Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)
A mark of the performance of kata competition at karate, martial arts, tournaments and this particular aspect of modern karate practice rears its head from time to time. I have written about it before but have a new perspective on it for this article.
In all the quotes I will be commenting on in this article they will allude to how snapping the karate-gi sleeves or legs indicates power but for my article today defining that power becomes critical. In essence the ability to snap a punch does “Contribute” to the generation of power but relying on it exclusively is a mistake.
First, hitting with the fist is choke full of issues as to effectiveness even when full power (full as in energy not bleeding off more than the physics of the application in the moment is at its maximum) is applied. Marc MacYoung explains hitting and getting hit well in his series on “Writing Violence.” There is a belief postulated that actually the open hand is superior to the closed fist method of striking. Actually, that is simplistic and after reading his book martial artists will become aware of the complexities involved that go way beyond mere strikes with our fists.
Second, snapping the punch is what I would refer to as an “Enhancer” in generating power much like the slight twist of the hara or mid-section that is also an “Enhancer” for proper power generation. To assume and allude to the snap punch as demonstrated by snapping the sleeve of the karate uniform would be misleading to say the least.
Third, when snapping the uniform sleeve the physics involved are not the same as those when snapping a punch into a target such as the human body. Try this experiment, snap punch the air to demonstrate the snap of the uniform. Now, try the snap punch to the heave bag, notice something different in the feel of it throughout the body. Add in movement of mass, the hips twist and the proper structure and alignment of the hips to the spinal alignment to the shoulder girdle to the shoulder to the upper arm to the elbow to the forearm to the wrist and finally to the fist and target. Try this experiment many, many times both to the air and to the heavy bag.
When in the fight using the fist there is also the maxim/rule of hard-to-soft and soft-to-hard that is also explained well in Mr. MacYoung series writing violence. In case you wonder, “Writing violence?” How does that apply to reality? Well, Mr. MacYoung feels to adequately and realistically write violence into fiction it should be as close to the reality of violent fighting as possible.
My direction and intent herein is to provide another perspective and perception as to my experience and understanding in the applications of martial arts toward the reality of self-defense so that others may make an informed decision as to reality, relevance and applicability. Since karate and other martial disciplines is originally and traditionally about conflict and violence in self-defense it seems critical to me that the understanding is realistic since one may someday have to use the skills learned, trained and practiced for real.
Comments to Quotes Section (Caveat: my comments are not about right or wrong but rather clarity. I present these comments as possibilities one should consider to gain a greater understanding even if you dismiss the comments completely):
Quote: “Some schools can produce an audible snap when they punch while others cannot. Some use special materials to get a snap while some use the inexpensive standard cotton uniforms and some make the sound of a gi snapping with their mouths. Sound, while rationally an effect of energy and will be dealt with later, is a manifestation of power but there are other factors of that.” - Our Dojo: http://www.karatedr.com/index.php
Comments: First, I do not believe sound is a manifestation of anything other than sound. Yes, sound does come from a generation of a type of energy created by the vocal cords but as a “Manifestation of power,” not so much. Yes, making a sound while using a breathing method does enhance the power chain in karate, that I accept readily until someone provides a good argument against that theory but overall I would stand by this one. As to the use of heavy material on the sleeve or making the sound vocally that is more for performance sake in kata competition where said performance is similar to dancing or gymnastics with judging geared toward form, rhythm, cadence and so on but as to power and energy in a self-defense situation - not so much.
In addition, there are the physics of power generation through application of fundamental principles. One of those principles is about energy generation flow into the target. It can be found in principles of theory, i.e., control; power paradox, simplicity, natural action and so on. You can gain some more about this from other articles in my blog or read the following:
Pearlman, Steven J. "The Book of Martial Power." Overlook Press. N.Y. 2006
Overall, snapping has its uses and contributes toward power to the target but by itself it doesn’t present much of an advantage in self-defense and if relied on solely as to power source in the fight the practitioner will find themselves limited to a critical level of exposure to grave bodily harm or even death.
Quote: “Immediately it is obvious that the velocity of the punch is more important than the mass if you want to cause damage.”
Comments: Velocity vs. mass, depends on how that is explained along with this quote. I am left feeling that information is being left out under the assumption the practitioner already understands all the principles and concepts that make up power toward application of damage to a target.
Velocity is speed and speed is actually another enhancer to the generation of energy and power. Velocity does not trump mass, mass movement is the biggest power generator while velocity contributes, often significantly all other factors being equal and at maximum efficiency, to that power generation. Another factor often not even acknowledged toward power generation is “Gravity” as it is applied to the movement of your mass.
As can be seen, the articles that explain this snapping thing seem to have assumed the reader is already in understanding toward the overall aspects of power generation. I would have put movement of mass at the top of that list with all the others as simply power enhancers, those small things that help you create power beyond what you mass can achieve through movement along with movement distance, etc. that also act to enhance power and energy toward the target.
Try all this out on the heavy bag vs. air punching and kicking along with the proper use of the makiwara and find out for yourself what works. Oh, add in the “Adrenal stress conditions of a reality-based training scenario” to really find what works and what doesn’t - for you (all this works uniquely for each practitioner so test it out yourself regardless of what I say or write and what others say, write and teach, you will be glad you did.
Quote: “The faster an object is moving just before the time of collision, the more energy that is transferred.”
