One Inch Punch.

[Andy Murray]

Bruce Lee kind of made this famous. Thomas may be able to help here, as I believe Bruce demonstrated it at one of Ed Parkers tournaments.

The relaxed striking hand is placed an inch from the opponents chest, with the arm bent at the elbow. In one contraction of the whole body, the fist is fired to target, and seemingly generating a lot of force in one short motion.

I have heard both Wing Chun and Tai Chi Chuan practitioners lay claim to the origins of this technique.

Any thoughts?

[khafra]

I dunno who originated it, but Xingyiquan has some powerful punches with very little windup. Also, Dragon Society International, also famous for bunkai and pressurepoint fighting, has something they call a "waveform strike," which I think could be fairly similar.

[LilBunnyRabbit]

The principle is quite simple, if you look when Bruce performs the technique he starts out with his hip and shoulders flush to the target, at the end, after the target has gone flying, he is almost in line. Still an impressive technique though.

[Freeform]

Which mostly capitalises on human reflex, I don't recall any of his partners being damaged in public displays?

[pesilat]

I'm not sure of the origins ... and I'm not sure there is *one* origin.

We use the same principle in Filipino Kali. I think any art that has close quarters striking (especially combined with trapping) will use this principle. I think it's predominant in trapping arts because you're often maintaining a trap with your forearm while punching with your fist ... this means that you have to be able to generate this short-range power with no wind up (which would release the trap).

When I was taught it, though, it wasn't so much a "whole body contraction" as it was a "whip" motion. It starts with the foot, then moves like a wave through the legs, hips, torso, shoulder, arm ... building in energy through all of this ... and is released from the hand.

It must be done with relaxation in order to allow this whipping action to roll smoothly through the body. Tension will decrease the power.

I've heard a lot of people who have the mistaken impression that this is a "push." And I've seen a lot of people who, while claiming to understand it, do it as a push. As I learned it, it's not a push. It's a *strike* ... period. I can break a board with it (not all that impressive ... but it does illustrate that it's a strike and not a push). I'm reasonably sure (though I've never done it) that I could fracture ribs with it.

Having said that, though, the same principle *can* be applied to a push (and it's a pretty forceful push) and it will work. This is useful in some situations ... if, for instance, you want to move something heavy or back someone off without striking them. This is the root of Tai Chi Push Hands also (as I understand it, anyway ... though I've never formally studied it so could be mistaken).

Mike

[Freeform]

In Tai Chi they have something called Fa Jing (hope I spelt that right). They can be touching you and they sort of whiplash their own body and the point where they've been touching you feels like its been hit.

Thanx

[pesilat]

Originally posted by Freeform
In Tai Chi they have something called Fa Jing (hope I spelt that right). They can be touching you and they sort of whiplash their own body and the point where they've been touching you feels like its been hit.

Thanx

Yup ... I think that's related to this principle as well.

Mike

[waya]

I was taught basically the same in JKD as Mike described it, the motion kind of ripples up the body.

If you look into JKD all of the punches basically use this type of power generation, and end up in line instead of squared with the target.

Rob

[Melanie]

Waya

That sounds like waveform technique that The Dragon Society have mentioned before. Anyone know this technique?

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Yep, we use something similar with all of our techniques, except for moving back to flush on the rebound after following through. Generally we call it torquing or shifting your bodyweight into the technique. Works suprisingly well with blocks as well, except you usually shift away rather than towards.

[Freeform]

Ins't the waveform technique similar to the sine wave in TKD?

[innovatao]

I've had Steve Burton up at the Chinese Martial Arts Centre in Accrington do it to me, and can attest to it a) Hurting, and b) Hurting all over not just where you get hit. They are members of the Dragon Society up there.

[Andy Murray]

I have an old book, well really more of a pamphlet really, written by James W.DeMile, who was one of Bruce Lee's students.

It's called 'Bruce Lee's 1 and 3 Inch Power Punch.

It gives some supplemental training tips on developing the technique, though no credit to any other MA as origin.

According to the book, James was teaching in or around Kirkland WA at the time of print. Any of our American guys know if he is stiil going?

Andy

[khafra]

Damn. I grew up in Kirkland, but I have no idea. What a wasted childhood *sigh*
I swear, if I could go back when I was a kid and tell myself what I know now, I would know so much more...

[fluffydoc]

Khafra - what makes you think you'd listen?

