Relaxing for Speed and Power

As you learn in the dojo and from what I have written about in other blogs, you must relax to be fast and hit a target with accuracy, and power. Ironically, the harder beginning students try to punch and kick, the slower and weaker their strikes and kicks are. The power for punches and other strikes is generated from the ground where the foot supports bodyweight. The ball of the foot on the side where the punch (or other strike) will be launched initiates a rapid sequence of movement that moves through the ankle, knee, and hip. From there you just let the power run from your hip through your upper body with total relaxation until the last possible moment on impact. This is when the physical power generated through the body’s movement unites with your spirit through your kiai and the screw of your fist for maximum impact and penetration. For this to happen effectively your elbows must align with the hip that fires your striking fist toward the target and you must let it happen. You start at 0 to finish at 100%. Karate was developed for striking with bare fists and other parts of the hand so when you hit the target it must be fast and hard. Hit with maximum force but pull back immediately to deliver another strike or return to kamae as a physical, mental, and spiritual state of readiness. Avoid throwing heavy punches with follow through.

Calmness, being grounded and focused, is far stronger than being angry and overcome by emotion in combat. When punching you generate power from the lower body and must relax the upper body to let the energy flow through your body to hit hard and fast when needed. For the ancient samurai, a millisecond could be the difference between life and death in battle so responses had to be instant. Success required clarity of mind, total awareness and having no fear of death. In hand to hand combat the samurai reached a state called mushin in which mind and body become one and where there is no conscious thought to interfere with the purity of action.