Te Waza: Backfist/Stepping Punch

Te Waza Discussions:

Back Fist vs. Stepping Punch.

Many martial artists believe that either jabs are useless or that back fists are useless. This discussion is a basic approach to teaching how to make jabs as effective as back fists, or vice versa. You can begin from either a punching or a back fist perspective.

Your Jab/Stepping Punch Has Force/Power

_start_ (from this perspective, your jab is more powerful than your back fist and you would like to increase the power of your back fist or need convincing that it is possible for a back fist to have power.)

1> practice with your jabs.

2> now, feel your muscles with your jabs, just as it locks in and the power connects.

3> leave your jab extended in the connecting position.

4> have a partner move your fist off of the line.

5> feel your lat muscle (put your hand on it) and your connection weaken as you are pulled forward and has your jab is pulled to the side.

>> this is just a review session of the muscles, the way they lock in, and the way power connects and what makes the power work in your jab or stepping punch.

_next_

1> practice hammer fist into a heavy bag.

2> now, do the same thing you did with your jab, in feeling how the muscles lock in and your body's power gets behind the technique.

3> throw hammer fist from side stance, but hands in kumite position or sparring position, not from hips or side.

4> feel how you can throw a hammer fist the same way you can throw a jab from a short distance, but locking the power in as it hits.

_third_

1> throw your back fist as a hammer fist (that is, don't pull it back, don't snap it). Feel how you can lock it in the same way you lock your hammer fist.

2> now, the same way you can make your jab rifle in and out, yet get power at the moment of contact, work your back fist.

_break drill_

1> throw a ridge hand. Work the angle of attack to the target and the shoulder line of the technique. Note how the maximum power connects when your shoulders line up with the target and the ridge hand strikes directly into the targert.

2> do the same thing with a chop, paying attention to your hips and your lats.

_back to the back fist_

1> ok, consider the way the jab locks in and loses power when it goes off line, go back to hammer fist.

2> put your hand on your lat while you are locked in with a back fist and then have your partner move your hammer fist off of the line and feel how your power fades out of it.

3> you should be able to feel how your jab needs your shoulder's "square" (close to right angles to the direction of the punch) and your hammer fist needs to be in the same line as your shoulders (note that the direction of the force is still at right angles to the shoulder!).

(Yes, I know that, eventually, a punch/jab can have extension that moves it beyond right angles -- to 45 degrees or more. But, for training purposes and learning this drill, the right angle perspective works best -- and is essential for beginners).

Of course I'm taking a Shotokan approach, where you start with your punches, (and these days, back fist too) with the technique being thrown and held rather than snapped back. After you have the power in line, you execute it strongly and then work on the recoil action. Even reverse punch eventually moves in and out just like a back fist snaps in and out (or a front snap kick snaps back faster than it goes out), but to feel the power it helps to strike and stop.

Your Back Fist has force and power, your jab/punch is weak.

For the reverse ...

_first_ beginning drills.

1>Work on how your backfist strikes and connects. Feel the power in the technique.

2>Stop the technique where it is at full extension, hitting the target. Feel how all the muscles lock in.

3>Have a partner move your back fist towards your front while you put your hand on your lats (one had extended in back fist, one on lats). As the fist moves out of line (and the direction of power moves away from right angles to the body) you will feel your muscles relax and cease to connect. This drill works much better if someone else moves your arm for you.

4>Now, you'll look for the same action with your jab, except your shoulder's are square (at right angles) to your jab rather than directly behind/in line to your back fist.

_take a break_

1>Work your reverse punch. You should be able to feel power in it.

2>Now, work your jab, keeping the punch in the same line with the hips and shoulders close to where your reverse punch is.

3>You can see / feel / listen to the way your punch goes out and connects. As long as the jab keeps the same line as your reverse punch, you'll be able to keep the power in it. When you roll your shoulder into the technique (as if it were a back fist), the power drops right out of it.

4>Now, don't roll the shoulder, and feel how the lat keeps the punch and your power locked in when the jab connects. You can feel the same sort of thing with your back fist. Strike it out correctly.

5>Now, poke your back fist forward while standing in front stance and with your shoulders and hips locked down as if you were doing a reverse punch. The back fist just wimps out. You are creating the same "out of line" focus for your back fist that your jab has when it lacks power.

6>Work with it and review the information in "Punch" above. You are doing the same thing to a jab when you roll your shoulder past the line when jabbing as you do when you push your shoulders wrong with a back fist.

7>Move your shoulder angles to the limits of your effective punch. Now, push your shoulders past that limit. Consider, if your shoulder has rolled or moved far enough that you can not punch effectively, see if you can roll it the rest of the way and use a backfist instead.

8>Now, work on your chops, ridge hands, and blocks, noting how the shoulders, lats and back muscles connect and how shoulder alignment and direction of force changes how much power gets into the technique.

This should help you improve all of your Te Waza techniques, especially the Atemi Waza ones.

ADR
Resources Bengoshi
Waza Ashibari Tegurumaotoshi Eri Seoi Age Copyright 1997
Stephen R. Marsh

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