Man, I want to get in on this, but I have a big report due for work tomorrow. Real Briefly, about 80 % of the mechanics are the same, IMO. The differences are due to the emphasis of one power vector over another. This leads to different strategy. I.E. A Chinese boxer will use his punch to achieve a different goal than the Western boxer.
Braden–but that’s not what was being asked, and it’s not the question that’s getting answered.
He’s asking if the striking is very different.
I say it’s not. I’m not claiming to ever be able to pull off the strike you discuss, straight out of boxing but principles, man, principles!
Let me provide a non-MA related example.
I threw shot, discus, and hammer in high-school and college. I tried javelin, but I can’t do it without my rotator cuff giving me horrible problems…
Anyway, I did the glide step in shot, used the full rotation in discus and the hammer… well, the hammer is a heel-toe spin. The javelin is a run-up.
Now, the goal in each of these events is to throw the implements as far as you can.
Roughly speaking, in the glide step, you come straight back, turn and throw.
In the discus, you spin round twice and throw.
In the hammer, you spin as many times as you can, each time generating more speed and you release at the appropriate moment.
The javelin, you run REALLY fast, execute your cross-steps, and then launch.
You know what? 4 different looks to them, but on the release, they are all almost EXACTLY the same. On the outside, you’d be hard pressed to find any similarities. On the inside, they feel more alike than different.
The reason why is because the power transfer to the implement is precisely the same in each one. If you are right handed, the left leg blocks hard, extended as though you were vaulting over it, while the right leg provides the final push. The hips open up square to the release, followed by the shoulders, the power is transfered to the implement as you vault over the extended left leg getting every last bit of coil out of your right leg and the release is made. This movement is called “the block,” and is the single most important event of the throw. Without it, power transfer is not maximized.
Four different events. Different body types excel in each, and you must train specifically for each event. Javelin uses “whipping” at the release point, discus comes around in one piece with the right side, to be spun out of the front of the hand, the shot uses a push, and the hammer release is a giant swing…and yet, they all rely on the block for power transfer from the ground to the implement.
We could go on all day about how different the specifics are, but at the core… at the heart of what those events are, and the biomechanics behind maximum power transfer, all four of the events are exactly the same. It would be almost impossible from pictures of the armpits down to determine what implement was being used at the moment of release. (except the hammer maybe, if you are familiar with the foot placement… it’s a little narrower than the other three) 
Boxing is the discuss, CMA is the shotput.
“Boxing is the discuss, CMA is the shotput.”
Meaning boxing uses more torque (!?) to develop power and CMA goes straight, developing power in less of mechanically obvious way? Like Wing Chun short range power?
Sorry if that was bull****.
I think there are differences! One is used purely for sport and the other for selfdefense. If you would use the same rules and the same equipment, it wouldn’t take long for the two to be just alike.
Posted this before but is probably more relavant here:
Tim Catmell’s thoughts on boxing:
"Western boxing is probably the best choice of all the martial arts when it comes to developing practical hand skills in a relatively short amount of time.
Western boxing doesn’t need to be ‘driven’ by anything else, it works just fine as it is. When the Chinese army was researching and developing their hand to hand combat (which later evolved into the modern San Shou/San Da tournament fighting popular today), they researched all the popular forms of martial arts (including their own). The conclusion was that Western boxing hand techniques (when it came to developing practical striking and defensive abilities in a reasonable amount of time) were superior to all others (including their own). Other (Chinese) hand techniques were included to round out the training, but the foundation of San Shou hand techniques is Western boxing. The striking techniques of the IMA (especially Xing Yi Quan) are, in my opinion, on par with Western boxing, but for shear speed of skill development (and practical ability), you can’t beat boxing (an interesting side note, the descriptions of generating force described in Jack Dempsy’s book, “Championship Fighting,” are virtually identical to those in Xing Yi Quan)."
Can’t be bothered to comment. 'cept for this
Westernboxer, fu ck off.
laters
I think kung fu could be good for a real fight but I have seen two problems.
Most kung fuey boys don’t have much stamina and they wouldn’t last too long in a real fight.
Next thing is they don’t practice full-contact. They play patty-cakes in kung fuey class and then when it comes to a real fight they are screwed.
Boxing, as it stands, is not real fighting…it’s a sport who’s techniques can be applied to real fighting.
Kung fu practitioners do indeed spar full contact (unless I have been in a constant state of hallucination), and use their legs, grapple, box…plus the do sensitivity and rythm drills, work the pads, work the heavy bag, etc.
Boxing work does give you crazy lungs.
shaolinboxer,
I guess I am talking about those dime a dozen kung fu and karate schools you see everywhere. I am sure there are hard core kung fu guys out there like you who go full contact.
Shaolin–would you agree that the regular practice that boxers have in hitting an unwilling target, day in and day out, plus in receiving blows in return, makes them opponents to be respected? Of course, it depends on the person, but I am assuming a decent level of competence.
Oh, and BoxerChick, I box, but I’m not KF.
Originally posted by BoxerChick
shaolinboxer,
I guess I am talking about those dime a dozen kung fu and karate schools you see everywhere. I am sure there are hard core kung fu guys out there like you who go full contact.
BoxerChick is correct. Here’s the paradox, a lot of the people who would make excellant Kung Fu exponents are going to the boxing and Muay Thai gyms instead. Until we get some good exponents, we wont draw fighters. Until we draw fighters, we wont produce soild specimens. Kinda su.cks, don’t it?
A very good point. I often think about this when the MMA vs KF arguments rage on.
More often the guys with real fighting spirit go to modern schools, leaving many kungfu schools with the less combatative folks. Not always true, I know, but bears thinking of.
I’ve seen more than a couple of KF schools and some MMA action, so I know this to be true from my perceptions. Again, not true on every account, but often enough.
Of course, continuing with the generalizations, where KF is plagued by nerds, the MMA seem to be plagued by the occasional redneck types who like to think they’re tough, but may not be more than bullies.
And you would be right On both accounts!