Develop Super Fast Punches.
Super Fast Punches
What makes a super fast punch? Three things:
- Removing any unnecessary movements that telegraph your strike
- Using the most efficient motions possible
- Increasing neuromuscular firing rate
Removing unnecessary movements means you won’t telegraph your punch and it will appear to be faster. Here is a quick list of ways you might be telegraphing your punch:
- Leaning before punching
- Leading from the shoulder or elbow instead of your fist / palm
- Stepping before your fist / hand moves
- Dropping your body before punching
- Facial expressions
- Using a predictable rhythm
- Twisting your hips before you punch
Ditch the telegraphing movements and your punch will automatically become super fast.
When it comes to using the most efficient motions possible that pretty much goes hand in hand with the list above. Don’t do those things and you will become more efficient.
Number 1 Tip for a Super Fast Punch
But here is my number 1 tip for developing a super fast punch or palm strike. Lead from the fist or palm first. The hand should be the very first thing moving.
Anything else you do must follow the hand. So if you have to step or lunge forward to reach your opponent the order of your punch is 1) Fist, then 2) Step. Your fist will be about a 3rd of the way out before you take your step forward.
That will seem really odd at first. You will need to get a lot of reps before it starts seeming natural to you but trust me this is key. This is what Bruce Lee taught and he was arguably one of the fastest fighters to ever live.
Bruce would routinely show up at martial arts tournaments and have people stand several feet away. He would tell them he was going to put a punch at their right temple and asked them if they could block it… They never could. Now that is a super fast punch.
And you know what? Bruce Lee was just a human being like you or me. He was able to be so fast because of his work ethic. He paid attention during training. Rather than throwing mindless punches over and over he had a goal for each rep. In this case moving the fist first and stepping second. Then he would amass tons of reps.
Want to have super fast punches? Do what Bruce Lee did.
Final Thoughts
Here is a quick summary of the drill from the video:
- Have your partner put their hands about shoulder width apart and extended out away from their body
- Throw your punch or strike between their hands before they can clap your fist / palm strike
- It doesn’t matter if you get clapped on the way back, that means your strike would have landed
- Make sure to penetrate far enough through their hands to make it legit, your wrist should pass their wrists
- Start close, then keep moving back a little to increase the challenge
- Eventually you will be one complete step back so you must do a lunging strike. This is the hardest but the most useful in a fight
- Get feedback from your partner. If you keep getting slapped on the way in ask your partner what they see you telegraphing.
Do this drill regularly and a super fast punch, palm, or eye strike will be yours.
Until next time,
Brian
