Thoracic rotation and MMA punching

***WhiteShark*** · Posted On: 5/15/2009 12:25pm

Does the throat screaming help?

**redant** · Posted On: 5/16/2009 2:09pm

Maybe if I can think of some way to say this that doesn't make it sound pseudo-scientific or too mystical I'll post what I mean later.

compressive alignment.

all this talk of rotation planes and nothing about the waist. that is the main driver for upper body usage. the shoulders just compound the motion.

rotating from the hips will twist the lumbar out proper alignment, whether you are sitting or standing.

all of this sure sounds like old school to me.

**SEIUCHIN111** · Posted On: 5/16/2009 9:48pm

The other issues here that no one has noted are the push off, the falling step, and the forward lean that add stiffness and momentum to punching in boxing that are largely ignored in MMA. It seems to me that there is just a lack of proper training in MMA as it really wouldn't be too hard to add this to their "sloppy" punching methods... Sometimes MMA fighters do punch this way, mostly it appears by accident, and you can really see (and feel) the difference in power. You can't punch this way all the time even while boxing, but most MMA guys don't even try. Many boxing instructors don't understand these principles, so it would make sense that it hasn't made its way to MMA yet, but it probably will eventually.

**kwoww** · Posted On: 6/02/2009 9:16am

Without a good idea of what you specifically mean by all those terms, I'd guess that ideal power-generating footwork is sacrificed in favor for not getting taken down.

**Matt Phillips** · Posted On: 6/02/2009 1:44pm

Originally Posted by SEIUCHIN111

The other issues here that no one has noted are the push off, the falling step, and the forward lean that add stiffness and momentum to punching in boxing that are largely ignored in MMA. It seems to me that there is just a lack of proper training in MMA as it really wouldn't be too hard to add this to their "sloppy" punching methods... Sometimes MMA fighters do punch this way, mostly it appears by accident, and you can really see (and feel) the difference in power. You can't punch this way all the time even while boxing, but most MMA guys don't even try. Many boxing instructors don't understand these principles, so it would make sense that it hasn't made its way to MMA yet, but it probably will eventually.

I wouldn't say that no one has noted these, just that the thread was about fighters using upper spine rotation as a secondary source of power generation when they are not in boxing mode (ie, on the ground or running someone into the cage)