How Can Understanding Physics Enhance Martial Arts Techniques?

[Gaijinja]

Does anybody know a good source for information regarding the physics of Martial Arts? I'm a long time Martial Artist and an amateur physicist, and I think a better understanding of the physics behind a lot of my techniques will allow me to refine and develop better techniques.

And yes, I do understand basic concepts such as Newton's laws of motion, momentum, impulse, etc.

Thanks in advance!

 

[berkeman]

I tried a slightly less specialized term in my google search, and got a number of good-looking hits. Here is the hit list for a google search of "physics of boxing":

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q="physics+of+boxing"

 

[ShawnD]

Your passion for learning is good, but it's really better to just ask somebody who is a pro at martial arts. Most of that stuff has good mathematical reasoning, but much of it is counter-intuitive; that means you won't figure it out on your own but it makes sense after you've been told.

An example would be why jump kicks in video games don't work in real life. If you jump to kick something and fully extend your leg before it reaches the target, the only energy you can apply is the momentum associated with your weight. If you only half-extend your leg until your foot reaches your target, then fully extend, you are able to apply the momentum of your body as well as the muscle power in your legs.
The only reason I know this works is because I've seen TV shows where cops try to kick down doors, and I've kicked my fair share of vending machines. I never would have figured this out based on physics alone; the observation comes before the theory.

Good luck with your training.

 

[Doc Al]

Does anybody know a good source for information regarding the physics of Martial Arts? I'm a long time Martial Artist and an amateur physicist, and I think a better understanding of the physics behind a lot of my techniques will allow me to refine and develop better techniques.

I've read several "physics of martial arts" articles over the years, most of which I've found comically oversimplified. There are too many subtleties that can only be learned with practice. Nonetheless, I like much of what Martina Sprague has written in her several books on the "science" of fighting--check her out; she's a serious martial artist--that counts for something. (Note: The physics in her books is high level "conceptual" stuff, but useful nonetheless--especially if you teach others. And I don't necessarily endorse the particular techniques she discusses--that's a personal choice.)

FYI: I am also a lifelong martial artist.

 

[Ki Man]

It may not seem like the technical answer yo're looking for but i find watching bruce lee fights useful for increasing the right form of punches and kicking. He also wrote some books on martial arts technique so you should check some of those out.

I agree with Shawn though, the best way I've found for improving my techniques is with advice of a senior

 

[JoAuSc]

From a google search I did just now I got this page, which doesn't seem like anything special, but which does mention a term called "kinetic linking" that seems important. I was thinking about the relationship between physics and martial arts a while back (I'm a martial artist) and one thing I realized is that the collision of your fist and their body is much more complicated than simply transferring the momentum of your fist to their body. If you tense up your muscles at the moment of impact of your punch, if you keep your elbow anchored (i.e. don't stick it out or up), if your legs are in a strong position when you make the hit, and whatever else it takes to make your body stronger in the direction of the punch, then your punch is more effective.

(I was going to say "your punch has more power" but I'm too unsure of the physics to know if that's right. It may not even be relevant. If you were to tell your opponent to wait a minute, then run to your local speaker store and buy a sound system, connect it to some power supply in whatever alley you happened to be in, then played high volume rock music, it's possible a lot of power would be transferred into his body, but it wouldn't be effective. The moral of the story is that for martial arts physics you'd need specific, appropriate terminology.)

Anyway, my guess is that the above statement I made about making your body strong at the moment of the punch is correct because of the following: When you punch, the first force exerted is due to the normal force acting against your fist. Instantly, your fist begins to recoil, and that recoil energy is transferred backwards until it either gets absorbed by some part of your body (say, if your back knee turned outwards, causing your body to rotate) or it becomes reflected somewhere, perhaps off of the floor due to the friction between it and your feet, perhaps just due to the way waves tend to reflect when they get to a region of a different index of refraction. So, in summary, I think the main part of the effectiveness of the punch is due to controlling the propagation of waves within your body.

 

[Gaijinja]

Wow, all the prompt replies. Thanks everybody.

Hmm, interesting, a lot of physicists seem to also do Martial Arts (or at least, the ones that do are all responding to this).

Thanks for all the input, but I will say I was aware of most of the information presented (not to discourage anybody, though). I guess I'm just looking for some in depth physics explanations for, say, why kinetic linking works. I mean, there are many techniques I know will work better one way than another, but I'm curious to the exact physics behind it.

I dunno. But hey, a discussion on the physics of martial arts is always fun, right!

 

[FredGarvin]

Kinetic linking. What a load of crap. I guess it doesn't sound cool if you just say that you need to have a stable base.

Honestly, your best bet is to not let your head get too much into it. Practice, practice and practice. Your body will feel it's way to the right techniques. The kinetics of human movement is incredibly complex. The interactions and differing forces created at different times in a single motion make it very difficult to describe techniques in simplistic terms.

Having someone to guide you and to point you in the right direction is great advice.

 

[Ki Man]

Kinetic linking. What a load of crap.

