The Circle And The Point
The Circle:
In order to generate enough power to deliver a punch that will render your opponent defenseless you must use all of your ability and body mass (weight). In other words, the entire body is used to execute the punch. You must possess the skill and knowledge to know how to use the body to generate the required force. Even the most linear techniques are executed using the power of the circle. This is evidenced by the construction of the human body. All of the joints in the body are designed to rotate to some degree. The most amazing joint is the shoulder because it has the greatest flexibility. Although the joints in the body are relatively weak, when they are all in line with the line of force and are locked into the proper position they become relatively strong. This is especially important when each of the joints in the body rotate and then lock into place at the moment of impact with the target. If you think of each joint in the body as the tennis ball on the string (see page on FORCE) you will understand how each joint generates force. As each joint locks into place it lines up with the next joint. In doing so, each joint generates force sending it in a straight line to the next joint. As the next joint receives the force it generates additional force. Each joint increases the force received by accepting the force into the rotating joint causing the rotation to increase in speed. The increase in speed causes the joint to generate more force which is then passed to the next joint. This process, referred to as kinetic linking, starts in the toes and passes all the way through the body. If executed correctly, this will allow your punch to impact the target with the power of the entire body behind it.
The power generated by the joints of the body will be added to the power of the hips as they rotate horizontally into a forward punch. Horizontal rotation of the hips and shoulders, along with moving the body toward the target, will generate not only additional speed, but will also increase the momentum behind the punch. Again, think of the hips as the center point of the circle and the shoulders as the perimeter of the circle. As the hips rotate and then lock into place, the arm (cocked back in the ready position) is released and the punch is delivered with all of the momentum that the body has generated. Although the rotation of the hips is different when a kick is executed, the hips do rotate in the vertical plane to generate the power needed to kick with enough force to knock an opponent down. The next time you execute your basic strikes, blocks, kicks, and punches try to identify all of the circles needed to perform each technique. Next, try to feel where each point is on each circle. Then establish your lines of force by determining the direction of the technique and the direction of the force at impact. Once you have accomplished these tasks you have a basic understanding of the circle and the point.
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