THE TRAINER
In the world of Shotokan karate, Stan Schmidt is a household name. Having trained in the art since 1962 (and earning a judo Black-belt before that), the 74-year-old is today the Japan Karate Association's most senior non-Japanese karate exponent. Best known for making his home country of South Africa a recognised powerhouse in world karate, the pioneering instructor has almost 60 years of martial arts training under his belt. Today he lives in Melbourne with his family and teaches a select group of students at his home and at his son-in-law Keith Geyer's dojo in Caulfield. Schmidt sometimes travels internationally to give seminars and remains faithful to the quote from a 1950s karate book that first drew him to the art: "The karate man never stops training."
THE DRILL: Punching to your potential
At age 64 I felt I was achieving approximately a 6.4 (out of 10) impact rating for my straight punch. Up to then I had done many years of conventional makiwara (striking post) training, but during my early 60s I never felt I was a true seven out of 10. In the last 10 years I began experimenting and I believe I finally struck gold. This different approach I call power punching. This all happened when I moved to Melbourne and installed a long medium/heavy bag in my home dojo instead of a makiwara (striking pad). I can say that the resultant impact of my punching, compared to when I was in my 60s, has improved amazingly. It was like the bag hanging there was saying ‘C'mon, hit me!'
I can now hit the bag with full force but find that this is harder to achieve on a makiwara, because the bag absorbs more of the impact and the resultant shock on one's body parts is not as severe when going full-out. Nonetheless, the makiwara is still a very important tool in the karateka's training arsenal. I estimate that my punching power has now increased to at least 7.4 out of 10 - and thus comparable to my current age of 74. I aim to produce an 8.0 by the time I reach 80... Maybe it's wishful thinking, but you never know.
The crux of the matter is that good technique coupled with fast acceleration of the body over a distance, plus good timing, will generate bone-cracking impact. I'm not saying I have the same power in my punch as someone like Keith Geyer of Caulfield dojo, who hits on a scale around 8.8 out of 10 and has, on occasion, winded guys just holding a punching pad for him.
The picture at far right shows how the fist should be (vertical) on making contact with the bag.
Close-distance punching:
• Step 1 - Stand in a normal open-leg stance with your right hip in line with the centre of the bag. Line up the strike with your open left hand.
• Step 2 - Punch the bag in this upright position with a pumping action, keeping the elbow close to your body. You don't have to hit too hard, just get the feel of the movement.
Medium-distance punching:
• Step 1 - Take up a short-to-medium fighting stance a little further from the bag.
• Step 2 - Punch the bag by rotating your hips to generate power. Keep your left hand in front (for protection).
Long-distance punching:
• Step 1: Take up a medium-to-long fighting stance further away from the bag
• Step 2: Keeping your front foot in place, move your back foot halfway forwards, simultaneously punching the bag. You will find this action increases the impact of your punch considerably. Don't try too hard. Let your feet and body do the work for you.
Very-long-distance punching:
• Step 1: Take up a fighting stance still further away from the bag.
• Step 2: Step quickly through with your right leg and punch the bag before your right foot touches the floor. This technique is only for advanced karateka. Once mastered, enormous power can be generated - more than in any of the other drills.
THE RESULT
Using the conditioning and appropriate biomechanical principles, you will be able to increase the power in your punch a lot more than you realise. It is not so much how many reps you do; 100 reps at a constant pace will result in very little improvement in impact potential. Two or three sets of five-to-seven reps, at full-throttle, will produce the goods. A word of caution: warm up with the illustrated drills first. Only then do each blow at full speed and power, resting in between. Don't rush. This power-punching approach should not be done more than three times a week. Your body needs time to recover and regenerate. Of course, all your other training goes on as normal. Remember, in the case of power punching, ‘less is more'.
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