[khafra]

Good point. My parents told me never to talk to strangers, and I'm definitely strange. Still, I think if I could just sit down with myself and talk for a while, I could convince myself to listen. I mean, I'm sure I'd argue with myself for a bit, and have some questions, but that's pretty normal for me.

[Melanie]

Hmmm...you been spending time with Thomas Vince recently Khafra? (Only joking both of you!)

[Eddie]

im not convinced that the one inch punch really works as effectively in fighting. I have tried it before in sparring, but obviously sparring sessions are much faster than street combat situations. I know some good chin an counters for this punch, but again, im not sure of how effective it (these chin na) would be in a real fight.

in a real fight, we tend to always revert to our basics.

oh- last thing on bruce lee, Im also not convinced that he was really such a great fighter or even a great martial artist. no doubt he was one of the most famous, but i somehow think his kung fu was not really that good. One thing I do know, is that he spend allot of time trying to learn things from other fighters, which he already learned from kung fu. he also seemed to have copied allot of Philosophies from other sources just to incorporate it into his fighting theory. if anything, he was definatly a good copycat.

Just my humble opinion. Lucky for me mr Lee Siu Loong is already dead, otherwise I think I would not have typed all that here :)

[Andy Murray]

Hi Eddie,

If you blow the dust off the 'Bruce Lee' thread un the Kung Fu forum, you'll find some good info and links on this mate.

Andy

[LilBunnyRabbit]

As far as I was aware the one inch punch was not meant to be anything to do with an actual fight, same as flying double kicks, breaking bricks, or any of the other tricks we use to pull people into our arts.

[morphus]

There are many many testomonies to Bruce Lee's skills and not just from his students. I for one have no doubt as to how good he was(and wouldn't have liked to face him in combat) - he probably could have met his match eventually(no-one is invicible). Of coarse he borrowed philosophies, EVERYONE has influences, its how you apply those influences to your life, then that determines who and how great (or bad) you are.
It's what he left martial arts, His legacy that will go on and on.
As a human being he must have had his flaws - but havent we all!

As for the one inch punch, i think it was definately for demonstration purposes, he was a great showman and new how best to make his point.
;)

[pesilat]

The 1-inch punch is definitely for combat. Or ... more specifically, the principle is for fighting.

Development of close-range power (whether with a punch, a palm, an elbow, headbutt, knee, kick, etc.) is a very useful tool.

The principles involved in a good 1" punch are the same principles involved in generating close-range power with any technique.

Mike

[Red5angel]

Eddie, while the 1 inch punch itself is for show, the ideas and principles underlying it are sound. The idea is to get your whol ebody to unite behind the punch. you learn this by working on timing and structure, linking your joints, tendons, bones and muscles, and putting it all behind this punch.
Good wingchun teaches you that. Its why structure is so important to us. That is also why Wing Chun claims to be good for smaller people, with this sort of whole body unity you dont need to be strong, muscle doesnt play a whole lot into it.

[Melanie]

Welcome Red5angel,

Wingchun is certainly getting a fair representation on this forum. :)

I look forward to hearing more from you. :)

[Red5angel]

Thanks Melanie! Wing Chun is a growing art. Its popularity has waxed and waned since Bruce Lee became famous but like anything that goes mainstream it has always been growing.
I think all arts go through it, sometimes it takes a movie, or a movie star but martial arts is something that strikes up curiosity in anyone!

[morphus]

Absolutely the principles behind the one inch punch are very relevent in every martial art.:) Or are there acceptions - anyone?

[pesilat]

Originally posted by morphus
Absolutely the principles behind the one inch punch are very relevent in every martial art.:) Or are there acceptions - anyone?

The expression of the principle, of course, differs from art to art ... but I think that ever art that I've seen which uses any sort of short-range striking utilizes it in one form or another.

And, really, the same principles used to generate that short-range power are the same that are used to create power at longer ranges too. Understanding the principles behind the 1" punch can help you develop power with *any* strike.

Mike

[Andy Murray]

For those yet to be convinced;
consider you are swinging a bat.
You can swing wide, and follow through which has one effect, or you can accellerate the swing by drawing the near end of the bat towards you as you swing, tightening the arc! Simple application of mechanics/physics.
You can apply this concept to a kick for example; the turning kick/Mawashi Geri can be swung long and straight, or can be 'chopped' in.
I would imagine the Aikido players in our midst (in the pub) probably use this principle in throws too, and may even have a term for it.

