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Punching the opponent's chest? How does it work as a strategy?

It's a nice central location so if the opponent moves you end up hitting the face or the body.

The body how? That would require your opponent to jump? If he leans to the sides you will just hit his shoulders.
 
In boxing sometimes you are taught to jab at the chest against a guy who is hard to hit in the head or if you just want to control your opponent.
 
In this fight, it looks like Michael Johnson throws lots of punches at Khabib's chest, and that seems to, in one way or another, let him land a head shot that dazes Khabib.



I haven't heard much about this, except one of Anderson Silva's opponents being told to "punch a hole through his chest" in one fight. But it seems pretty effective. Do chest punches do that much damage? Are they used to set-up headshots? Or just to stop people who have good head movement?



The idea is ..the head moves around but the body is mostly stationary so if you can't catch the chin then target the body in particular the solar plexus also fighters may duck into your jab/strike while shooting for a clinch or takdown..it's good advice by the corner
 
As I am led to understand, plenty of body punching a) will make an opponent lower his hands to guard against it, thus opening up ways to his head, and b) damage through attrition, affecting cardio etc. There's a few spots that are really vulnerable of course, but generally speaking it isn't an end to itself. Not everything punch needs to be a potential kill shot in order to be useful.
 
Do chest punches do that much damage? Are they used to set-up headshots? Or just to stop people who have good head movement?
If you punch a guy hard enough in the chest you can make their heart explode with the right vibrations.
 
If you punch a guy hard enough in the chest you can make their heart explode with the right vibrations.

Dont be ridiculous, thats bullshit. However, if you punch at the right angle you can reach right into their chest cavity and rip out their heart. Another good tactic is to take a bite out of their still beating heart, right in front of them. Really puts your opponent off their game
 
Along with aiming for the solar plexus (that shit sucks) it also can be useful for trying to push a guy into the position you want him to be in.
 
Dont be ridiculous, thats bullshit. However, if you punch at the right angle you can reach right into their chest cavity and rip out their heart. Another good tactic is to take a bite out of their still beating heart, right in front of them. Really puts your opponent off their game
"It is ALLL OVER!!"

No shit Goldie.
 
It is an easier target than the head (if they are squared up). Also you can knock the air out of someone if your lucky.
 
Aside from the opponent potentially ducking into it, George Forman said that hard chest shots do actually have a draining effect on your body as the fight goes on. I've been hit hard in the chest before, and it can actually even jolt and stun you for a second as well.
 
Mayweather does this all the time
THIS.

Mayweather is one of the biggest examples of punching the chest on purpose. I remember in the Berto fight he was punching his chest area a lot, and it was obvious he was doing it on purpose. And then Berto would try and punch back but would just be punching the air, and then Floyd would go to the head. He did it a lot in that fight
 

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