The principles and striking methods in Kyushindo differ significantly from mainstream Karate styles. Everybody in Kyushindo Karate mentions ‘Relaxed punching’, but in my observation, there are many variations in the style and how it is performed.

Putting my controversial hat on, if you want to get the maximum amount of ‘power’ from a punch, you should ignore mainstream Karate.

1. The traditional horizontal fist gives poor structural alignment, and damaging the wrist on impact is easy. A vertical fist is structurally stronger due to the different alignment of the two bones in the lower arm.

2. The linking of hip movement to arm movement is different from the way that sports science deems it to be optimal. For example, Javelin throwers do not move their arm and hip in sync; instead, they lead with the hip, and then the arm follows through in a whipping-like action. You will have to slow down videos to see them perform this.

3. Pulling the non-striking arm back to the belt – ‘Hikite’- means that a component of your movement is going backwards, but you want to get all your weight moving forward into the target. ‘Hikite’ is a seizing technique to pull the opponent onto you, not to increase your power generation.

4. Going for maximum speed will only involve the weight of your arm with your fast-twitch muscles, but you need to additionally engage your body weight if you want maximum impact.

If you want to know more about incorporating body weight into your impact and the futility of using Hikite for power generation, look at Peter Consterdine and his ‘double hip’ or Russell Stutely with his ‘waveforms’. The ‘drop step’ technique, developed by a famous old-time boxer, Jack Dempsey, is often used in self-protection combative systems.

These principles are promoted by parties outside of the Kyushindo style.

In a future post I will discuss the Physics of martial arts.

Do I teach this enhancement for use? Yes, but ONLY for one technique I call the ‘power slap’. I show the double-hip/waveforms/drop-step to Dan grades, but I emphasise that it’s not for line techniques or Kata.

I like controversy; it gives me something to think about and research.

Sports Science can teach us that the best way is not necessarily the way it’s always been done in the past. Without pioneers, there wouldn’t be the Fosbury Flop in high jumping, and there wouldn’t be the knowledge that a front somersault long jump would be the best way to maximise distance (though it was officially banned from Athletics competitions in the 1970s for being too dangerous)

Probably the best Peter Consterdine video out there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IltICloGVI0&t=86s