North Coast Miller
Level 9 Valued Member
Anyhow, what do Karate guys do to get hard punches? They hit hard things. Makes sense.
You definitely want to include some hard surface striking, but this is where an instructor can help you not cause long term harm. The bones of the lower arm and hand are only going to get so dense, and the skin on the backs of the hands is only going to get so desensitized before your returns drop way off. After that is timing and speed.
Yes, because the legs provide the spring behind the punches more than anything else, if I'm understanding it correctly.
You always want to be pushing off of the floor, bracing from the legs, or harnessing your weight and momentum some other way - landing a strike at the same time your moving foot touches the floor if you are moving laterally.
I always add that you stress speed and timing though, and a ton of defensive arm/elbow. Raw punching power is something for the boxing world where gloves and wraps protect your hands and wrists.
Bareknuckle guys don't need to hit with everything they have - a single well placed shot at 75% punching power will tear someone up good, a dozen poorly placed ones at 100% will do very little or nothing. Check out some Bobby Gunn or other BKB video and the differences between boxing and bareknuckle become very clear.