I can understand where someone might see the inch punch demoed, and consider it a flash gimmick, but it is at least worth analysing what is going on.

Explosive Power without a wind up.........Yum, Yum!

Andy

[Red5angel]

Ultimately, the idea behind the so-called one inch punch is that, instead of puuting just your typical muscle groups behind a strike, you are going to put your entire body behind it, giving it much more power! Its biomechanically sound but takes a while to develope that sort of control.

[khafra]

I think there's possible combat applications for just about any technique. Somebody's coming at you with a knife from a ways away, but there's no convenient escape route: break off a stout branch from a nearby tree, or even a board off a park bench, you can apologize to the parks and recreation department later. The better your breaking ability, the better the blunt instrument you can acquire.
Board breaking and the one inch punch may not be the most practical techniques for most sparring situations, but I'd hate to just discard anything with such an impressive effect on a stationary target as practically useless.

[Andy Murray]

A point well made Khafra.
Consider for a moment if you will, that your opponent is coming forward at you. Imagine, with good timing, the addition to the effect of the punch.
Chinese spare ribs anyone?

[Red5angel]

Good Bruce Lee reference Andy! ;)

[pesilat]

Yup. And the 1" punch is also great in a clinch. I was sparring a guy once.

He fired a right punch, I parried it and trapped it against his body with my left hand while I fired my own right punch. He did a slap-grab to my right wrist with his left hand. Now ... to him, he had hold of my right hand and could feel my left on his forearm. When I slid my left forward (maintaining contact with my forearm) and fired a 1" punch into his ribs, it knocked the wind out of him and he said, "Where'd that come from? Did you grow a third hand?" ... because he thought he still felt my left hand on his forearm (it was actually my left forearm, though).

Now ... this is pretty standard type material for trap hands systems (mine being the Filipino arts ... but the same techniques and principles are used in WC trapping and others).

That close-range power enabled me to take advantage of a hole without any wind-up or telegraph and it ended the bout ... it took the guy many long seconds to even begin to regain his wind.

This range ... the "trapping" range ... is where the idea of a 1" punch came from. The principle is useful in other ranges and situations ... but, IMHO, its roots are in trapping.

Mike

[Side-kick]

This is a very interesting thread. I saw James de mile in Nottingham 1989 demonstrate his 1 inch punch. He asked the recipient to put a telephone book on their chest as he hit them. I think he said he would withstrict some of its power for the demo. Still caused the person to stagger back. He had to ask if they had heart problems b4 he started- I think.

The technique was interesting but some felt the 'matcho' aura was present in the seminar. Pity. Still stuck in my memory.
Dont know if werstern culture is any good at managing agression/power even in advanced masters. Its not good for females in clubs.

[Black and Blue]

Hello all,

Short range strikes in WC (as we practise them at Kamon), such as the one-inch punch, involve body unity... as stated by others :)

We also make use of them in the clinch, where they can be punches, palms, chops etc.

Chan Sifu says the point of short range strikes is to issue great power in a short distance but for that power to hit the target like a hammer hitting a body. If I gave you a short, sharp and heavy whack to the face with a hammer, you wouldn't fly twenty feet back... your face would collapse, but you wouldn't be propelled miles away.

In short, he says these short strikes should do heavy damage but leave you pretty much where you were standing before. That way we can hit you again, and again, and again, and.... etc.

Our aim, whatever the strike we use, is to not let our opponent escape the distance we thrive at - right in your face! ;)

[Red5angel]

Great to see you B&B!!! I agree, the short range power is important to us wingchun people, and if trained properly can be of great use in those instances you sited.
Body unity is indeed the key. I have seen some people try to do it and they look so disconnected. They also do something more akin to a 12 inch punch!
Bruce Lee used to say it was all in the hip but it goes deeper then that, its in every joint in your body and in the dan tien.

[simonlarcombe]

It's a very old thread I know, but...

I'd be interested to hear what types of one inch punches you've all seen/executed. I'm talking about the body mechanics, alignment and principles that are use to generate the power. Many people perform them differently.

[Andy Murray]

The only 'real world' application I've ever come across was one Yoda posted about somewhere.

