A Flurry of Punches at Both Half Distance and Quarter Distance

Today I’m striking the bag at two different distances. To be able to change distances while striking is vitally important to me. Means I can always keep the pressure on my attacker should my initial strike not stop them.

Without prejudice

A Flurry of Half Punches at Quarter Distance

This is pretty much the same as yesterday except that I’m punching with uppercuts, and hooks. I’m using alternate arms and making every strike both hard and fast.

Without prejudice

A Flurry of Punches at Half Distance

This week I’m working the heavy bag in a slightly different manner. I’m pounding it with several strikes in a row.

The point is to be able to just keep striking. All too often, especially in my early stages of training, there was a tendency to hit once or twice and stop, lower my guard and assess the damage.

I had to learn to strike with multiple hits. It took effort, time and I had to learn to be willing to do this.

Even so, there was a time when I kicked the guy between the legs hard enough to make stop attacking me him bend over in pain.

Imagine my surprise when he suddenly stood up and rushed me.

Fortunately my conditioning to continue fighting took over. I hit him several more times…

Today I’m working the heavy bag at half distance. I can touch the bag with both left and right sets of knuckles. I just continue to pound the thing.

Something else I do my best to remember; if I’m close enough to hit someone (around my own size), they are usually close enough to hit me back.

Without prejudice

Stationary Upper Elbow Thrust against a Heavy Bag

This is a powerful move but I find it is easily smothered. Therefore it has limited use for me.

Without prejudice

Stationary Roundhouse Fore Elbow Strike against a Heavy Bag

This is not actually taught in the old school. I learned to do this only as a straight line thrust. I practice both ways theses days as I usually go to two different targets.

Without prejudice

Stationary Inverted Backhand Thrust against a Heavy Bag

This is a twisting forefist thrust that looks deceptively low while going high. It also looks weak but it’s not. When combined with a smothering block, I have found it to be a powerful and effective weapon.

When I first learned this I was taught to use my free hand back as a mantis hook. We called it ‘The Temple Punch’ (even though is was always done with a mantis hook).

Without prejudice

Stationary Knifehand to the Groin practiced against a Heavy Bag

This is a knifehand to the groin and as such, I find I have to stand quite close. These days, I usually keep my free hand up and ready to block, check or press back.

When I first learned this I was taught to pull my free hand back to the waist. I found it was a different time with a different set of priorities than today.

Without prejudice