I love training with nunchucks and that kinetic linking bit that was shown on the site made no sense to me. I don't see why the site claims it is so evident in nunchucks even though the principle of inertia applies to everything in THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE, not just chained weapons. Inertia is everywhere, that kinetic linking stuff was just thrown into fill space. kick someone in the ribs and that's kinetic linking enough for you right there. he makes it sound like those of us who use nunchaku are physics gods (which is flattering, but i doubt the accuracy of) although, using chained weapons does require a good sense of force and motion, this guy is trying to evercomplicate some very simple things

 

[Gaijinja]

The guy also implies that by swinging a nunchaku you can "build up inertia"

 

[Pythagorean]

I used to be in martial arts, and am also a physics major. (Actually going to start training again starting tomorrow, I've gotten very inactive since overloading on physics courses every semester)

I saw a special on TV where they had sensors linked all over these people's bodies so you could see there muscle contractions and (simplified biomechanics, I guess)

I don't know how credible it was, or whether the editors "photo-chopped" the animations from the sensor program, but I remember specifically something that my sensai taught me comparing well with the technical aspects this program showed:

My sensai (more abstractly) taught that the punch should come from the ground. He implied something like it should travel up your foot and into your hips, up your back muscles, out your shoulder, down your arm, and snap out the end of your fist. (more generally though, you put your whole body into the punch, you don't just swing your arm, that's the point I think.)

The video showed that one of the martial artists (wearing sensory equipment) performing a punch, and it actually showed the muscle contractions starting at the feet, and traveling up the guys body as he twisted his hips into the punch, and right to the end of the fist at impact (which is how I was taught punching technique too, you don't make a tight fist until right before impact).

I think shudos really accentuate the kind of whip-like technique your muscles are capable of with this idea of a contraction propagating through your muscles.

 

[Gelsamel Epsilon]

A heavy hand (relaxed) hits harder then a light hand (tensed).

Physics+biomechanics of Aikijujustu would be extremely complex.

 

[JoAuSc]

This thread reminded me of this safety flyer I got at UPS (where I work). It said force is equal to mass times distance, so you should keep your packages close to your body to reduce the force you'd have to exert.

A heavy hand (relaxed) hits harder then a light hand (tensed).

This doesn't sound right. I agree you should be relaxed before impact, but at impact (or right before it) you need to tense your hand. It's the difference between being hit with clay and a brick.

 

[Moridin]

There was a quite interesting documentary on the National Geographic concerning the science behind martial arts entitled "Fight Science". Viewer discretion is advised.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=fight+science&hl=en

 

[FredGarvin]

There was a quite interesting documentary on the National Geographic concerning the science behind martial arts entitled "Fight Science". Viewer discretion is advised.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=fight+science&hl=en

I knew someone was going to reference that steaming pile of dung. It's not worth the film it was printed on.

 

[bchui]

There really is quite a lot of those material in this line of research in biomechanics. The problem is: whether we are doing it for the shake of purely biomechanical research or for martial art trainning. I have been a martial artist for more than 10 years and a certified instructor. However the physical aspect are not really applicable in real trainning unless we have to consider the biological aspect as well. For example, we have to consider the sweating of the person, which would keep reducing his/her body weight before we can assume how heavy the punch or kick he/she can launch.

 

[Fightscience]

There is a new book just published called Parting the Clouds: The Science of the Martial Arts. It is written by a fourth dan karate instructor who is also a Master of Science. It starts at the basics - Newton's Laws and the Conservation of Energy, Mass & Momentum - and goes through just about everything concerned with strikes and collisions. The book is complete with numeric examples of what it takes to break a board or which is more important - speed or mass - and quantifications on the highest force achieved or fastest punch or kicking speed. It's available on Amazon.com and the author is Grenville Harrop.

 

[Curl]

cool

 

[aigui]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615479987/?tag=pfamazon01-20
or http://www.aikisecrets.com/

This book is amazing! I've practiced martial arts for over 10 years now and never have I had things explained so clearly. I would highly recommend this one. The author does explain from his core martial are, Aikido, however the principles are applicable for all martial arts. He also plans to write a follow up explaining farther and then a third book relating the same principles to sports in general. Please give this one a try regardless of your martial art background!

 

[Fightscience]

https://www.amazon.com/Parting-Clouds-Science of the Martial Arts

The way of Aikido is one that is dominated by locks and throws, the unbalancing of an opponent and leverage. The way of karate and taekwondo encompassed such techniques but is more orientated towards high impact strikes such as kicks and punches. In the book Parting the Clouds the author concentrates on the scientific principles involved in making these strikes effective. It is the most technical piece of work ever seen. As an example, it shows the equations and calculations needed to determine how much energy is needed to break a wooden board and then shows how to calculate if a person can achieve this. There are parts of the book that could be read in a Physics classroom – there are parts that are for use for self defense on the streets. Grenville Harrop, the author, is a high grade (4th degree black belt) fighter and a Master of Science. The link above is provided for convenience – the site shows the table of contents of the book.

 

[aigui]

https://www.amazon.com/Parting-Clouds-Science of the Martial Arts

It is the most technical piece of work ever seen. As an example, it shows the equations and calculations needed to determine how much energy is needed to break a wooden board and then shows how to calculate if a person can achieve this.

As an engineer and martial artist I'm intrigued. I think I might check the book out, but what exactly should I expect to get from it? Was there anything in particular that really opened your eyes when reading? Technical is great but surely there is improved application to one's martial arts, right?

 

[Fightscience]

As an engineer and martial artist you will know what is meant when an instructor talks about momentum or force; Parting the Clouds is the first book to really go back to first principles (Newton’s laws and the conservation of energy and momentum) and then apply these to the kicks and punches of the martial arts. Just as one example the book discusses how important speed and mass is to a strike and then shows the optimal balance between speed and mass - (as opposed to being heavy but slow or very fast but too light). It spends a lot of time on kicks and the distinctions between thrust and snap, and goes over how to create the highest impact force through the energy of the strike, its penetration and contact time. It's written by a Fourth Dan Shotokan karate ka who is also a Master of Science from a British University. Hope this helps.

 

[ErolDynamics]

there ar many good programs that i don't remembered their name at discovey channel,national geographic and history tv. may be you can search for