The key thing, is that things you train in sometimes just 'pop out', as and when appropriate, whether they come from a 'lame ass' Kata or not. ;)

[wcrevdonner]

Let it go!!! (The punch that is!) ;)

[simonlarcombe]

Editted, mis-read you post! (Pretty lame considering the number of words in it :D)

[rocky]

James Demile is still going,he was interviewed in a martial arts mag recently.He says he and bruce developed the punch together.He had a boxing background and the body mechanics used in the 1" punch are similar.He says the demos of the 1" punch where the volunteer flys backwards aren't a true representation,if the punch is performed correctly your adversary should drop straight down.Something to do with pressure build up on the internal organs.That's why he asks volunteers if they have heart problems and uses the phone book on their chest.

[simonlarcombe]

WCRevDonner,

What do you need to do to set-up the release? If you don't do anything what is occuring in the body to allow the release, what was required to be entrained in order to get it? What happens on impact? How do the arm and body travel through the movement? How do you ensure that the power is all directed into the opponent?

Rocky,

It can be done either way, and both could be useful. The drive through type punch which pushes you back still hurts, believe me! The principles can also be combined to a certain extent. My personal opinion is that Bruce was good at the drive through punch but hadn't quite cracked the short punch, although I've no doubt he could still do it.

[wcrevdonner]

There was a double meaning to the post just in case you missed my point. ;)

Regarding technique...I try not think about what I should be doing, rather I just ry and do it. To me, the most important points are that you have a tight fist and you accelerate as quickly as possible over the distance you are striking. Mainly short range power though comes as a by product of training in WC. This is also why I think the one inch punch is unique to WC, if not southern MA styles, because chi sao can rely heavily on generating short range power.

btw, my user name is a pain in the arse to write, if you want to quote me, use wcrd, should hopefully make it easier!

[simonlarcombe]

I guessed there probably was, that's fine. I'm quite happy to discuss it :D

I don't think short power is unique to Wing Chun, I think it more widely known about probably because of Bruce. Also, I don't think that Chi Sau relies on short power at all, but it does relate.

[wcrevdonner]

Actually, Im wondering what you thought I meant to let go? It wasn't this topic, it was another one which has been done to death...quite literally for some people!!

I agree that it is more widely known, probably because of Bruce. However, I think it pertains a lot more to WC than anyhting else I've seen to date, which probably isn't much! :) Note, I say it can, as opposed to it does. You can talk basic principals of hitting from where the hand lies, which happens at short range all the time because of the short range of chi sao.
Then, you can discuss the idea of having short range power in your controls, from paak to laap to jut, to the idea of pushing and pulling. I think short range power is intrinsically linked to chi sao by the very nature of the game, and can tell the difference between the okay, good and very good chi sao exponents!! Shame Im only in the first bracket at the moment...

[simonlarcombe]

Well at first I thought you meant let the subject go, then I thought you might mean let it go as it actually let the movement go, release...which would be a good answer to the question.

I realise this has been done, over and over again on many forums but I haven't seen very many actual descriptions of how it works, just a lot of arguing :)

From what I've seen a lot of seriously high level arts have this kind of stuff, it just isn't talked about widely.

OK, I see your point in Chi Sau, talking at cross purposes.

Chi Sau takes a long time, don't worry about it.

If we manage to sort this thing out in July, I think you might find yourself talking about short power again ;)

[wcrevdonner]

It was both; but it wasn't this topic...

I know chi sao takes a long time; it can be infuriating at times!! And one word keeps on getting in my head.
Imagine I'm doing chi sao with someone with more experience than me...
'SMACK'...experience...'Smack'...experience...'sma ck smack smack'...experience...and then they say, 'oh don't worry, thats just experience, you'llbe able to do that in a couple of years.' Ha Ha Ha...and then more smacks...Im sure Im getting to the stage soon where Ill be doing it back!!

[simonlarcombe]

If you want to really get Chi Sau you shouldn't practice competitively at an early stage.

Do you practice with forward pressure?

You should practice Chi Sau with equal pressure until your arms feel like springs (in fact your whole body) making the movement for you. When you can do this, having developed an fluid interconnected structure, you should add things gradually, like turning etc.

I'm just getting to the stage where I can feel the movement "happening" without tension, it's a nice feeling.

Being beaten is an excellent thing, first it helps to let go of your ego making you feel competitive...you also learn to fill the gaps. If you train with someone of similar level and they try to beat you all the time (hit you), you should let them, happily :) Just keep practicing to control equal pressure and eliminate tension. You will develop at a hugely faster rate than your opponent.

