In all fairness, flairing out the elbows is considered bad technique in Boxing. Proper Boxing technique is to keep the elbows in tight and turn the fist horizontal just befor impact for a little extra snap.
Legendary boxer Jack Dempsey covered the vertical punch in his book as well. They also use this Punch in the old Style of Muay Thai known as Muay Boran.
They teach you not to wing your elbows out when throwing a jab or cross in Boxing, to be fair. Correct boxing technique for a jab or cross is to have the elbows anchored, same as with the vertical punch.
You are absolutely right. My comment wasn't on accurate boxing technique, but on "what you will see people do." You don't have to search very hard to find people training and executing boxing technique poorly. Thank you for your comment.
lol. barely saw that last punch at the end. should do a demo of vertical vs boxing punches. you just explained the muscle mechanics, perhaps do a full demo of speed advantages as well as defensive advantages. would be cool to see. unless there already is I just didn't see it yet.
You need to also take in consideration that boxing doesn't allow movable wrist joints. It is the free movement of the wrist that makes vertical fist punching effective in the first place.
Question: I once had someone ask me why people use palm strikes. He thought that they seemed weak and were, to paraphrase, for sissy fighters who can't throw a punch (he mentioned a boxing background I think). I tried to explain but we just parted ways when he accepted that he'd never understand. In your teaching experience, what is the best way to explain a technique to someone who wants to be stubborn in the ways that they were originally taught?
Actually, I'm working on the editing of the Palm Strike Vs Regular Punch-Core JKD Boxing video. It will be up Thursday and will answer your questions. Your friend is somewhat foolish and uneducated in the ways of the force. :) There are distinct advantages of using the palm vs standard punching. And powerful men have used palm strikes in fighting in the street. If I can knock you out with a feather, then the feather is no longer a lightweight-or "sissy"-tool. Function over ignorance and ego any day.
Hit him, that's the easiest way. Have him agree to getting hit first, aim for a non vital target, like the arm. Let him notice you're not using full force, give him enough to understand it's a valid strike.
SwordTune if you try both, the palm strike is very fast and relaxed and you can still put power and alignment into it. Further, when striking the head or face there is much less chance of breaking hand bones vs. a fist. You can also cup slap ears, palm heel rising strikes to front or sides of jaw drive it up and back, disorienting the opponent. Plus it can be non-telegraphed starting from simply your hands in a “I don’t want any trouble “ posture. Also with the wrist in alignment there is less chance of tweaking your wrist or damaging it. In the WW2 Combatives they used the palm heel strike a lot, driving the chin up and back then the fingers would curve into the eyes. In Wing chun we use palm strikes training on the wooden dummy too. I have heard some instructors say to use palms to the head but fists to the body, then you don’t break your hand. Those are some ideas off the top of my head. The boxing punch has lots of power and reach but without wraps and gloves can your hands take that impact? I don’t think mine can.
The average wing chun guys I’ve come across have little power. Punch is more of a poke. Don’t know why their biomechanics are so poor. A GOOD boxer is a wonderful thing to behold. I feel a boxer has biomechanics and footwork down. I think a vertical punch has its uses, and I’m aware of Jack Dempsey’s style, but I feel the typical boxers punch has better protection of the chin when thrown properly. Having said all of that, against a grappling assault I’d feel more comfortable with my elbows down using vertical punch for defense
Thanks for the comment. Yes, there are plenty of people out there who cannot express a punch with the whole of their body. A good boxer does just that, boxes very well because that's their field. They don't have to worry about the wrestler or shoot fighter who is skilled at getting in and restricting or eliminating boxing tools of a person not trained in striking while grappling standup or on the ground. Boxers also don't have to worry about defending effective kicks, knife attacks, multiple opponents, etc. They train to fight in a ring against another boxer. When you train for the reality of any kind of attacker in any environment, efficiency dictates the kind of punches and other attacks you will use. The vertical fist trained properly has every ounce of proper chin-and knockout line-protection trained in other strikes.
