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The Secret To Hitting Hard At Close Range

The Physics of Striking

Most people have heard someone say they need to “throw their weight” into a punch or strike, but few people truly understand how to do this. There are a number of ways to explain this concept. In the following video, self-defense expert Richard Ryan gives you the explanation he uses with his students. When you understand this concept and practice it, you will be able to generate a lot of force even in very close range.

Breaking It Down

As you saw in the video above, the key to this technique is moving your body explosively (even if it is a very short distance) in the direction of the target.

With your body moving explosively in the direction of the attacker, you now throw your punch, elbow, headbutt, or nearly any other technique and will be able to cause much more damage. With this technique, a close range punch turns into a battering ram that nobody will expect.

To top it off, you don’t have to be large to make this work. In fact, a 110 pound woman can easily knock out a larger man using this technique.

When you learn to use your body weight in striking, all your techniques will be amplified, and when you learn to develop power even in close range, you will become a very dangerous person.

Most attackers, especially big guys, rely on mass transfer while standing up straight and in punching distance. They often don’t know what to do when you get in close, this is where those who understand this principle gain a serious advantage.

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56 thoughts on “The Secret To Hitting Hard At Close Range”

  1. I once received a one-inch punch from a master of the preying mantis system. He’s much smaller than I am, but extremely well trained.

    At the last moment, he said “You’re not ready for this. I’m going to make it half an inch.”

    If I hadn’t had about four inches of padding in front of my chest, it would have been truly horrible instead of merely a seriously nasty jolt.

    It works by sending a wave of energy smoothly through the body from foot to fist. Coordination must be perfect.

    It’s purely a parlor trick with no application to fighting, but only a formidable martial artist has the tools necessary to learn it.

    Reply

  4. You have just explained why all contact sports are producing a higher number of injuries each year. Humans continue to become bigger, stronger, and faster. I played 10 years of organized football back in the late 60’s & 70’s. I wasn’t introduced to weightlifting till I was a Junior in high school. In 12 years of playing football, I never missed 1 play of 1 game due to an injury. Up to when I was a junior in high school, I played both ways. Once the game started, I never left the field. Doubt I could do that again with today’s talent.

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  6. Mr Pierce, thank you for allowing Mr Ryan to present this video information through your medium. Anyone that was previously unaware of this should find it intriguing. I would simply ask of you to have Mr Ryan or another of your professional contacts perform a similar video utilizing the ball or heel of the foot,as this is more difficult but of equal importance in martial combat. Thank you for your tireless dedication to improving the lives of others through safety. Most respectfully, Sgt. Michael James, U.S.ARMY

    Reply

  9. OK I have rewound this clip and watched it 7 times. Now I can revise my initial comment.That is the beauty of modern technology. It takes a few times for the entire concept to sink in. This is an amazing concept explained by someone who has spent long hours to develop it. But the best part is that its explained in a simple way and allows us to learn from a expert. I do enjoy the way he explains this.

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  10. Hi Bob, This type of video you’ve just shown on how to transfer mass at close range is the kinda stuff I really soak up. Unfortunately, I can’t always afford your cds so I really concentrate on the short videos you provide. This helps me to learn how to protect my family if need be. Thank-You for doing this.

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  11. Secrets to Hard Hitting.

    Truck analogy is very weak. Bowling ball attached to the end of a pole attached to the front of the truck makes more sense.

    Deceleration/acceleration would be a better analogy/principle as well. Throwing a ball or serving a tennis ball starts a movement that at the very near the end of it stops at one point and accelerates the last to the last point. Like dropping a pole and the leading end of the pole hits the ground first and causes the other end to accelerate faster. Or like snapping a towel.

    Concentrating a lot of energy and mass to one point. As demonstrated the jerk forward comes to a brief stop planted by his foot and accelerates his arm and shoulder to his hand.

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  13. Excellent presentation with the demonstration of how critical the weight shift/transfer effects the total impact of the strike.

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  15. I like your moves short and quick. I’m a disabled vet. And need to stop an attacker as quick as possible, I can’t run now. And never liked to anyway. Thanks’ for the simple yet affective moves.

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  16. I really appreciate learning some “tricks” of the trade. Had not thought of mass added to the fight!!

