Boxers in training develop their punching power from bagwork.
A typical schedule for a boxer could look something like this:
MWF - 3x3:00 rounds mitt work
MWF - 3x3:00 rounds heavy bag
TTh - 3x3:00 speed bag / other bags
TTh - 3x3:00 rounds against an opponent / training partner
This actually is taken from a friend's program for jr. boxers - teenagers. They start to scale it up as to number of rounds as the boxer progresses.
Punching power is a combination that includes speed and accuracy too - you can't take it out of context. If someone is so slow they never connect you don't have power in a fighting context.
All the work is supervised and someone corrects form, footwork, on all the rounds.
I'm posting this because someone brought up that Western boxers had the greatest measured punch strength. They develop it by doing some of the above type of sport training method development. I was watching an interview with Freddie Roach the other day who trains Manny Pacquiao and GSP. Manny worked 18 rounds straight mitt work with little break. So by the pro level those numbers are significantly greater than what is posted above.
When you train this way it also is a cardio and strength workout.
This represents a sport training approach, as opposed to some methods posted such as working with a spear, doing forms, etc. While it may be possible to get some results doing other things like that, the above type method produces results that are measured to be the greatest.
VT's way of making power is found in the forms...
VT uses body alignment (aligning the joints) body unity (the body working as one connected mass--a hammer) to drive the nail (the arm) into the opponent in sudden abrupt shocks of short power..the horse generator must be in sync with the arms, the nail, the striking... This is typically not seen and instead we see people walking or "running" into the opponent while doing the classic eggbeater (chain punches).
The main generator for doing this is the horse, the legs, the "blue print" for the mechanics is in the forms.. Once you know the correct mechanics the best way to train it is to do it...not by doing something else..
Making your "muscles bigger" (for a 'small woman's art') is not a "good answer" because without knowing the correct method it won't help to any useful degree.
Last edited by YungChun; 12-03-2010 at 08:45 AM.
Jim Hawkins
M Y V T K F
"You should have kicked him in the ball_..."—Sifu
Jim, I don't think anyone would advocate strength over technique. In the learning/development phase, the teacher should correct the student to ensure they are not using strength before technique.
However, once you have technique then having more body mass behind your punch cannot be a bad thing unless you sacrifice dexterity and mobility to develop it.
We can see clearly from posts and videos that no one (or precious few) have any VT body power technique..... "Strength training" hardly addresses this problem or how specifically VT generates power.
So you "increase power" by not powering your VT striking (mainly) with your arms...and instead from the body..
Last edited by YungChun; 12-03-2010 at 08:57 AM.
Jim Hawkins
M Y V T K F
"You should have kicked him in the ball_..."—Sifu
The forms have the blue print, but without supervision many can practice forms without learning the power generation. But it is true that for WCK you need to learn that method of power generation.
IMO "doing it" is represented by the sports training approach and method, not by forms.Once you know the correct mechanics the best way to train it is to do it...not by doing something else..
It is a common fallacy that sport specific training is about "making muscles bigger". It is about increasing functional strength in a specific endeavor. So for example, a bodybuilding approach to lifting is not going to produce the same punching power as the bagwork example I detailed above.Making your "muscles bigger" (for a 'small woman's art') is not a "good answer" because without knowing the correct method it won't help to any useful degree.
If you have the technique then having more strength couldn't hurt.
I agree you don't want to just arm punch. Power should come from the lower body (horse) i.e. the legs. You need strong core muscles to stabilize the delivery of the power to the upper body and out through the arms. Each link add a bit. Strength and timing is important IMO.
Last edited by YungChun; 12-03-2010 at 12:09 PM.
Jim Hawkins
M Y V T K F
"You should have kicked him in the ball_..."—Sifu
Jim Hawkins
M Y V T K F
"You should have kicked him in the ball_..."—Sifu