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Moving the fist first has another benefit; it helps prevent telegraphing the punch. If the fist moves first and moves directly at the opponent, the opponent will see a fist that appears to be getting larger. The eye detects movement quicker than it detects changes in size. This gives you a split second advantage before the opponent detects and reacts to the punch. A preliminary movement by the elbow, shoulder, or any other body part will warn the opponent of an attack. In addition, if the fist moves in a direction other than directly at the opponent, the movement will be detected quicker than a direct movement. Winging a punch give the opponent more time to react and evade or block the attack.

Of course, this means that you do not cock a punch. The punch just fires directly at the target from its present position. The punching action is similar to a jack-in-the-box toy; crank the toy, you hear the music, but you do not know then jack will pop up. When fighting, the opponent knows a punch will be coming at some point, but when it does, it should be a complete surprise.

Elbow Alignment

For the maximum power of a punch to be transferred to the target, the arm must be aligned properly. Try this experiment. Have a partner perform a basic middle punch at your midsection and hold it there. Then put your hands around the puncher's shoulders and pull the puncher's fist into your abdomen. Usually the person's elbow will bend outward and start to collapse. This means the elbow was positioned in a way that all the power of a punch may not have been transmitted into the target, but instead, some of it was absorbed by the weak elbow. Usually this is because the elbow was pointing outward to the side. If the elbow is rotated slightly downward, the arm is much stronger.

At first, it feels unnatural to stop the elbow in this position; however, with practice it will feel more natural. To position the elbow this way in a punch, execute a vertical punch and then rotate your fist into a traditional punch position being careful to keep you elbow in place. Now try the above experiment with the elbow rotated downward. It does not bend as it did in the first experiment.

Besides more power, this elbow position has a secondary advantage. It protects the elbow from an attack from the side that may hyperextend it.  

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