chime-in on punching power

Posted this on another thread, but think it's worth discussion here:

Gonna open a cana worms, and definitely rain on some parades. Been around the game as fighter 'n trainer since the Stone Age. Lived in Stillman’s. Got tips from Robinson and Pep and had a stellar amateur team that won scads of Golden Gloves titles.

Power’s the Holy Grail. Every amateur ‘n pro seeks it, just as baseball players wanna be home run hitters.

But my experience is – tough as it may be ta swallow: Nobody punches harder or faster than the first day he came in the gym – Will-o-the-wisps or Graziano beasts.

Over the years, they get more efficient, more relaxed, throw combos ‘n land with more accuracy, but an ERASER ‘n an up-tick in hand speed, never.

Guys have done damn well maximizing what they’ve got, but unless you’re Julian Jackson or Pep, all the king’s horses, muscles ‘n physics charts won’t help.

It won't stop amateurs 'n pros wanting to be the exception. More power to 'em.

 

hmm im a bit drunk are you seem to be saying that no one punches harder than when there at the beginning or punchers are born not made? im a bit confused technique and learning how to put your body weight into punches makes you hit a great deal harder...

 

Yup, that's exactly what I'm sayin', S. Look at the rest of it: improvements that make a guy more affective, but NOT faster-handed or harder hitting.

 

I agree if you mean that you can't really improve power through weights and stuff like that..Like your power is natural, however I also think that with correct form and technique the power of your punches will improve

 

look at pacman. he wasnt knocking people out early in his career. as his weight went up so did his power.

 

power alone is overated..acurracy is the key

 

The Worlds strongest man fought in a UFC fight. So, I asked why isnt he the worlds strongest puncher? Which I think is a legit question. I was laughed at.

Why wouldnt somone who is 300 lbs all muscle World strongest man not hit no where near as hard than somone who is 210 lbs like David Haye?

 

hey john in all your years of training how long would you say it takes the average fighter before he can develop his technique where he reaches the max fluidity possible?

 

technique i believe has a lot to do with it. look at ray edwards, hes a monster but his power looks overrated

 

That's because they learn that technique and precision are more important than raw power.

 

Nobody ever hit a baseball harder than in their first day of practice.

 

I have a thread similar to this in the training section

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=339871

but I don't agree 100% with what you're saying. What do you think medicine ball throws and plyometrics do then?

 

Shall I be the one to throw Hearns into the debate so that technique can be discussed and its influence and the power of punches?

 

It reminds me of the day when I picked up tennis for the first time at the ripe old age of 33.

I never hit a ball harder than I did that day, I never served faster than I did when I lobbed that first pathetic serve over the net. My mechanics and power never improved at all.

lol wait it was nothing like that at all.

 

It's every amateur's hope, SC, but usually it's more opportune 'n follow-up shots that do the damage.