The vertical punch

K, so I just got out of this Jeet Kune do class, and have been throwing veritcal punches (keep your hand vertical) for at least 7 months now. It's basically street fighting for those of you who don't know developed by Bruce lee. You keep your hand vertical because supposedly it's faster, you don't lock your punches (like in boxing) because somebody could lock your arm, and SNAP. So, you keep your hand vertical, your elbow pointed down (not fully extended).
Here's my thing though. Started this MMA class, and they do basic stand up boxing. Vertical punch seems to work fine, but I was just wondering for those of you who may know....Do you actually get more POWER from turning your hand????? If so...How much?
I was just hitting the bag, and trying it, and I seemed to get a *little* more power when twisting, but didn't seem like enough for me to switch back to. Bout the only thing I don't like is you don't have the same kind of reach...Jeet Kune do is in CLOSE fighting. I don't fully extend a jab or anything, but I am short, and like everybody in the MMA class is taller than me so I guess it really doesn't matter.
I'd like the style for a street fight, but just not sure if I want to use it boxing, and wondering what's the flaws/ cons of throwing my vertical punches? I seen Ali throw backfists, and vertical punches many times....
Right now the plan is to improve my wind drastically. Been trying to gain weight for the winter so doing less cardio until I started this class, and I best be in damn good shape to compete with these guys. Figure if I do that I could easily just step in the inside, throw my shorter punches, and rough em up...No matter what way I'm throwing the punches.

 

Yeah, that helped a lot. Well, with the vertical punch (at least what I was taught) you do not put your thumb across your index/ middle finger. Instead you lock it on the top of your fist like a hammer...If you look at the top of your forearm (top of your wrist) when you do it you can actually see the muscle lock in. So, I'm guessing that would be better on your wrist making it tighter.
Yeah, I notice boxers just throw however. As long as they hit the dude they don't seem to care if it was vertical, horizontal, crookid, etc.

 

Don't think I ever threw an uppercut like that. Most of the reason they practice it in that martial arts was somebody couldn't lock your arm, and break it. Jeen Kune do is really about fighting TRAINED fighters...Somebody who knows how to kick at your leg, trap your arm, etc.
I always liked the vertical punch though because it's not as wide, and you can get that punch in right between there gloves a little easier. With a hook I'd always keep it vertical because I find if you do you pretty much always hit with your 2 top knuckles...As opposed to turning you catch most of your hand/ it's harder to only catch with the 2 knucles.

 

Haha, it must have been my old trainer cuz that's the way he was!!! LOL
Anyways, if you'd have stayed with it you'd have learnt some important **** for street fighting, but I agree you also learn some stuff you'll never use/ probably never need.
Funny thing is my instructor was a 5th degree black belt, in the game for 35 years, and he'd talk smack about a lot of other martial arts saying "They do **** they can never use/ do in a street fight" in which he's 100% correct. Karate they lock punches, put all there power in to it, there legs are super WIDE, etc. No use in the streets.
BUT in Jeet Kune do they also teach you things like Hand basics, and cottas (I hate cottas!). Basically a cotta for those of you who do not know are pretending your fighting multiple people, and blocking, punching, kicking, etc.
Now some of this is actually useful...Visualization, and practice your moves, but thing is the cotta is the same everytime, and there's no way your gonna have 10 guys attack you do the same ****! Plus, they do cottas mainly with there hands down, or at there side, etc so that's what I really hated. I wouldn't say that to a Kung Fu master of course cuz he'd rip the **** outta you, but I don't plan on doing it for 40 years either so it's not gonna help me.

So, you might ask what you would have learnt that was so good? How to street fight basically, and the mentality of doing whatever it takes to WIN...Groin kicks, eye rakes, mule kicking/ shattering somebodies knee, elbow drills (good for close fighting), knees, backfists, etc. Also, if you have a partner you can do tiki tie..You bang forearms together to strengthen them up for taking punches, or using them to hit your opponent.
I was in the class for 8 months, and even though my teacher was a EGOTISTICAL DICK!...I learned so much. The mentality is the biggest thing you can learn. How people say "That was dirty!" when your in a fight. hey, if somebody jumps on me that's twice my size, and looking to do physichal harm then I wouldn't hesitate to open my hands, and jam my fingers threw there eyes, hit em in the throat, crush there balls, or snap there knees. Somebody could call me "Dirty", but I'll be the dirty guy who isn't in the hospital that's for sure. It's so easy to get hurt...The way I look at it if your going to fight me on the street you could kill me, cripple me, etc. I'm going to disable them before they acheive that by ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

If the class isn't that expensive you should try it out. Dunno what your background is, but if you box...Ask the dude to lightly spar to show what he's got. If he's anything like my trainer was he'll surprise the **** outta you with blazing speed, and a fighting style like you never seen. My trainer was 51, and I'd watch him spar a couple of local pro boxers, people who've trained in different martial arts for many years, and he'd CRUSH them without kicks even...and kicks was his most dangerous weapon. Like I said to bad he was an egotistical dick that wanted to train you to be good, but never show you how to better than him cuz he was a physichal beast.