How to Dramatically Increase Your Speed and Power through Superior Body Mechanics

We have all seen the remarkable power that professional martial artists are able to produce. It has always been attributed to years of dedication and training. However, based on the science of body mechanics and concepts in physics, there are a few theories on how we are able to generate these high speed and power in our strikes. 

One of these is the “shortened lever” principle, where a punch for example, is thrown at the target and the fist only hardens at the point of impact, before snapping back to its original position. The snap back of the fist is likened to the snap of a towel or a whip. There is great speed and the impact results in a penetrating shock. 

The principle is based on the idea that higher speed can be produced, without applying additional force, through a sudden shortening of the arc of the motion before impact. This effect can be seen in a tennis player’s swing. As the ball approaches, the player swings with a long arc, generating momentum and remaining relaxed. It is only until the final moment of impact that the player shortens the radius at the last of the arc in the swing to create a sudden increase in speed and hence maximize power in the swing.

The principle also borrows from Newton’s Second Law, F=MA, whereby if mass remains constant, greater power is achieved through the sudden increase in speed, that is, higher acceleration.

Applying the Concept

 

Relaxation is highly important prior to the shortening phase. By remaining relaxed in the initial swing, greater speed and momentum is achieved. This is because speed is hampered by excessive tensing of the muscles before it is needed in the shortening phase. It is like trying to throw a ball with your arm being tensed the whole time. To maximize power in the throw, you need to keep your arms relaxed until the last of the arc, where you release the ball and your wrist flicks inwards, shortening the radius of the motion. Similarly in punching, a lot of power is loss when the arm over-tenses before impact. 

The shortened lever principle can be seen utilized in Bruce Lee’s famous Jeet Kune Do punches, and the result is a quick, yet devastating strike. The key is to relax as the fist is thrown and only tensing before the moment of impact. As soon as impact occurs, a sudden snap or “pull-in” will increase the shock of the punch.

In martial arts, this theory is highly effective for short strikes such as punches and jabs. It is, however, not as effective in generating power in defensive movements such as blocking.