| "How can I hit harder?" | | | | be related to your level of explosiveness (the rapid |
| This is perhaps one of the most common questions I | | | | acceleration) along with your ability to reduce |
| am asked after a new student begins training. In Jeet | | | | telegraphic motion. This is important because although |
| Kune Do, the lead weapons (attacks thrown from the | | | | speed is simply moving fast, the quickness that is |
| front arm/leg), are the primary weapons. Unlike the | | | | perceived by an observer will actually be influenced by |
| boxing jab or the kickboxing lead roundhouse kick | | | | multiple factors including preparation (telegraphing). |
| which are setup attacks, the JKD frontal attacks are | | | | Power, on the other hand, is the amount of work done |
| power strikes designed to deliver stunning or even | | | | or energy transferred in a specific amount of time. For |
| knockout force. As simple as these techniques are, | | | | our purposes, power is what determines the amount |
| cultivation of adequate power can be challenging. First | | | | of compression our kicks or punches generate on a |
| off, let me elaborate on a few important distinctions: | | | | target. In terms of real world application, compression is |
| 1. Force | | | | the amount of damage caused. A high powered punch |
| 2. Velocity | | | | will deliver high force at high velocity to compress a |
| 3. Power | | | | target (assuming whatever you are hitting is not more |
| In the world of physics , force is equal to mass | | | | durable than your hand), while a low power punch |
| multiplied by acceleration. For our purposes, I will | | | | applies force at lower velocity and will simply push it |
| simplify force as what causes our fists or feet to | | | | back. Power therefore, is equal to the force you |
| move. One way to increase the amount of striking | | | | produce multiplied by the velocity at which your hand |
| force you can generate is just by increasing your | | | | or foot is moving. |
| strength, which is accomplished via resistance | | | | These distinctions describe athletic attributes in |
| exercises. There are martial arts specific strength | | | | applicable terms that can be broken down, observed, |
| training methods that will really crank up your functional | | | | trained and improved. Next I'll touch on some specific |
| strength, but I will touch on these in Part II of this series. | | | | training techniques that will help you cultivate serious |
| Velocity is essentially speed and direction, the distance | | | | strikes. |
| traveled in a specific amount of time in a specific | | | | Happy training! |
| direction. Increasing your perceived speed will generally | | | | |