Punches

Punches are hand attacks using a closed fist in mostly linear attack. Some punch arc (such as hook punch) or travel upward (such as uppercut). Fist may be held horizontally or vertically. Contact area is usually first two knuckles. Power comes from hip snap and driving off ball of trailing foot. ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) practitioners also use the knee-snap sine wave motion to generate power. Punches may be "snapped" out and back very quickly or "pushed through" where, upon contact, the fist pushes into target.

Click this link for a short video clip of the Bruce Lee's legendary one-inch punch (actually more of an 1" punch with a push at the end, just more of the Bruce Lee hype, watch Rocky Marciano fights to see real punches). Here is another clip of the one-inch punch (Lets analyze this: have a dummy stand straight-legged and stiff with feet side-by-side, and then push him into a chair with a "one-inch" punch. People were gullible in 1964.)

Punches Are Deadly

Rocky Marciano, heavyweight champion (1952-1956) at 187 pounds was one of the greatest fighters of all time. His professional boxing record was 49-0-0 with 43 KO's. His 88% knockout percentage is greatest of any heavyweight. He is the only undefeated fighter in the history of professional boxing. Joe Louis, who was knocked out by Rocky in the 8th round, said of Marciano, "It hurt to bump into him...." Archie Moore, who was knocked out by Rocky in the 8th round,  when asked which of Marciano's punches hurt him, said, "Man they all hurt!" 

Bill Libby in his 1971 book " Rocky: The Story of a Champion" described Macciano's fight with Roland LaStarza's as "Marciano's gloved fists broke blood vessels and bones in LaStarza's arms and elbows. First the arms grew heavy, then they began to ache awfully, then they grew numb. As the relentless battle wore on, LaStarza found it harder and harder to raise his arms, much less jab with them or punch with them. His hands lowered, his defense dissipated, Marciano began to punish him about the head. LaStarza began to take a terrible beating."