There's obviously a lot of obsession with punching power in these threads and I wanted to address some of the factors involved in hard punching. It seems like most people focus on muscles and proper punching technique when it comes to power, but there is much more to it than that.
First off, everybody has physical limitations on how hard they can punch. Some people aren't simply genetically equipped to hit like Darchinyan or Tyson. No matter how hard or how long we train, some us will never hit like those two. But there are things we can do to maximize our potential and smack the shit of people.
Proper punching technique is an obvious one. You'll have more power in your punches if you're able to shift your weight into them. Duh.
However, one thing beginners should remember is that being able to apply that technique in sparring and fighting takes time. Like, a lot of time. It takes months and years of practice for the movements to become ingrained in your body. After time you slowly start to "get it." It's kind of hard to explain, but if you see young guys train, you'll see that one day they have power they didn't have before. You're able to pull of punches with more speed and accuracy as time goes on, and have an easier time shifting your weight into the punch. I've recently started hitting harder myself and haven't touched weights in a year.
Other factors involved are set ups, footwork, and speed.
1. Footwork is one people here don't mention a lot when it comes to power. But it is good footwork that enables you to punch properly. If you're foot positioning is off, you could lose balance and not get the leverage you need on your punches. You won't be able to get the same type of power in your straight right if you were in a horse stance than in a typical boxing stance. In a fight as you're moving around against an opponent, it won't be as easy to get the exact foot positioning you want.
For example, I'm an infighter so I'm constantly stepping in. Sometimes, I step in too close and can't get leverage on my punches (This is the case against othe infighters). Or I don't step in enough and end up barely tapping the guy with the end of my gloves (against boxers who have faster feet than me).
2. Set ups. There are many ways to set up an opponent and footwork is related to this. Set ups are important not ony because they leave openings, but they enable you to blind your opponent to the punch he's about to receive. The punch you don't see coming if the one that knocks you out. The most typical example of this is the one two combo; blind the guy with a jab and hit him with a straight.
3. Another way to make your punches harder to see is speed. Faster punches are harder to see. There are guys who aren't known for jaw-cracking power but are able to floor guys with overwhelming speed. For example, the iron-chinned Margarito took flush combos from fucking Miguel Cotto without evening flinching but he was hurt by Clottey and floored by Mosley. Obviously if you add speed to weight, you increase power as well. Instead of trying to wail on the bag as hard as they can, beginners should try practicing punching with speed as well.
First off, everybody has physical limitations on how hard they can punch. Some people aren't simply genetically equipped to hit like Darchinyan or Tyson. No matter how hard or how long we train, some us will never hit like those two. But there are things we can do to maximize our potential and smack the shit of people.
Proper punching technique is an obvious one. You'll have more power in your punches if you're able to shift your weight into them. Duh.
However, one thing beginners should remember is that being able to apply that technique in sparring and fighting takes time. Like, a lot of time. It takes months and years of practice for the movements to become ingrained in your body. After time you slowly start to "get it." It's kind of hard to explain, but if you see young guys train, you'll see that one day they have power they didn't have before. You're able to pull of punches with more speed and accuracy as time goes on, and have an easier time shifting your weight into the punch. I've recently started hitting harder myself and haven't touched weights in a year.
Other factors involved are set ups, footwork, and speed.
1. Footwork is one people here don't mention a lot when it comes to power. But it is good footwork that enables you to punch properly. If you're foot positioning is off, you could lose balance and not get the leverage you need on your punches. You won't be able to get the same type of power in your straight right if you were in a horse stance than in a typical boxing stance. In a fight as you're moving around against an opponent, it won't be as easy to get the exact foot positioning you want.
For example, I'm an infighter so I'm constantly stepping in. Sometimes, I step in too close and can't get leverage on my punches (This is the case against othe infighters). Or I don't step in enough and end up barely tapping the guy with the end of my gloves (against boxers who have faster feet than me).
2. Set ups. There are many ways to set up an opponent and footwork is related to this. Set ups are important not ony because they leave openings, but they enable you to blind your opponent to the punch he's about to receive. The punch you don't see coming if the one that knocks you out. The most typical example of this is the one two combo; blind the guy with a jab and hit him with a straight.
3. Another way to make your punches harder to see is speed. Faster punches are harder to see. There are guys who aren't known for jaw-cracking power but are able to floor guys with overwhelming speed. For example, the iron-chinned Margarito took flush combos from fucking Miguel Cotto without evening flinching but he was hurt by Clottey and floored by Mosley. Obviously if you add speed to weight, you increase power as well. Instead of trying to wail on the bag as hard as they can, beginners should try practicing punching with speed as well.
