Which muscle(s) determines the power of a punch?

Question

The way I see it is that the shoulder muscles do most of the work with the arms muscles just being there to add a bit of weight, is that correct, or have I totally missed the point there?

lol, not planning on punching anyway, just wondered.

Answer 1

Muscles in the shoulder and back. Plus if you throw your bodyweight behind the punch, then its much more effective.

Answer 2

Martial arts training allows the weight of the body, rather than the strength of particular muscles, to be directed into a strike.

The particular muscles you are using to do this, depends on the striking technique, and the position it is being used from.

In a lot of basic forward punching techniques, it is the leg muscles that are mainly responsible for directing power (weight) into the strike.

As well as tensing up some muscles, to direct the power, it is equally important to relax others, in order to allow the flow of energy. Otherwise the power being delivered by some parts of the body, can be blocked or diverted by other bodyparts, before reaching the strike. This can cause injury.

Correct techniques will produce the appropriate (optimum, NOT maximum) tension or relaxation in each bodypart as required.

Achieving this objective is not always possible by obvious means. Diligent training, patient observation, and respectful curiosity are necessary, as well as a responsible (preferably traditional) teacher.

Answer 3

Good question! But no one muscle is responsible for a good punch, it comes from believe it or not the foot upwards, ricocheting your whole body in one steady movement you should be able to release the energy held within your whole body. If you use pure muscle, then the punch will be slow and tense and only as strong as the person who is lanching the punch. Ladies have an advantage believe it or not, having smaller hands reduces the spread of the impact, making it infinitely more painful and if hit in the right place...very painful indeed...and no not talking about the guys nether regions here...there are more interesting places to hit. Have a go, try all the suggested techniques and feel it for yourself...on a punchbag of course:0)

Answer 4

One must coordinate all of the muscles to achieve a powerful punch.The arms do less than other bodyparts, but the triceps does something. The deltoids are more important. The latissimus dorsi is too. A twist from the external obliques adds to the power. The pectoralis major has its share of effect. The legs are used in proper punches.

Answer 5

Actually, stabilizing muscles (glutes, pecs, obliques) have a lot more to do with the power of the punch (especially cross or reverse punch) than the delts, since they insure transmission of kinetic energy by locking the entire body in to the blow and providing the rotation of the hips and torso that generate speed. Delts and triceps mostly matter on a jab

Answer 6

it's more of a combination of muscles of course the shoulder muscles and the bicep/triceps have their contributions, but it's the hips and legs that give more power to the strike rather than the muscles themselves.

Western Boxing has the most contribution to this aspect.

your whole body is responsible for putting the power into your strikes instead of just one or two specific muscle groups.

Answer 7

There are many kinds of punches. Most of your arm strength in a punch comes from the triceps. But all the "power" punches in our system come from the hip. The whole body should punch, not just the arm.

Answer 8

Hello,
your whole body is involved, because you want your maximum, not only the maximum of one muscle.
For a good punch you need power, speed, timing, balance and technique. These can you only approach, if you learn a fighting technique and do whole body work out, such the old good boxing. A trained boxer is able to hit the most powerful punch. National Geographic has a good documentation, it is release under the name FIGHT SCIENCE.
It isn't so simple as it looks like.

Answer 9

I am surprised no one has said that ALL of your muscles do... Its form that brings power. Getting all of your muscles to work the right way. I have seen really big guys with little power, and small dudes with AMAZING power.

Answer 10

foremarm strength is important along with shoulders and triceps, but u need tights tendons to pack a really hard punch and u cant train them ur born like it. if ur naturally flexible and are double jointed ill guess u dont punch that hard

i have loose tendon and even though i am a martial artist i dont punch very hard im also big and bench press125 kg/275lb