[JohnnyX]

There has been a lot of discussion about it. But, has anyone seen it?

Has anybody got a link to a Video of Bruce Lee doing the One Inch Punch?

Cheers. :)

[simonlarcombe]

I've seen it and felt it many, many times!

I can get some short power but not using the principle I want to. I've only ever hit the nail on the head with a "soft" punch once (to my knowledge...it's difficult to know without someone to tell you because it's very hard to feel anything yourself) but I haven't drilled it a great deal yet, been concentrating on other things. Hopefully, I'll have it soon :)

There's loads of footage of Bruce doing the punches, just have a search on the internet, or on the forum I'm sure it's been posted here before. Bruce's punch wasn't developed to the level the short punch is today.

[wcrevdonner]

You shouldn't practise chi sao competitively, but sometimes it ends up that way - very rarely have I met someone who actually sticks to what they say they will do, and ends up trying to batter you; I lose patience after about two minutes and start battering back - if I can!!!
However saying that, I trained with someone yesterday, and did what you said; I just tried to neutralise his attacks, and work on one aspect, that was me on top with my left hand, and any time he tried changing out with his right I would close the distance with a forward palm to the face; it kind of worked, but you know chi sao, you concentrate on one thing, you lose focus of the other hand...but it was definitely the best chi sao I had worked in a while. Better than paaking every other strike and it turning into a 'friendly' sparring session!!!

[simonlarcombe]

Well, you can, but you need to practice a LOT first. Most people skip straight past this point.

If someone tries to get through, don't worry about it. If they are coming through already, I wouldn't necassarily do anything. There shouldn't be a gap in the first place, this is one of the things we are working on.

Try to find yourself a training partner who isn't trying to batter you. When you practice with them, concentrate on getting your structure right, tilted up pelvis (straightening your lower spine), round (concave, soft) chest, rounded back, drop your shoulders and seal them down (gently) with your lat muscle, keep your elbows down and start with the shapes. Bounce or pulse forwards so that the completion of the movement into Tan/Bong whatever bonces you back up again. The forwards movement should come from your ankles.

You should practice like this and try to eliminate the tension, everywhere. As soon as you feel tension (which usually starts in your shoulder) STOP! Don't try to work through it if your shoulders start to become tired, this might seem like a good idea but it's counter-productive, you are just entraining your body to work with the tension.

When you feel like you have got somewhere removing the tension, just concentrate on your feet, put your mind there and FEEL the bounce...let it happen.

This takes some time but eventually you should FEEL your arms moving, rather than moving your arms.

When you strike in Chi Sau "IT" should do it, that's the point! (or one of them). But don't worry about striking for now, unless, of course, it "happens" :D

Have a go, we can do some of this stuff when we get together.

[wcrevdonner]

That sounds complicated, but good to try out, will definitely want to try it when we meet.

[Happeh]

How was the one inch punch done that people saw? The ones I saw were tricks. They worked and thru people back. The people were bamboozeled as to what was happening. It was like a magic trick. Redirect the persons attention to something else so they did not understand the one inch punch

[simonlarcombe]

The short punches I have experienced are not based upon deception or trickery. They are based upon principles of body structure and movement. I've no doubt what-so-ever that the are phonies out there. I've seen people try to do the one inch punch and claim to "have it" but there is a huge build up and tension throughout and on impact.

The short power can come from one of a few different principles. It depends upon what you want to achieve, of course this would all be a useless "party trick" if you cannot use it, but the principles can be entrained so that they are always there.

Bruce Lee said something like ""Before I started learning the martial arts, a punch was just a punch, a kick was just a kick. After I began learning the martial arts I realized that a punch was no longer just a punch and a kick was no longer just a kick. Then after I had learned the martial arts I realized that a kick was just a kick and a punch was just a punch".

A nice adaptation of an old Zen saying referring to enlightenment. What he's refering to here is that in entraining the punch (for example) there were many principles to study and practice but once entrained they were just there ... "nothing special" ... this is how it works.

Bruce's usual punch (the one I've seen most anyway) used a unitised body structure, and got it's power by rotating the hip through the motherline with sychronised timing of the body. It drives through, not particularly hard to get, getting the impact is a different matter.

However, this can be done with a much smaller movement.

