Hitting the heavy bag like a girl

[IronFist]

Ok, my straight blast probably sucks compared with most people here, but I can rock the wallbag, I can rock my dummy, I can break boards with it, etc., but when I go to hit a heavy bag I hit like a freaking girl. Anyone know why? The bag barely moves (and no, it doesn't fold around my fist either). I mean, all I've really done is vertical fist styles (I started with Isshinryu when I was young, even tho they use the top two knuckles, it's still a vertical fist), but I seem to be able to get more power with a boxers cross than with a straight blast. I realize that body mechanics come into play (ie. the cross involves torso twisting and straight blasts don't really (unless you do them that way)), but what the hell. What is the secret to develop heavy bag-moving power behind a straight blast.

I don't really have access to a heavy bag, either, so it's not like I can practice on one much. I have a dummy and a wallbag, however, but apparently the techniques developed on each one are not transferrable (or maybe I just suck).

IronFist

[tparkerkfo]

Whats a straight Blast? Sounds like JKD and not wing chun to me?

Why do you want to "rock" the heavy bag?

I may not understand what your trying to do, but I think you may be missing the point of the wing chun punch and trying to put things into differnt context. The wing chun punch is not designed to "rock" a heavy bag I don't know about the JKD straight blast though. The dummy and the wall bag are pretty stable and are very effective on those. The bag is a bit different in the way it hangs. I would argue that the wing chun punch is best used on some thing that is fairly stable. Should your opponent be hanging by his hair off the ceiling, I would suggest using the boxers right cross 8 )

Tom

[Mokujin]

I think IronFist is worried there's lack of power in his straight punch.

Are you wearing gloves when striking the heavy bag?

-Mokujin

[TjD]

your probably too tense in the chest/shoulder area.

when you hit the wallbag, do you feel the force from your punch in your legs and feet, or if you strike really hard are you knocked backwards?

[kj]

Originally posted by IronFist
Ok, my straight blast probably sucks compared with most people here, but I can rock the wallbag, I can rock my dummy, I can break boards with it, etc., but when I go to hit a heavy bag I hit like a freaking girl.

Depending on which girl, this might be a good thing. ;) Trying to "hit like a guy" is not where it's at, IMHO and IME.

Regards,
- Kathy Jo

[fa_jing]

Iron - you're just hitting with your arm. You have to make up for all of the body torque behind the cross by an equivalent mechanical motion if you want to equal the power of the cross. What is this equivalent mechanic motion? The coordination of your punch with forward stepping, the rootedness of it, and hip and shoulder shifts that, although minute in the range of motion, provide a boost torque-wise to the punch. You should be able to rock that bag with your best WC punch. You can tell by the sound when you hit it.

[IronFist]

tparkerkfo...

Heh, oops, when I said "rock" it was slang for "hit really hard." I don't mean I literally rock the dummy or back so that they rock back and forth.

mokujin,

Yes, you have it right. Lack of power. No, I'm not wearing gloves. I wouldn't be wearing gloves in a real fight so why wear them to train?

More later, gotta run,

IronFist

[Martial Joe]

Try and get the bag to pop up in the air more then move side to side.

I was told that shows penetration.

[tparkerkfo]

Hi Iron Fist,

I understood what you meant by Rocking. But I was more confused about the context. I admit my wing chun perspective is pretty limited, but I don't think you really want to rock the bag. I think that is equivalent to using the wrong tool for the job. I once recall hearing a story about Leung Jan and how he hit a mellon at some kind of a competition. Most people distroyed the melon. But when he hit it, there was little on the outside that showed he even hit it. However, when it was cut open, the inside was mush. Probably not a true story, and I probably butchered it. But the point is that wing chun uses different force and isn't good for knocking a big bag around.

I just was making the point that the bag doesn't respond in the spectacular way to a hit like a boxer can do it. But, I would love to see a boxer hit a wall bag like he hits a heavy bag. I think it is just the mechanics of the heavy bag.

Tom

[bglenn]

No hip no power .You are probably just using energy from your elbow not from your horse.Full body power comes from the floor up.The power starts in the ankle transfers to the waist releases from the shoulder out through the elbow and wrist.Through proper cordination power will result.The horse is the key!

[bglenn]

When a good boxer hits the heavy bag it does not sway alot.What does happens is that nice big dents show up.If you hit the heavy bag and it sways that usually means your pushing with your punches.

[hakka mui]

Originally posted by IronFist
... when I go to hit a heavy bag I hit like a freaking girl. Anyone know why?

IronFist

if you are hitting like a girl, maybe for the first time ever you are doing wing chun correctly!! :p

however i suspect you are just being insulting :mad:

you should get out a bit more so you can see how us girls hit the bag


hakka mui

[kj]

Hakka Mui is correct.
- kj

[yuanfen]

Nancy Macdonald an elder kung fu sister hits the wall bag like a girl. I wouldnt want to be
hit by her. I have seen what her hit can do.

[IronFist]

Crap, I wish we had girl Wing Chun practicioners around here. Wait, I wish we had Wing Chun around here.

Yes, I was just being insulting. Sorry, I didn't mean to infer that girls are weaker than guys, because I'm sure there are some tough girls who could kick my ass. Wow, that was hard to say. Anyway, by "hitting like a girl" was my sexist analogy to "hitting very weakly." But I'm sure you all knew that.

And I'm definately not leaving a dent in the heavy bag when I hit it. Haha.

I suck.

IronFist

[rubthebuddha]

ironfist,

i'd wager you suck less than you did a while ago, so keep training.

as far as punching, you aren't supposed to move the bag back and forth -- you're supposed to penetrate with your punch. it's supposed to be an arrow, not a ram. so focus on getting your punches into the bag and not pushing it.

[Wei Sui]

you want the bag to absorb the all your generated energy...you want the power of the punch to disperse into the target...

No movement <or minimal vibration> of a bag is a good thing as long as you are generating focused penetrating power which is absorbed into the target....ie. hit someone and do internal damage to them.

[yuanfen]

FWIW- the bag helps joint alignment for a good path. No need to think in terms of power. First things first IMO.

[IronFist]

rubthebuddha, what is in your avatar?

IronFist

[S.Teebas]

safe sex

[yuanfen]

the Buddha smiled.