Energy transfer is the transfer of energy from one object to another. Body mechanics is how the body moves and is a component of human factors. Each joint has a certain range of motion. The body needs to maintain balance which creates counter balancing movements. The mechanics of the body are created through the constriction of muscles and the effect that has on the skeleton. Muscles are attached to the bone with ligaments and tendons. Muscles have two states, relaxed and constricted. When nerve signals hit the muscle it constricts, which pulls the tendon, causing the bone to move in the manner the joint allows. Muscles only constrict (pull) and relax (stop pulling)-they don’t push. The basic principles of body mechanics are: to maintain your center of gravity, widen your base of support, put your feet in the direction of movement, use the largest and strongest muscles of your arms, legs, and trunk, and to use gravity and momentum to your advantage.

It’s not enough to just throw a strike, you must get your entire body in the strike not behind the strike. That is the main reason why learning how to push (punch) from the hips, and keeping your balance is important. This will lead to proper body mechanics. Adding speed and snap to the push (punch) is what makes it a strike.

This is why our school (and most martial art schools) focus on speed. But this can lead to sacrificing good body mechanics and penetration power which will decrease the energy transfer. That is why when we are training we try to focus on targets and to keep our balance. Sometimes just slowing down a little can help your training so you can be the best that you can be. A common mistake is punching before your foot is planted. That is why the timing of your body is so important, which is one of the many lessons we learn from kata training (move your hands and feet together).

While our punches and kicks are not bullets that enter a body, we can still use the timing of a punch to transfer the energy into the body. When striking, hold the punch for a fraction of a second on the target to allow the energy to transfer. To hit vulnerable points with the best weapons takes proper tools (body mechanics and speed of the hit) in order to cause a reflex response so you can get a second strike in.

The old Masters always called their punches thrust, to quote Master Mabuni “when you thrust with your fist, do so with the feeling of piercing an iron pail”. Master Funakoshi said that by punching you raise your body, but by thrusting you keep your hips low.

The Chinese martial arts separate energy transfer into three types of hitting:

• PENETRATING- speed of the hand to a small area of the body, trying to go into the body like a spear. Our body weapons would be the lunge punch, knife hand, knuckle, or fingertips.
• CRUSHING- This strike focuses on a larger area of the body. Rupturing nerves, blood vessels, and breaking bones, like a mace (baseball bat) our body weapons would be elbow, knees, headbutt.
•  TRANSFERRING- strikes that cause a wave or concussion or a push. Think of the game of pool, when the cue ball hits another ball it transfers its energy to it and stops while the another ball rolls away; an explosion that causes a shock wave that enters the body. Our body weapons would be a back fist, or a palm hand strike.

The difference in the three types of energy transfers goes back to the two main types of karate. From Okinawa’s Naha- te and Shuri- te, to China’s internal and external methods. The Chinese break it down as strong method (tiger style), flexible method (monkey style), and strong and flexible method (crane style). Which leads us to the “why” and way we train, and really, it just comes down to snap or thrust, with a little of the internal art.

After the fall of the Shaolin Temple, the five styles of Kung-fu where split up and passed on as five different systems of martial arts. They were always taught to the student (monks) as one complete style, that covered the three ways of energy transfers. Master Toyama trained with both of the Okinawan styles of karate, and a few Chinese arts that he passed down to us. All karate is a mix of both and depending on who your teacher is and what he/she learned is what is passed on to you. That is why there is no style that is better than another.

The main lessons to be learned from any style is proper body mechanics, and energy transfer, and that is all a good fighter needs. What really makes the different styles is the way they are taught and passed down.

 

See you in the dojo