Snapping

In a snapping technique, the foot or hand is quickly whipped out at the target and, immediately after it makes contact, it is just as quickly retracted. Snapping techniques only penetrate the target a couple of inches.

In boxing, the jab is a snapping technique.
Snapping techniques are linear, which makes them difficult to block but easier to slip.
In a snapping technique, the fist or foot moves at a much greater speed than with a thrusting or pushing technique. The speed of a snapping technique may be illustrated by the snapping motion of a whip. The whip is slung forward with the arm and then snapped quickly backward. Even though the handle of the whip is snapped backward, the tip continues forward at an even greater speed. The tip of the whip exceeds the speed of sound and makes a snapping sound. If the whip is snapped onto a person's back, a sharp, piercing pain will be felt in a central location for a short period.
A snapping technique has a minimum time of contact with the target. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, however, the two actions may not occur at the same instant. For example, the force of a punch starts at the immovable floor and moves upward through the body and outward into the fist. When the target is struck, the force of the punch moves downward through the opponent’s body to the immovable floor, strikes the floor, and rebounds back through the body and into the striking fist. When the fist first makes contact, most all of its force has already made its transit to the point of impact. However, in the target, the force of the strike must move through the body to the floor and back to the point of impact. This takes time. If the striking fist is not there when the force is returned, the force must stay within the target’s body, adding to the damage already done by the initial force of the punch. If the punch is still in contact with the target when the force returns, some will be absorbed back into the puncher's body.
In snapping techniques, the body tenses at the moment of impact and then relaxes on retraction.
Snapping techniques are relatively easy to control when sparring, so injuries are reduced.

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