Self Defense and Martial Arts Techniques - Using Body Weight to Increase Striking Power

The mechanics of striking is about generating andabout dropping your weight into the strike.
transferring kinetic energy into your target. KineticBending the knees is a subtle movement and
energy is the energy an object possesses due toshould be less than 90 degrees...anything greater
its motion. In a self defence situation, if reasonthan 90 degrees will make recovery difficult.
and logic fail to neutralize the aggressive andWhether or not you bend one knee or both
violent intentions of an opponent, you may needknees will be determined by the type of strike.
to use physical force to incapacitate him (Note:The kinetic energy that is transferred is a
This is a last resort, when all other options havemathematical combination of the kinetic energy
failed or are inappropriate). To incapacitate i.e.generated by the lateral body movement (driving
cause an injury, your objective should be toforward) and the vertical body movement
generate and transfer the largest amount of(bending your knees). If you are already within
kinetic energy possible into the target. This is yourgrappling range when you initiate a strike, then
body in motion.rotational body movement replaces driving
Potential energy is stored energy that has theforward (lateral body movement). However, you
potential to be converted into other forms ofwill still need to bend your knees and drop your
energy, such as kinetic energy. The body hasweight into the strike.
potential energy stored in the muscles and alsoThe body in motion (kinetic energy) is only one of
because of its position in the earths gravitationalthe four elements that are required to maximize
field. We can convert this potential energy toour striking power. The other three elements are:
kinetic energy in two ways: by lowering theappropriate tools, structure, and a specific target.
position of our body in the earths gravitationalIf any one of the four elements is removed or
field or by using our muscles to accelerate theused in isolation, the results are inefficient,
body.unreliable and personal injury may also be a likely
Imagine simply falling (body in motion) onto anoutcome. For example, without structure or the
opponent (target) lying on the ground. You willuse of an appropriate tool, a simple strike to the
generate and transfer a very large amount ofnose, may result in a sprained wrist (injury) for
kinetic energy into his body and the likelihood ofyou and a more determined angry opponent with
an injury or injuries occurring will be very high.a blood nose.
Unfortunately, the lack of technique will most likelyIn a self defense situation, once conflict becomes
result in injuries for you, as well as your opponent.physical, you need to get the job done very
However, if you were to maintain a vertical spinequickly (within 30 to 60 seconds). The objective
(structure) while dropping your body and use bothof every strike should be to incapacitate your
knees or one knee (tools) to pinpoint a landingopponent. To produce an injury that
onto the groin or solar plexus (specific target),fundamentally changes the normal functioning of
your opponent will feel like he has been hit by ahis body. To achieve this, we must generate and
freight train and you will walk away unscathed.transfer the largest amount of kinetic energy
To generate and transfer the largest amount ofpossible into the target. This is your body in
kinetic energy possible into a vertical opponent,motion.
drive forward and bend your knee(s). DrivingIn future articles, I will explore the other three
forward is about moving your entire body intoelements required to maximize striking power:
and through the target. Bending your knees isstructure, appropriate tools, and a specific target.