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  17. This looks really good…Will share it with my two sons and daughter. I am almost 70, and not much help. Thank you SO MUCH. God Bless You!

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  19. Thank you for this. I enjoy all your fighting tips. I wish I could buy many of your DVDs; unfortunately, at the moment, I am struggling to find employment. However, I appreciate your generosity in making good free fighting tips like this available to us. Thank you again!
    Sincerely yours,
    Greg

    Reply

  20. That is so powerful! I am a boxing coach and I have never heard it exolained that well! I teach mass X velocity = force!
    But the way it was explained was beautiful!
    Thank you so much!

    Reply

  23. Best to know, as described, is to use punch speed and put also the body behind, whether fist, elbow or other. All this to create the most effective hit.

    We can never separate a body part from ourselves and so a single formula for Force does not do any technique justice.

    Depending on the situation and our body, we will use a combination of speed and many forces created by our body to make the best possible hit.

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  24. In close range 6″ to a 12″ shift in your body weight (2 seconds) sure makes a difference in the power of the strike you choose. Great video and explanation. thanks Bob.

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  26. Very articulate explanation of how to pack a punch. I would have liked a little more demonstration on position of your feet for balance.

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  27. This is a critical piece of knowledge for personal defense effectiveness that is easy to have missed. Works the same with kicks as with punches.

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  28. For “charlie” on 5 May about getting best stiking power from a wheel chair …have a weapon … a small low recoil pistol gives you great advantage. A larger, more powerful one, you are comfortable with even more so.

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  29. Great no cost videos samples, I don’t always feel like my wallet is in the crosshairs when I receive your emails. I have also received quality information in more detail from previous purchase that you advertised. I am interested in preventing hand damage (my hand) if I throw a puch, but haven’t seen much on this. Any videos that deal with this issue? I have broken the fifth metacarpal before while striking.

    Thanks for the potentially life saving info.
    One vet. long hair hippy type pinko sniper,
    Bob

    Reply

  32. Boxers and Shukokai Karate guys know about this. After that you just want to avoid any suggestion that you’re a “Vicious Street Fighter” and concentrate on using Minimum Violence. Mobility helps too.

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  35. This is a good explanation, of what used to be taught, as basic technique, in Karate.

    Extremely useful !

    Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to find an instructor today, that will teach basics. This theory is even more effective, if you learn how to stay connected to the ground, almost as if you were gripping with your toes.
    (Like pushing a car uphill)

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  40. thanks for the video blog and for showing me a technique that I did not know I will practice it excellent video great advice and great teaching

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  41. I have watched a good number of FightFast videos, I see in the videos what I already know and have done and would do again. From time to time I see a video that explains an action better than I could and I take it on board as a teaching method. Occasionally I see a technique that is so flowery in its execution that I doubt it would work against a motivated aggressor. Then there is this video. I did not understand the idea of mass transfer, sure I have heard about it before, but I never actually understood it and I find that what I don’t understand I don’t do. Now I understand this I will do it. As I am getting older the days of depending on the strength of my arms, back, chest and core are starting to end, so this method is going to ensure my survival for years to come. Thank you FightFast for publishing this video. It finally got through to me where others have failed. I look forward to trying this out.

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  42. Hi Charlie;

    I saw a great weapon on a wheelchair this afternoon. It was a length of bicycle handlebar about 30cm long (one foot for those living in Burma or the USA), on one end of the handlebar there was a standard bicycle handlebar grip, the other end was cut at a sharp angle and it has been sharpened all around to become a circular cutting punch. If stabbed into an aggressor it would leave an 18mm round hole (3/4 of an inch for those who live in an Imperial world) such a hole would not be able to be sealed without surgery. It is a killing weapon, pushed in and pulled out it would remove a core of flesh etc. A piece of pipe was strapped under the armrest with the grip facing forwards, it looked like a loading handle for the wheelchair, but it was not, it’s a very nasty weapon. I was very impressed. Pulled swiftly and driven into an attacker it would end any conflict the moment it was employed. I would assume it would be incredibly painful, it would destroy an aggressor.

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  44. The punch is scientific and to be practiced with that knowledge.
    You cannot get it without lots of practice.
    Thank you.

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  48. This is all good information even if you weigh a hundred 50 lb or less very valuable experience-wise it works!

    Reply