How to Pull No Punches

Always try and drive your punch through the target to avoid pulling it.

Pulling punches is literally the act of pulling a punch back to lessen its impact on a target. It's what you do when you want to go easy on an opponent for whatever reason. However, delivering maximum power on punches requires that you not pull them and that you instead follow through with as much penetration as possible. Punches of any variety, be they Western boxing or martial arts styles, can be pulled or not pulled. To pull no punches requires strong follow-through and good techniques.

Instructions

1. Always try and strike through the target. The boxer Mike Tyson said something to the effect that he never tried to punch an opponent in the head, he instead tried to punch the space immediately behind the head. This small mental adjustment can be key in delivering penetrating punches that strike with maximum force. Punch through your target.

2. Pivot on your back knee and twist your hips toward your target as you punch. This puts your entire body behind your punch and will drive it into your target with much greater velocity than merely lashing a punch out with your arm.

3. Once your punch has made maximum impact, snap it back with as much force as you drive it out. This is a martial arts technique and is different from pulling your punch. By snapping your punch back, you create a similar effect to that of cracking a whip. The snap of the punch helps whatever damage you inflict at the point of impact to emanate outward.

Tips & Warnings

• Try and drive the first two knuckles of your hand in first as you punch. This will inflict maximum damage to your target even if you do accidentally pull your punch to some degree.

• Always make a tight, proper fist when you are punching. Curl your fingers in and tuck you thumb in behind them, but not inside them. Placing your thumb inside your fingers when you punch can cause you to break it.

References

• Punching Techniques
• Boxing Forum