Full Power

[Tettsui]

This might sound strange, but I'm realizing that I don't know what full power is.

When I first started I thought that full power was kicking or punching as hard as you can. Whenever I did that, I was told that I'm too tense and I'm robbing the technique of power and speed. So I stopped that.

Now I'm at the point where I throw my punches and kicks at 50%-60% so that I stay relaxed and if I miss, I'll still be in good form. Is this my kumite full power?

I can hit the bag harder but I know I'll make contact. However during kumite, if I through a full power technique and miss, I'll be thrown off balance.

So is full power during kumite the hardest you can do a technique without being off balanced if you miss? Or are you so confident in making contact that you can do an attack as hard as you hit the heavy bag?

OSU!

[ksan]

Osu Tetsui,

I think your on the right road to punching and kicking full power. Maybe the words "full power" arent right. When you punch so hard that when you miss you lose balance or are off balance even if you hit, your not doing it right.
Try working from a point that you can maintain good posture and work on your techniques, power doesnt always come with force, it can also come from speed or good timing.

I`d say, work on your technique and increase your speed and the power/force you use in those techniques... when you start to lose speed due to the ammount of power you put in the kick you should bring it down again.

Increasing your power might not just come from practicing your kicks and punches... i found that pushups and squats also increased the power in my techniques (other people can tell you that best, after you hit or kicked them)

When our students seem to be struggling with the power i ussually have them work on their techniques, when the technique is there the power ussually follows

Osu

[Spirit]

Technique over power and speed...

Without techniques everything else is just raw energy and has no focus, direction or balance.

You are told to not use your techniques at full power, because you don't have technique and they are sloppy power techniques.

Full power only comes from years of training Mind, Body, Spirit. And is not a K/O punch or kick either!!!

It is the technique you don't know you've even thrown and K/D the person you are sparring with that comes close to the zenith of your power.

Focus on technique, doing without thought, and relaxed, though strong techniques.
This is the underlining of kata, kata gives you a story to which the mind can create image's and understanding to the combination of moves in each kata.

Basically a trick to the mind to get one to move toward thoughtless thought, blank relaxed technique. Like meditation, your mind has the ability, it is through meditation that it comes out, even though it is already their waiting to come out.
Of course many will argue this point, but that is OK, everyone needs a believe to get them over the hill.

[hasbeen]

both good points, i would also refer you to a thread on balance training which i think will help...have a look at the slow motion kick routine and practice on both legs=this will help your balance.

forget power,this comes with time,however i would ask your teacher to run through the basic chudan punch...relaxed shoulders,relaxed punch that only tenses up the split second before the supposed impact on the twist of the fist...very basic but this teaches how to focus.

also before worrying about power make sure your defence is sound and you keep your hands up.

best advise of all relax,enjoy your karate, trust me it all comes with time.

when i was first learning ushiro geri [i`m a big lump] i was all over the place,thought i`d never get the hang of it, spent hours on balance techniques and weeks practicing,then all of a sudden,bingo the basic technique was there and i then spent months getting it right..you get my drift...then this ended up to be my party piece..it just takes time. good luck

[Spirit]

My senpai (an BBF) would tell me to at night lay in bed and see myself doing each kata kihon or sparring. As I would watch it in my head I would fall off to sleep. this way I was always focusing on learning, he then said one day you'll wake up and (as hasbeen said it "bingo") you got it. And yes it worked for me

[Tettsui]

After a point, increasing your energy into a technique actually decreases the power. The concept is counter intuitive but it makes sense. It's going to take some time to absorb into my brain. So for beginners in a tournament, you are supposed to fight as hard as you normally spar...or maybe just a bit harder, correct?

[tmd]

Is power confused with force? Speed plus force = power, get the movement right then make it faster with fluidity and balance as you gain this you add force not the other way around as feels natural, fight your instinct to put force into it to early this will come. It's why I think you should do semi contact fighting first them knockdown later - get the tech, balance and speed, then add force.

ksan was right : when it works you don't even know you are doing it - there's just a guy lying in front of you sparked out - BINGO!!