Time for a little straight talk about straight punches. Whether you’re throwing a traditional reverse punch, a boxer’s 1-2, or an old fashioned palm heel, there is one big mistake you want to avoid… letting your elbow flare out.
Why is flaring your elbow a problem?
First, flaring your elbow gives away power because you’re punching with your arm instead of your body. Punching is not the same as bench pressing!
Second, sticking out your elbow gives away your intentions. The reason is simple…
A fist is small compared to your elbow. If you can send a fist straight to your attacker’s face, it’s not easy to see coming. But when you flare your elbow, you make a bigger move and present a bigger part of your body. That’s not so slick!
To help fix this bad habit, here’s a simple drill—I mean, it’s so simple that I can’t tell if it’s stupid or pure genius!–to help make sure your straight punches really are straight.
If the video doesn’t play, you can find a summary below. Either way, keep punching! 🙂
One Drill for a Better Straight Punch
Follow these three simple steps to test your reverse punch, jab, straight punch, and palm heel strike.
Step One: Hold out your punch.
Stick out your fist in the ideal position.
Step Two: Touch your elbow to an object.
You can stand next to a wall, a tree, the refrigerator… whatever. Just make sure you are touching something.
Step Three: Practice your punch.
If you can throw your arm out and pull it back back without bumping the bag, you’re a pro. But if the bag moves, you’re busted!
Don’t be too hard on yourself if you brush the bag. That’s okay! In fact, brushing the bag again and again proves your consistent. But bumping the bag just proves you need more practice.
This is such a simple test… but it really does make a difference!
In my opinion, training with an object like a bag is even better than a coach, because the bag always pays attention and never lies. If you screw up, the bag will tell you every time.
A word of warning…
When you straighten out your punch, you may suddenly feel like you’ve lost all your power. Don’t worry!
Give yourself some time to find your new groove. Shift your weight, rotate your core, and get your body behind your fist. Do all that and your straight punch will be stronger than ever.
But don’t get cocky! As you feel your power building, keep coming back to this drill to make sure your elbow is still safely tucked away.
And now for your challenge!
I hereby challenge you to get up, stand next to a wall or punching bag, and see if your straight punch really is straight. Let me know how it goes!
Really nice tips, Sensei Ando! Thank you! 🙂
Thank you kindly, Miss Alesia! Maybe we can practice on the wall outside Krispy Kreme! 🙂
A thousand times yes! That came up in the last self-defense session of my fall semester, exactly the problem, but with a white belt. I figured we ought to get it fixed sooner rather than let it last for years. I did forget to tell him to train next to a wall (how my master fixed me!). That’s a great point I hope to remember in the future.
Whew! Glad to hear I won’t be the only one practicing with the wall… it gets lonely over there!
Thank you for the comment, sir! Happy training!
My instructors used to call it “chicken wing” if we flared our elbow. Now I’ll have to go try your drill.
Ha! That’s what I say to the kids, too! Stop flapping and punch! 🙂