[Shou Tu]

The short punches I have experienced are not based upon deception or trickery. They are based upon principles of body structure and movement. I've no doubt what-so-ever that the are phonies out there. I've seen people try to do the one inch punch and claim to "have it" but there is a huge build up and tension throughout and on impact.

The short power can come from one of a few different principles. It depends upon what you want to achieve, of course this would all be a useless "party trick" if you cannot use it, but the principles can be entrained so that they are always there.

Bruce Lee said something like ""Before I started learning the martial arts, a punch was just a punch, a kick was just a kick. After I began learning the martial arts I realized that a punch was no longer just a punch and a kick was no longer just a kick. Then after I had learned the martial arts I realized that a kick was just a kick and a punch was just a punch".

A nice adaptation of an old Zen saying referring to enlightenment. What he's refering to here is that in entraining the punch (for example) there were many principles to study and practice but once entrained they were just there ... "nothing special" ... this is how it works.

Bruce's usual punch (the one I've seen most anyway) used a unitised body structure, and got it's power by rotating the hip through the motherline with sychronised timing of the body. It drives through, not particularly hard to get, getting the impact is a different matter.

However, this can be done with a much smaller movement.


Are you saying hips with centerline and generating power along centerline?? wow if that is what your saying then bruce's power is no secret just not many having be able to harness it according to his explination!LOL Beyond that to those that have thought past or saw past his thoughts before his time.

But you are correct this action and many others can be accomplished with a much smaller movement and more power.

Salute,

[simonlarcombe]

Are you saying hips with centerline and generating power along centerline?? wow if that is what your saying then bruce's power is no secret just not many having be able to harness it according to his explination!LOL Beyond that to those that have thought past or saw past his thoughts before his time.

But you are correct this action and many others can be accomplished with a much smaller movement and more power.

Salute,

There are no secrets! lol

Of course, a lot of Bruce's stuff came from Wing Chun. As far as I am aware, what I described is not exactly the same as Wing Chun, there is some modification to the hip movement.

[little_monkey]

hi the one inch punch is actually considered and internal strike compared to an external strike. Thats where you use your internal energy (ch'i) instead of muscle. tai chi helps a lot with building up internal energy also hou t'ien ch'i meditation.

[Strafio]

My friend saw a demonstration of the 1 inch punch.

I think it was by one of Ip Chuns students.



First off, it was shown on a board that was suspended in the air by string.
The board was broken by it.
It's because the strike was more like a "whip's snap" rather than a pushed follow through.

After that he demonstrated on people at about quarter of the power.
And that's where they were flying back.
My friend thought it looked a bit unbelievable and that people were overreacting, so on his turn he tried to resist it, but still found himself being flung back.

I think that there's plenty of application for it if you're fluent in it.
But you would have to be VERY fluent in it to pull it off. :)

[cybermonk]

Are you saying hips with centerline and generating power along centerline?? wow if that is what your saying then bruce's power is no secret just not many having be able to harness it according to his explination!LOL Beyond that to those that have thought past or saw past his thoughts before his time.


Also remember that Bruce was able to curl with one arm over 80 pounds, so technique is good but when you add it to some impressive bicep/forearm power its becomes great.

[Rien Bul Dai Si]

http://home.quicknet.nl/qn/prive/wengshunkuen/oneinchpunch.html

[redsandpalm]

I've seen the one inch punch performed by Lee several times on video - the 'victim' is always standing near the edge of the screen and falls over a chair or something (and is usually fairly slightly built). All this makes the punch seem more powerful. I've seen the late chinese master Chee Kim Thong give a large man (~16st), in his stance, a 'no inch palm' that sent him flying (literally 5/6 metres back through the air). I can tell you he made Bruce Lee's one inch punch look amateur and this guy was an old man! ...and no I wasn't his student or anything, just a fan.

[axelb]

I've seen the one inch punch performed by Lee several times on video - the 'victim' is always standing near the edge of the screen and falls over a chair or something (and is usually fairly slightly built). All this makes the punch seem more powerful. I've seen the late chinese master Chee Kim Thong give a large man (~16st), in his stance, a 'no inch palm' that sent him flying (literally 5/6 metres back through the air). I can tell you he made Bruce Lee's one inch punch look amateur and this guy was an old man! ...and no I wasn't his student or anything, just a fan.

