Speed Vs Power

[Haruhiko]

False. Power = Force x Velocity: This physics formula clearly shows that power requires both force (strength) and velocity (speed). An arm punch (e.g., jab) can be faster than a whole body punch (e.g., rear hand cross) but less powerful.

Punch Force - The Science Behind The Punch

Punch Force | Boxing | Strength and Conditioning | Sport Science | MMA

boxingscience.co.uk

This is the most MMA-science thing I've ever seen.

 

[Haruhiko]

What evidence do you have to support this? Studies have shown the opposite.

Excerpts from "Hand Speed Measurements in Boxing:"

"Not every punch has to be as fast as possible. Sometimes fast lead hand punches are used to break through the opponent’s defence in order to strike him with a powerful rear hand punch. With regards to technique the lead hand punch (jab) is different from the rear hand punch (cross). The jab is a fast but weak blow, delivered from the front hand...

In most cases, jabs had a higher velocity than the cross."

The example @PhotonGuy mentioned is a complex one, as it involves a system of connected masses acting together in acceleration, from a state of potential.

But I'm not sure that's what his point was to begin with - just that if you do intend to punch with the lead hand, you must move your centre of mass along with it to produce more force, just as a Taekwondo fighter would with their legs to kick a leading roundhouse kick. Assuming a right leg is in lead, you quickly push from the lead, immediately step with left then distribute (still moving) centre of mass on to left leg, and with the momentum, lift right leg up bent, and snap to kick with potential energy.

Sometimes if you're too fast, the momentum is "distributed" to the lead leg producing torque force which then rotates you backwards, and you can miss the landing of the step of the non-leading foot. And end up on your ****.

It's risky and can be unbalanced, but like boxing usually used to prod the guard.

 

[HighKick]

Im talking about in reference to a stationary object, such as a deer that's standing still. Lets say you're shooting at the stationary deer from the bed of a pickup truck while the truck is moving towards it, I would not recommend really doing this as I believe in most cases its illegal to hunt from vehicles but for the sake of science we can discuss it. Also most deer are not going to just stand still while a truck is coming towards them, let alone while being shot at, but again for science's sake we can discuss it. From the deer's perspective the bullet will be moving at the speed of the bullet plus the speed of the truck.

Now, lets say you're shooting at the deer while you're standing on the ground still, the bullet from the deers perspective will only be going at its ordinary speed without the speed of the truck added in because in this case you're not shooting from a moving truck you're shooting from a stationary position. So from the deer's perspective the bullet will be going faster if you shoot from the truck than if you shoot from a stationary position.

By the same token, if you punch towards an opponent, your hand is going to be going faster when you put your hips and the rest of your body into it than if you just punch with your arm, without putting the rest of your body into it, from your opponent's perspective.

It is relativity 101. Think of the velocity of the bullet. It is Much faster than the traveling truck. In simplest terms, the speed of the truck is 'consumed' by the speed of the round. You could say the bullet catches up and passes the speed of the truck. It is not an addition problem.

To your punching analogy, yes, the punch could be faster due to good form and technique. But this is a connected motion, so the bullet analogy does apply.

 

[Haruhiko]

It is relativity 101. Think of the velocity of the bullet. It is Much faster than the traveling truck. In simplest terms, the speed of the truck is 'consumed' by the speed of the round. You could say the bullet catches up and passes the speed of the truck. It is not an addition problem.

To your punching analogy, yes, the punch could be faster due to good form and technique. But this is a connected motion, so the bullet analogy does apply.

Pretty much this. It's a connected "kinetic chain". Though it is additive in respect to the chain of motion from the waist/body -> arm/punch, it's still relying on energy within an isolated system.

The bullet/truck analogy considers two systems, with one being an assumed velocity of the truck, and another being the acceleration of a bullet. If you were shooting from the back of a trailer, the velocity of the bullet would be slower relative to the ground/target, the same relative to the truck/shooter and even faster relative to oncoming stationary targets. So less impact force from the back, and more from the front.

 

[Badhabits]

You are missing an important point. The hip rotation is slower than the arm extension. This means in order to for the hips to add to their synergy to the punch speed their movement must be initiated prior to the punch being launched. In other words, the arm punching motion must wait for the hips. This time lag means the entire punching process with the hips will be slower than a punch without the hip rotation.

It is possible to lead with the fist slightly but the hips "catch up" and the whole movement finish with the correct sequence of the hips pushing the fist. This is something my current instructor has us practice at a certain point. We practice both lead with arm for speed and lead with the body for power, later on the two begin to blend.