Punch (strike)

In violence and martial arts, a punch is a strike made using the hand closed into a fist. They are usually a bit weaker than kicks, but faster to deliver.

Related Topics:
Violence - Martial art - Strike - Fist - Kicks

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Punches vary in technique, speed, and range. The most forceful punches incorporate motion of the whole body: a short step, a shift of the body, a turn of the shoulders, and an extension of the arm. However, in some contexts this motion is not appropriate and the punch is a much more constrained motion. One example is the "one inch punch" from Wing Chun, which is intended for use at very close quarters against an opponent who is holding the practitioner. As the name suggests, it is a very short, sharp motion with minimal body motion.

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A forceful punch that lands wrong or strikes the wrong target may damage the hand; for this reason padded gloves are worn in many sports that involve punching (such as boxing). When punches are practiced on a heavy punching bag, bag gloves are worn to protect the skin of the hand, and the hands are wrapped tightly to protect them from damage due to repetitive impacts.

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The elbow should not be locked out at the extension of a punch. This weakens the punch and makes the elbow susceptible to be broken. In the long term, it wears the cartilage which can eventually lead to arthritis.

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Many martial arts such as Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai and Wing Chun combine punches with kicks and other strikes, whereas boxing relies only on punches. There are also some martial arts, such as judo, that include no strikes at all.

Related Topics:
Karate - Taekwondo - Muay Thai - Wing Chun - Boxing - Judo

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