Pushing vs snapping

[nottingham90]

Title says it... What is the biggest difference if technically you are doing the right thing? (Not leaning,staying balanced) is it possible to "push" a punch but actually doing the right thing if that makes sense? I feel like I'm pushing my punches especially my cross but really want justification of what the difference is....

A video example of a pushing punch vs a snapping punch would be great... I can see a difference in a jab but a cross confuses me.

 

[NVSemin]

Title says it... What is the biggest difference if technically you are doing the right thing? (Not leaning,staying balanced) is it possible to "push" a punch but actually doing the right thing if that makes sense? I feel like I'm pushing my punches especially my cross but really want justification of what the difference is....

A video example of a pushing punch vs a snapping punch would be great... I can see a difference in a jab but a cross confuses me.

not sure you understand, but since you ask:

during the push, most of the mechanical work is done when the fist is in contact with the target. Place your fist / palm on the target without much effort and then put the effort. That's how you push.

While during the snap, most of the mechanical work is done pryor to the contact. You have to accelerate your body first and then concentrate all the acceleration in the contact point (fist), which technically is somewhat similar to snapping a whip. This can be traced to books on physics, mechanics and material strength.

In other words, given the same amount of mechanical work or energy your muscles can produce, if you TECHNICALLY redistribute most of the work PRYOR to the contact - you will most likely produce a snapping punch, if you TECHNICALLY redistribute most of the work AFTER the contact - you will most likely produce a pushing "punch", because this is not what people call punch by definition.

 

[Kanka]

Pushing would mean you're using your tricep muscles, which makes you punch slower and you also will get tired faster. snapping means your arms are relaxed and you use your body weight.

 

[Perfect form]

My understanding is that a push is when you continue your body movements when you've already hit your target. A snapping punch to me is when you stop the body movements before impact and the last bit is just the arm moving.

So to me snapping punches is the same as saying throwing punches. I think about it like I'm throwing my whole arm at my opponent.

It's hard to do with tight punches. A lot of coordination needed. So someone new can most likely not throw a tight punch. But we can all throw haymakers.

 

[PivotPunch]

My understanding is that a push is when you continue your body movements when you've already hit your target. A snapping punch to me is when you stop the body movements before impact and the last bit is just the arm moving.

So to me snapping punches is the same as saying throwing punches. I think about it like I'm throwing my whole arm at my opponent.

It's hard to do with tight punches. A lot of coordination needed. So someone new can most likely not throw a tight punch. But we can all throw haymakers.

But you are supposed to punch through your target. You can see both wrong ways with a heavy bag.
a.) you push your punches: you only think about MOVING the foot/fist to the bag and concentrate on applying force once you already made contact with the bag -> the bag will swing wild but there won't be a big impact you literally pushed it

.) you only concentrate on bringing the fist/foot from poitn a to b as fast as possible but stop at the moment of impact -> it makes a loud sound and looks like the finger finger death punch but you wouldn't have killed a fly sitting on the heavybag


and then there

c.) the right way aka do both: you have your fist accalerate as much as you can don and you NEVER stop accalerating even after you made impact you depending on the resistance and weight of the bag or opponent only stop accalerating before you lose balance or if the opponent/bag doesn't give in the target will stop the punch for you

you really want to accalerate it's even better to concentrate on accalerating than on being fast because you aren't supposed to stop accelarting your fist/foot even once it has reache d agood speed, it is supposed to get faster and faster up to the very moment of the impact and only after the impact NOT AT the impact is where you stop accalerating

 

[a guy]

Pushing would mean you're using your tricep muscles, which makes you punch slower and you also will get tired faster. snapping means your arms are relaxed and you use your body weight.

How do you extend your arm without using your triceps?

 

[a guy]

My understanding is that a push is when you continue your body movements when you've already hit your target. A snapping punch to me is when you stop the body movements before impact and the last bit is just the arm moving.

So to me snapping punches is the same as saying throwing punches. I think about it like I'm throwing my whole arm at my opponent.

It's hard to do with tight punches. A lot of coordination needed. So someone new can most likely not throw a tight punch. But we can all throw haymakers.

The body moves as one. If it stops moving before the arm impacts then power is being lost. The body isn't a whip no matter how much people like that analogy.

 

[a guy]

Title says it... What is the biggest difference if technically you are doing the right thing? (Not leaning,staying balanced) is it possible to "push" a punch but actually doing the right thing if that makes sense? I feel like I'm pushing my punches especially my cross but really want justification of what the difference is....

A video example of a pushing punch vs a snapping punch would be great... I can see a difference in a jab but a cross confuses me.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. It's just about finding the balance between following through and retracting the punch. If you retract too soon, you're pulling the punch. Too late and you're pushing. If you're using your lower body correctly then you should be fine.

 

[panamaican]

The difference is in the timing between extending the arm and generating power with the legs. And there's a continuum.

In a push, your arm is more extended prior to generating power through the legs and hips. In a snap, the legs generate power. Then transfer it through the hips and, last, that power drives the extension of the arm.

Following through the target can happen with either punch. A good snap can go through the target and still snap back to guard. A push can still go through the target and be pulled pack after. That's about where you're aiming, not just your mechanics.

So, the more your arm is extended when your hips start rotating, the closer your punch is to being a push.

 

[a guy]

The difference is in the timing between extending the arm and generating power with the legs. And there's a continuum.

In a push, your arm is more extended prior to generating power through the legs and hips. In a snap, the legs generate power. Then transfer it through the hips and, last, that power drives the extension of the arm.

Following through the target can happen with either punch. A good snap can go through the target and still snap back to guard. A push can still go through the target and be pulled pack after. That's about where you're aiming, not just your mechanics.

