Originally Posted by
TenTigers
I think one of the things that boxing has taught me, that has carried over to my Kung-Fu is shock power-or is it vice-versa? When I used to try to power through the bag, I would damage my wrists, but when I use shock or pulse power, when I "popped" the bag, after awhile, my power doubled.
As far as the reverse punch club is concerned, I do reverse punches with the same shock power, so for me, yeah-I'm a member.
My wrists are thin. So, hooks and uppercuts were never my strongest punches. My wrist can buckle at times from hitting with poor alignment-which in the heat of a bout, can happen often. I find that I can hit alot harder with sow choy-either flat fist, or ox-horn. Since there is no way my wrist will buckle, I can let loose without hesitation. Sure it's a wider punch, so it has to be set up. Also, the fact that it is thrown so relaxed, allows the hand to be alive, and can adapt when intercepted.
Kung-Fu also has other strikes that boxing does not have, besides gwa and cup, there is gow-choy-whcih is sort of like a downward hammerfist, but with the elbow dropped-it can hit with hammerfist and/or forearm, and the whole body drops when delivering this strike,with shock power. It hits very hard, and is a deceptively short strike which can come from a tight guard.
Another thing about short power is it is applied to everything-short elbow, short shoulder, short bicep, etc.
I am not of the school that Kung-Fu is better than boxing. I have always advocated both, so you will see my guys training jab,cross, gwa, cup, etc.
I also teach the boxer's guard in the beginning stages in order to ingrain the cover hand not dropping. The bai-jongs can then be changed, with the front hand being closer, further, higher, lower, and the rear hand "floating" from front to side.
It maintains the elbow position, and the covering is basic and economic, and teaches students not to chase hands.