That was one of my teachers teacher, he also taugh Grandmaster Yap.

it is from Shaolin Five ancestors fist :D (WuZuQuan)
the main (first) form San Chen (Sam Chien) trains you to do this.

I've seen similar things done by my teacher *ouch*
and it can be applied in fighting, you just need to practise techniques in fighting that include it.

is also known as the "long arm bridge technique"

[mididoctors]

its a party trick of little real value

IMO

Boris
London

[redsandpalm]

its a party trick of little real value

IMO

Boris
LondonI presume you're talking about Bruce Lee's punch - cos if not then I suggest you arrange to meet with Axelb's master. If he can do the move half as good as when I saw it you'll change your mind.

[axelb]

its a party trick of little real value

IMO

Boris
London

this is often said about these techniques.
Some people can only perform them as party tricks as they have not been practising sparring/fighting with these techniques, so it doesn't become second nature when in a combat situation.

and once you feel the *sting* in you chest, you really don't feel like attacking them again.

[Greg-VT]

its a party trick of little real value

IMO

Boris
London The 1-Inch punch itself may be seen a trick, but the concepts and its princibles can be carried over into situations where they would become pretty damn handy...

Heres another thread on it:
http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3569

[wing chun]

i argee with Greg VT. training in the one inch punch allows you to get lots of power in a short range. very effective when using the rapid punches of wing chun.

[eagelclaw]

Have any of you ever used a one inch punch on someone.... :cry:

[bcbernam777]

Have any of you ever used a one inch punch on someone.... :cry:
yes

[hwardo]

When you are sparring in close range against a well trained opponent, the more power you can generate in a small movement, the better. We use variations on the one inch punch all the time in full speed sparring, and it tends to be a pretty effective tool.

[Simplicity]

I will only show the one inch punch, when I have a rude person wanting to learn from me and I don't want to teach them. It because I can't, there cup is over flowing. So to humble them for the next teacher, that they mitt come in contact with. To don't be rude in a man house, or you won't be training there.

[BillyJohnston]

I like Germans. I am making that guess based on your use of "mitt".

I trained with a man who was learning from Leung Ting. The man was not impressive but he was the only guy in the entire major city that taught any kind of Wing Chun.

I was there for months, long enough to get to know the man well. I was a kid that knew nothing then. After those months had passed, I became more and more certain that he was not a very good teacher.

One day this guy walks in with this beautiful, gorgeous, magnificent black woman. She was eye searingly pretty. The guy was white and introduces himself as a German man who is going around to various Wing Chun schools so he can learn. He has been learning in Germany for a long time.

The guy is not really big but you could tell he was strong. Solid. My instructor was one of these skinny, bean pole, stretchy and flexible guys.

My eyes were finally opened to the truth when the German man says "will you spar with me" to the teacher. He says no. He wants him to spar with the senior student. The senior student was about 6 inches shorter than the teacher and even skinner, more beanpole, more flexible. Looking back I can honestly say that both men were wannabe's fooling themselves that they knew martial arts. An angry man with no training could have beat both of them.

The German man goes to the far side of the room to chi sau with the senior student. Meanwhile, this mouth watering black women is seated in the only chair in the studio. I happen to be doing chi sau right there with another student. This oh so fine woman was wearing a short skirt showing off lots of leg. It was really distracting.

Then, get this, the instructor comes over to watch me and my partner Chi Sau. I thought "that is odd, he should be watching joe in case he gets in trouble with the German guy". Then I glance at my instructors face.

That slimeball was standing their trying to look up the dress of the woman. Blatantly! His head was down and his eyes kept darting from us to the womans skirt. I was appalled! My instructor who I wanted to be proud of was some sexual pervert looking up woman's skirts!

Meanwhile, the german guy is literally throwing joe into the wall. I am watching it happen. 1, 2, 3, 4,.... Finally the German guy asks the instructor, "Does he know how to step?". He meant move. The German would move into Joe and joe, instead of pivoting out of the way was taking the shot and hitting the wall.

My instructor, without removing his eyes from the womans skirt, says "Oh ya, he knows the step". ;)

The German guy left soon after. Why stay? He learned what he came to learn. The dojo was full of wannabe's who could not really fight. With an instructor who was a sex pervert. ;( And a stupid and obvious one at that.

[hwardo]

What the hell are you talking about?

[Matt_Bernius]

My thoughts exactly. And considering that there is another One-Inch-Punch topic going on, it's time to lock down this one.

- Matt