I've seen a lot of discussion about 'punching air', which is what man martial arts students do when they practice. Not to say that they do not *also* punch bags or pads or people, but that they do practice punching air.
It is said by some that there is no power in it. It's a bad way to train because there is no resistance at the end of the punch, so it does not teach proper body mechanics and that people will hit like they train; ultimately, weak punches.
I suggest that punching air can be quite effective. Not a replacement for actually punching bags or pads or people, but certainly useful.
And to test this? I simply close my eyes. I ask a partner to randomly place a pad where my punch is going. Say one time out of ten. I try to punch air as I always punch air - no difference. It should feel the same to me. No cheating; if the pad isn't there, it should feel as it does when one normally punches air; not harder, softer, faster, slower, or whatever. Just normal punching air.
What I discovered is that I hit like a train. When I contact the bag which I did not know was there, the power explodes into it. There's nothing wrong with my body mechanics. If someone were to accidentally walk into a punch while I was punching air with my eyes shut, I'd clock 'em, no doubt.
Furthermore, such practice (with eyes shut) also allows me to think about my breathing, timing, and balance, in ways that I might ignore with them open.
Give it a try.
It is said by some that there is no power in it. It's a bad way to train because there is no resistance at the end of the punch, so it does not teach proper body mechanics and that people will hit like they train; ultimately, weak punches.
I suggest that punching air can be quite effective. Not a replacement for actually punching bags or pads or people, but certainly useful.
And to test this? I simply close my eyes. I ask a partner to randomly place a pad where my punch is going. Say one time out of ten. I try to punch air as I always punch air - no difference. It should feel the same to me. No cheating; if the pad isn't there, it should feel as it does when one normally punches air; not harder, softer, faster, slower, or whatever. Just normal punching air.
What I discovered is that I hit like a train. When I contact the bag which I did not know was there, the power explodes into it. There's nothing wrong with my body mechanics. If someone were to accidentally walk into a punch while I was punching air with my eyes shut, I'd clock 'em, no doubt.
Furthermore, such practice (with eyes shut) also allows me to think about my breathing, timing, and balance, in ways that I might ignore with them open.
Give it a try.