I have attended many weddings over the years. When one of my favorite songs starts to play, the Chicken Dance, it draws guests of all ages off their seats and onto the dance floor. The crazy hand movements and funny walk bring a smile to everyone’s face. However, the flapping elbows simulating flapping wings is dangerous. The elbow is a powerful weapon, so remember to strike with them. A few aunts have unknowingly hit a nephew with their eblow wings.
The effectiveness of Kempo lies in its ability to produce more power and accurate targeting strikes. Those two elements are the basis for all martial arts training – how hard can you hit, and where do you strike? Many components make up a proper punch, but the most important is using the elbow. Good posture and arm rotation increase the power of your punches.
The Chisel and The Hammer
A vital component of the punch is striking with the elbow. The chisel and hammer illustrate this point very well. The chisel doesn’t have any force by itself. It’s just the point of impact. The power is the hammer, which sends its power through the chisel. Likewise, the fist is just the point of impact. Use the control of the elbow to hammer the fist into the stone wall of the enemy’s defense. Bam!
The Firehose of Chi
The elbow is also a vessel for chi (ki or qi). It is bent so the chi can pool up, ready for use in the punch. Like a garden hose, you pinch to stop the flow of water. When you release the hose, the pent-up pressure bursts out. Imagine the mystical force pooling up in the bent elbow. Then release that force by extending the arm and allowing the energy to flow. Pow!
The Hip Launcher
In Scouts, we took wood poles and rope to lash together a slingshot. After setting up the base unit with poles, we added elastic tubing to act as the bowstring. We put water balloons in the launcher and pulled back. Once released, the water balloons would sail through the air looking for their target. This launcher is the same concept used in Ninjutsu to punch. We would line up before a makiwara board during class with our elbows tucked into our hip joints. On command, we would torque our hips and launch our arms into the makiwara. This launching method is a very effective way to add oomph to a punch. Wham!
Conclusion
When you practice on the makiwara board or the bag, utilize these components. Visualize the water pooled in your elbow, ready to burst out of your fist. Drive your chisel hand forward with the power of your elbow. Hammer the fist home. Set your elbow into the sling pocket of your hip, then release the arm with a pop of the hip. Rinse and repeat until the enemy is down or gives up. The proper elbow alignment is essential to maximizing your punching power.
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