| One-inch punch | |||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 寸勁 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 寸劲 | ||||||||||
| Literal meaning | supercùn | ||||||||||
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Theone-inch punch is apunching exercise fromChinese martial arts performed at a range of 0–15 cm (0–6 in). The one-inch punch was popularized by actor and martial artistBruce Lee. It is purported[1] to improve punching power and technique.
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The one-inch punch is present in various styles ofSouthern Chinese martial arts.[2] As a general rule, Southern Chinese martial arts rely mostly on hand techniques from very close quarters (as opposed toNorthern Chinese martial arts which focus more onkicking techniques from medium to long distances). Because the Southern styles martial artists were often fighting nose-to-nose with their opponents, they had to learn a way to deal out punishing blows even while almost touching their target.
The one-inch punch is a skill which usesfa jin (translated as explosive power) to generate tremendous amounts of impact force at extremely close distances. This "burst" effect had been common inNeijia (internal martial art) forms. When performing this one-inch punch the practitioner stands with their fist very close to the target (the distance depends on the skill of the practitioner, usually from closer than 6 inches, or 15 cm). The timed chaining of multiple muscle groups[3] contributes to the punching power while being imperceptible to the attacker. It is a common misconception that "one-inch punches" utilize a snapping of the wrist. The target in such demonstrations vary, sometimes it is a fellow practitioner holding a phone book on the chest, sometimes wooden boards can be broken.
The one-inch punch was made popular in the west when demonstrated by Bruce Lee at theLong Beach International Karate Championships in 1964. Bruce Lee learned the technique from hisWing Chun training in Hong Kong. He used the art of Wing Chun as his basis of the art he founded,Jeet Kune Do.[citation needed] According to witnesses who attended the event, such asBenny Urquidez (later a pioneer of Americanfull-contact kickboxing), Lee's one-inch punch sent a 245 lb (111 kg) man flying back.[4]
In the television showMythBusters episode "The One Inch Punch", the technique was tested quantitatively using aforce gauge. For comparison, it was matched against a conventional punch thrown with a full wind-up byJamie Hyneman. The one-inch punch was delivered byAnthony Kelly, a martial arts expert and master instructor who had learned the technique from one of Bruce Lee's students. The conventional punch measured 325 pounds-force (1,450 N) while the one-inch punch measured 153 pounds-force (680 N). In the absence of a safe method of testing against a human being, the hosts deemed it "plausible" as a combat technique, if the user had proper training and experience.[5]
In the television showStan Lee's Superhumans, the Shaolin monkShi Yan Ming demonstrated his one-inch punch on acrash test dummy. The testing showed it was 1.7 times more injurious than a 30 mph (48 km/h) car crash with modern safety features.[6]
The one-inch punch is featured in the filmKill Bill: Volume 2. The lead character, "The Bride", is shown training for it during several flashback scenes, then using it to escape from a coffin after beingburied alive.[7]
In the film,DragonBall Z: Resurrection F, The Protagonist,Son Goku, uses this punch on the movie's villain,Frieza.[8]
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