Comments: Yes, but to assume that because you can snap your uniform sleeve as proof may be a bit limited. Test it out and feel it through other practices. Don’t assume because this statement is true, limited truth, that it is how it will be in reality.
Quote: “It is overtly clear that the faster something travels the faster that it will transfer its force.”
Comments: I contest the transfer of force herein but overall as your mass velocity increases and as all other aspects and factors arrive simultaneously at the exact moment of impact will create more force. The types of applied force change according to any number of physiokinetic principles applied to get the job done. Any one or several if not exact enough will bleed off that energy and power as it travels through the chain that makes up applications in a fight or self-defense.
Simply put, it ain’t as simplistic as things might be perceived in such articles. One of the reasons I put in the caveat in all my articles and then emphasize additionally within the article itself, don’t assume anything; take each thing and test it wholeheartedly then accept what works for you.
Quote: “It is self-evident to even the least educated that the kinetic energy is lost in different ways, friction, heat and sound. It is also obvious that the kinetic energy of a punch must go to one of these three when used. The sound is the most obvious especially as friction will produce both heat and sound.“
Comments: Nothing, especially to the uninitiated newbie student, is self-evident. I have been practicing for over thirty plus years and I have to say that a lot of what I now understand in this discipline came to me in the last five to ten years of study and practice - I ain’t no novice and I ain’t no master either. Yes, energy is bled off due to a variety of issue but as to sound and heat, not so much. Physics do attribute energy loss to heat that is often generated by friction but that pretty much comes from the physics of things like engines, etc.
Karate or martial arts, not so much but bleeding of energy does come from things like structure, alignment and power generation through things like mass movement, etc. One of the biggest bleed offs is the shoulder, arm and hand/wrist section. Just a slight off set of the elbow in a particular application of a strike with the fist will reduce power to the target significantly (read Mr. MacYoung’s series no. III for more).
Quote: “if one is able to produce a snap using the inexpensive 100% cotton light weight uniforms, it becomes elementary to understand that the snap is a sign of power.”
Comments: Yes but how much power is the question? How that relates to a uniform sleeve snapping and popping to the power necessary to stop an attack in an adrenal dump charged defense of a predatory type attack? Remember, if I have not stated it remember this is about power generation in a fight or self-defense, not a demonstration for higher point values in a performance for a trophy.
Quote: “ … if you learn how to mimic a whip with your body, you’ll be able to generate massive amounts of power without the need for excessive strength or tension.”
Comments: This one is iffy for me, alluding to the whipping of the body without giving due application for those other factors “Required” for power is a bit misleading for my perspective. Whipping the body is a way to explain a combination of things like, “The drop step, mass movement, hip rotation, spinal alignment, structure overall, shoulder girdle alignment and rotation, structure and alignment of the shoulder, upper arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, and clenched fist (note: improper fist formation allows bleed off and broken hands/fingers, etc.).
Quote: “three vital components have to be present in your technique to generate maximum power with minimum effort.
“three principles of optimal technique”.
• Speed – the ability to move quickly when initiating, accelerating and stopping your techniques. This requires an understanding of how to adjust your physical and mental a) relaxation b) tension/pre-tension in the right body parts.
• Timing – the ability to dictate interplay (start/stop) between a) upper/lower body, b) right/left body half, and c) posterior/anterior kinetic chain, i.e. timing between foot/hand when stepping, hikite/striking hand, kime etc.
• Balance – a natural instinct, hardwired to circumvent many motor skills, and hence of utmost importance to control in order to avoid draining energy from other parts of your system. Balance implies both your stance, posture, trajectory of movement, end-positions and being physically/mentally centered.
Together, these three principles will give you…POWER. Which is then expressed through the whip concept.” - http://www.karatebyjesse.com/rika-usami-karate-technique-secret/
Comments: Here again, a misnomer that assumes all the answers and aspects of power generation are within the use of speed, timing and balance. Yes, emphatically and absolutely, speed and timing and power are huge in power generation but even if done correctly without all the other factors and aspects they may or may not get the job done.
Let me add as well that even if you are fast and you time your strike to the target flawlessly and you remain and maintain your balance that if your structure and alignment is off you will just bleed off all the power you attempt to generate making it a slap or a push rather than a powerful strike or slap.
Things, as I have come to understand a lot better in the last decade, are not as simplistic or as complete as one might assume when studying the discipline of martial arts especially if it is for self-defense of conflict and violence.
Quote: “If you want to have “snap” in your techniques, you first need to focus on correct technique (speed, timing and balance) in order to generate enough power to crack your body like a human bullwhip.”
Comment: Yes, true as it is written but do NOT assume that the power generated to achieve a solid and loud snap of the uniform as power sufficient to achieve your goals in self-defense because you just might find the attacker smiling at you after your best efforts while he cleans your clock then goes that extra distance to teach you a lesson as to why you should not have fought back, think injury and time in the ER.
My goal here is not about right or wrong but completeness, you have to have the whole picture. Those who provided these quotes are all outstanding teachers and mentors. When writing about such things even for experienced authors it is extremely difficult to convey the right theories and philosophies so if nothing else noting the need to take all articles onto the dojo floor would be appropriate.
So, take what I say here with a smidgeon of salt, take it to your Sensei and take it out on the dojo floor for a comprehensive testing over time and with considerable effort so you can be sure it will work when you need it most - when the shit hits the fan!
Bibliography (Click the link)
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