So, the more your arm is extended when your hips start rotating, the closer your punch is to being a push.

I think that still comes down to the follow through. If the arm is extended first, then you're gonna make contact and continue pushing because you haven't finished driving with the legs yet. The synchronization of the body is a good point to consider, but a push is either too much follow through or follow through too soon.

 

[Kanka]

How do you extend your arm without using your triceps?

I never said one shouldn't extend the arm lol. I ment when you "push" the punch you are basicly muscling it with shoulders and tricep. When you snap it of obviously you extend the arm using triceps but you're not doing a "push" motion with your triceps.

 

[panamaican]

I think that still comes down to the follow through. If the arm is extended first, then you're gonna make contact and continue pushing because you haven't finished driving with the legs yet. The synchronization of the body is a good point to consider, but a push is either too much follow through or follow through too soon.

I get what you're saying but follow through is just another way of describing full extension of the punching arm and the other mechanics of the punch.

That full extension has to be synced with rest of your body mechanics. Extend the arm before the hip drive and you're risking a push.

I don't know what you mean by following through too soon. I'm picturing someone who's punched and then has to overextend to reach the target. But in that scenario, they've fully (or mostly) extended the arm and then continue trying to drive the body forward.

But you can over extend a snap or a pushing punch, so I'm not sure what you mean by "too soon".

 

[a guy]

I never said one shouldn't extend the arm lol. I ment when you "push" the punch you are basicly muscling it with shoulders and tricep. When you snap it of obviously you extend the arm using triceps but you're not doing a "push" motion with your triceps.

The only motion your triceps do is a push, and they're pushing as hard as possible.

 

[a guy]

I get what you're saying but follow through is just another way of describing full extension of the punching arm and the other mechanics of the punch.

That full extension has to be synced with rest of your body mechanics. Extend the arm before the hip drive and you're risking a push.

I don't know what you mean by following through too soon. I'm picturing someone who's punched and then has to overextend to reach the target. But in that scenario, they've fully (or mostly) extended the arm and then continue trying to drive the body forward.

But you can over extend a snap or a pushing punch, so I'm not sure what you mean by "too soon".

Too soon as in you're making contact too soon, before all the power has been developed. So the follow through starts when the punch should still be accelerating. I am agreeing that synchronization of the fist and body is an important factor in pushing, I just think that it comes down to follow through in the end.

 

[panamaican]

Too soon as in you're making contact too soon, before all the power has been developed. So the follow through starts when the punch should still be accelerating. I am agreeing that synchronization of the fist and body is an important factor in pushing, I just think that it comes down to follow through in the end.

That seems more about the other elements of connecting a good punch than about whether or not the mechanics are more push than snap.

Contact too soon strikes me (no pun intended...or was it?) as a range issue, not a push vs. snap issue. Maybe a choice of punch issue too.

EDIT: Was thinking about it. I don't think that early contact changes a good snapping punch into a push. If the hip rotation drove the arm extension and you get early contact then you should still get decent snapping power into the punch and pull back to guard. If you decide to try and push through then you've got to reapply leg drive after contact. Which means that your arm is already partially extended when you do it. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to keep forcing a smothered punch.

 

[a guy]

That seems more about the other elements of connecting a good punch than about whether or not the mechanics are more push than snap.

Contact too soon strikes me (no pun intended...or was it?) as a range issue, not a push vs. snap issue. Maybe a choice of punch issue too.

If the fist is ahead of the legs generating power, then you'll connect too soon in terms of power generation even if you're at the right range.

 

[SummerStriker]

On a punching bag, you know you have a snappy punch if your punch strikes the bag, making a visible dent in the material, and that rather than creating a wide swing the bag will violently rock in place with the bottom and top moving in different directions. In addition that, you want to develop a feeling of relaxation in your body, clinching your fist as you hit the bag, and withdrawing your attack as soon as you feel feedback with a relaxation of your grip (among other things), rather than shoving the bag.

Your hand will return to your face as fast as it went out. The feedback from the bag will help with that.

When your punch "pushes" you may initially get the dent and you may initially see the bottom of the bag rise towards you as you hit, but instead of drawing back, relaxed and as fast as possible, you give the bag another 10% causing the top of the bag where you are hitting to be shoved away. The bottom of the bag will follow, and the whole thing will sway in a wide arc. You will have a sensation that your hand came back to your face slowly, or that you felt the bag against your hand for a long period of time.

You can "snap" your punch into the bag by withdrawing the strike after making the dent and feeling the feedback from any range, even with only a few inches to strike, just like you can push something with your arms in tight or your arms extended.

You can almost think of the push as an added extra to the punch, on top of the hit. You have hits, and you have hits + pushes. You can have "pushing only" but you would be aware you are doing that.

Edit: so my main point is that punching mechanic has little to do with "pushing" vs. "snapping." You can push or snap with a 2" punch, and arm punch, a full punch, a major whipping right, or anything else. Snapping is the intention to relax and withdraw instantly upon getting the feedback from the bag after making the dent. Pushing is grinding in and digging (longer, not harder) for that extra 10%. Snapping is mentally easier from a balanced stance, but still doesn't require it. If you are leaning on the bag and snap you will probably fall forward.

 

[karlcom]

I use 5 types of snap or shock,to place on the end of the punch,

they are explained in detail here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhe9KPqmKQ8

 

[wang xiangzhai]

How do you extend your arm without using your triceps?

Interesting question.
How about when your arm fall to the sides of the body, arent they extended without the triceps intervention?

 

[a guy]

Interesting question.
How about when your arm fall to the sides of the body, arent they extended without the triceps intervention?

Haha, ok you got me! If only the earth's gravity pulled my fist to my opponent's face...I need a scientist