In Karate, when executing a punch, how do you apply "hip power"?

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david

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I keep instinctively punching with my shoulders. And I was told to use the power of the hip. I was also told it could take up to 3 years to learn and apply it correctly. Is this true?

PLEASE, ONLY ANSWER IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. NO OPINIONS. thanks
 
Check out "Fight Science", the pilot episode, on Hulu.com. There you will see computer generated graphics that help to illustrate the idea of "punching from the hip."

Fundamentally, it is the idea of getting your whole body into the punch; whether it's a long-distance haymaker or the much-preferred 1-inch punch made famous by Bruce Lee. You must be relaxed and "coil" the power from your rear heal through your body and it whips out its power through your shoulders, arms and finally fists. Stepping with a punch can close distance and add mass to the strike, but it is a different concept than the transferred power of punching from the hip.

Imagine the punch beginning from the rear heal, travelling up the leg, coiling the hip toward the target, which coils the arms and fist lashing out like the end of a whip. Speed + Mass = Power. If it is done right, with relaxed speed, it creates immense power.
 
As you punch, try stepping or sliding forward with your foot. (eg: punch with right arm, slide/step with right foot).
This foot action will add momentum to the whole side of the body, including your hip, and therefore generate more power to your punch.

Whether a jab, roundhouse, upper, whatever the punch, skip your foot out ahead.

It's hard to explain with words, but easier to show through actions. Youtube might help
 
As you punch, try stepping or sliding forward with your foot. (eg: punch with right arm, slide/step with right foot).
This foot action will add momentum to the whole side of the body, including your hip, and therefore generate more power to your punch.

Whether a jab, roundhouse, upper, whatever the punch, skip your foot out ahead.

It's hard to explain with words, but easier to show through actions. Youtube might help
 
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