: Edit Post

I wouldn't want to be hit by a powerlifter. :-(

UFC fighters are not huge. :-)Do you actually watch?

Chuck Lidell is the most successful striker in the UFC and his pot-belly is bigger that his chest. His power comes from his core, rotation and leverage...not his bench.

Can you name a UFC champ or former champ(that's any good) with huge muscular arms and chest? Anderson Silva? BJ Penn? Nogueira? Rampage? Couture?Fedor? Again, GSP is close, but he is slim.

Have you met these guys? I've met some/trained with some and they are smaller than you think.

Matt Hughes publicly said he hates benching. I can bench more than he can. His arms and legs are slim, but his core is solid.

UFC fighters have powerful core muscles or torsos.


   By Backarcher on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 08:05 pm: Edit Post

The study wasn't about you, Enforcer.

Don't take it personal.

Just train smart, get new positive friends and a good counselor.


   By Enforcer on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 08:14 pm: Edit Post

if you look at the heavy weights like ken shamrock and others they are big though.


   By Mark Hatfield on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 10:03 pm: Edit Post

Notice that one 'measured' punch was 32 mph. Yet a baseball can be thrown at 90 mph. Wonder what the energy calculation of the pitchers hand would have been. And if the pitcher had applied that movement as a blow instead of a throw?


   By Backarcher on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 10:18 pm: Edit Post

Enforcer,

You are bringing up dinosaurs of MMA: Tank Abbott and Ken Shamrock.

Have you watched MMA in the last 10 years?

Ken Shamrock has won 2 fights since 2000. http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Ken-Shamrock-4

You are proving my point. Those guys don't win against intelligently conditioned modern fighters!

Man. I'd love to take you under my wing and guide you in the right direction...as a fighter and as human being. Your heart is in the right place.


   By Tim on Friday, August 01, 2008 - 02:43 am: Edit Post

Enforcer,

The idea of the study was to compare the punching power of a boxer with average people, not other athletes.

Mark,

If the boxer was allowed to wind up his arm and body to maximum extension, lift his lead leg then drop and drive his body then rear hand forward, he'd generate much greater hand speed. Boxing punches cannot be thrown like a baseball, the opponent will not stand still and wait for the wind up.


   By Enforcer on Friday, August 01, 2008 - 05:17 am: Edit Post

well ive been doing boxing for about 2 years on and off and ive never knocked anyone out, in fact i hit one guy straight on with a hook perfectly on the chin and it only phased him but I never do weights nor fight in tournaments. I mostly train for bare knuckle know which is a lot faster and more painful to defend/block.


   By Jason M. Struck on Sunday, August 03, 2008 - 08:35 pm: Edit Post

i will also take anyone who needs strength training under my wing

www.rivercitypc.blogspot.com

:-)


   By Backarcher on Monday, August 04, 2008 - 12:32 am: Edit Post

Enforcer,

I would explore Jason's site and take a couple of weeks to explore all of links he has. Read, Read and educate yourself!


   By Jason M. Struck on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 12:49 pm: Edit Post

strength is the basal motor quality from which all other attributes derive; speed, endurance, power etc.

without high levels of relative strength, they won't ever be that impressive. particularly for the applications we are discussing;
striking someone and knocking them out or picking them up, dropping them on the ground and then applying a submission hold to them.


   By robert on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 05:21 pm: Edit Post

lol


   By Jason M. Struck on Wednesday, August 06, 2008 - 11:35 am: Edit Post

i think being stronger than everyone else is funny too.


   By robert on Wednesday, August 06, 2008 - 03:26 pm: Edit Post

strong is a state of mind


   By Jason M. Struck on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 02:09 pm: Edit Post

ok.

but i was talking about force production.


   By robert on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 10:41 pm: Edit Post

as far as the human body is concerned, strength is useless without coordination. and with coordination, a person with average strength can generate decent power.

maybe you are so obsessed with strength because you are so weak?


   By Jason M. Struck on Friday, August 08, 2008 - 09:07 am: Edit Post

that's probably it.

:-)


   By Enforcer on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 03:29 am: Edit Post

see weight training is realimportance and thus strengh/punching power (according to these guys just read this thread):
http://forum.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51943


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