The ability to hit your opponent hard is an important part of any boxer's or competitive martial artist's toolkit, but developing punching power is much more about technique than it is about having big, bulging muscles. Punching power comes from using proper technique when throwing the punch and the proper timing in delivering the punch. With practice using proper technique, just about anyone can hit hard enough to knock out your opponent.
Proper Stance
Throwing a knockout punch depends on your stance, delivery and where you hit your opponent. To throw a proper punch you should be in a good fighting stance with the toes of your front foot pointing at your opponent. Your back foot should be at about a 45-degree angle and your weight should be on the balls of your feet with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Your shoulders should be positioned directly over your hips, with your non-punching hand up to block any counterpunch that comes your way.
Timing Is Essential
When you deliver your punch, you should rotate your hips forward slightly as your hand is moving toward your opponent. Since your hand is going to have to travel about three feet before contacting your opponent and your hips are going to rotate about four inches to deliver your body weight into your punch, your hand is going to have to travel much faster than your hips. The idea is to have your hand contact your opponent at exactly the same time that your hips reach the end of their movement. Do this right and you will hit your opponent with the force of your entire body weight.
Where Do You Hit for a Knockout?
A knockout punch is one that is delivered with enough force to cause your opponent's brain to shut down briefly to protect itself from injury. One of the best places to hit your opponent is on the corner of the jaw. If you hit the jaw properly you will move the back of the jawbone to the side, placing pressure on the nerves and blood vessels that travel to the brain. This can cause a knockout without a lot of power, but you're going to have to time it just right. You can also knock out an opponent by hitting him in the solar plexus or the side of the head.
Exercises Can Help
Just because speed, timing and techniques are important factors, that doesn't mean you can just skip your next trip to the gym. Throwing punches at full speed and full power while holding a dumbbell or weight plate in your hands is a great way to make your hands move faster when actually throwing the techniques in a match. The most important thin is to always use proper technique -- even when practicing.
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