One inch punch
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The one inch punch is a punching technique from Chinese martial arts (kung fu) performed at very close (0-6 inches) range. The one inch punch was popularized by actor and martial artist Bruce Lee.
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[edit] History
It is commonly believed that the One inch punch skill comes only from the Wing Chun system of kung fu, however, it is present in many styles of Southern Chinese martial arts. As a general rule, Southern Chinese martial arts rely mostly on hand techniques from very close quarters (as opposed to Northern Chinese martial arts which focus more on kicking 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 uses fa jin (translated as explosive power) to generate tremendous amounts of impact force at extremely close distances (though this force can never meet or exceed that of a normal full punch). When performing this one inch punch the practitioner stands with his fist very close to the target (the distance depends on the skill of the practitioner, usually from 0-6 inches). Then in one explosive burst, the legs root, the waist turns, the ribs expand and the arm extends through the target. It is crucial that the entire body move in unison, or else the power will be limited. 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 Long Beach International Karate Championships in 1964. Bruce Lee learned the technique from his Wing Chun training in Hong Kong. He used the art of Wing Chun as his basis of the art he founded, Jeet Kune Do.
In the television show Mythbusters, the technique was tested quantitatively using a force gauge. For comparison, it was matched against a conventional punch thrown with a full wind-up by Jamie Hyneman. The conventional punch measured 325 pounds while the One inch punch measured 153 punds. 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.[1]
[edit] Pop culture references
- Performer Justin Warfield's heavy rock band is named One-Inch Punch after the maneuver.
[edit] Movies
- Quentin Tarantino incorporates a similar technique in Kill Bill: Vol. 2. Kung-fu master Pai Mei teaches the technique to Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman). She later uses this to punch her way out of a casket after being buried alive. The technique required three inches of space, however, instead of one.
- In Fearless, Jet Li began attacking a wrestler by using the one inch punch.
[edit] Video games
- The technique is an ability of one of King of Fighters main characters, K' and Kula Diamond. In the game, the technique is portrayed as the character moving his or her entire body forward to deliver the strike, which upon contact, sends the target flying.
- In Final Fantasy XI, Monks can obtain the use of the One Inch Punch as a third weapon ability if they are using unarmed or brawling weapons; this skill is capable of piercing an enemy's defense.
- In God Hand, the protagonist has a One Inch Punch special attack.
- In the Tekken series, the characters Marshall Law and his son can perform a modified One Inch Punch which can greatly damage a persons health and relative lifespan.
- Character Jann Lee uses the one inch punch in Dead or Alive 4
- In the Virtua Fighter series, it is one of Jacky Bryant's moves.
- In Devil May Cry 4, the character Dante performs a one-inch punch to destroy a hell gate monolith.
- In Dungeon & Fighter, there is a skill named One-Inch Punch. Striker, which is a profession class for Fighter learns it in level 35.
- In Street Fighter Alpha 3 One of Fei-Long's Finishing Skill involves a combination beginning with a One-Inch-Punch.
