Bujinkan Punching Skills & Drills (Tsuki Gata)

What is the most important martial arts skill?

This is a question that I often get asked by new students in the martial arts which is really a question of what they should be focusing on at the start of the martial path. At his point in starting out the journey, everything is new, and can be a bit overwhelming. It’s a question of wanting to make progress in the arts, so what should they focus on.

Of course the martial arts are not a checklist of moves or counters, but rather a set of multi-directional and adaptive skills, with much overlap, and many sub skills in common- one really can’t just build a checklist, but likewise with new students we need to start somewhere with a checklist.

Punching is right at the top.

The ability to throw a good solid straight punch from ichimonji no kamae.

The ability to hit hard, smooth, and with intention.

At the kyu levels of training (beginner green belt) if you can throw a solid punch the rest will fall in place over time.

How so?

If one can attack with a correct punch with timing, movement, and intention then the person receiving the punch has to do the waza (technique) correctly. In training with a teacher, as uke, one will get the full feeling of the technique being applied, and one will learn ukemi very quickly as a matter of survival and change (henka).

From a self-defense exploration (goshinjutsu), being able to throw a solid punch with correct distance and timing, without openings in your body posture (kamae), with the ability to hit hard and through the target (kyushou), is a good skill to have.

As we learn the kihon (basics) of taijutsu and punching (tsuki gata) how can we continue to explore and refine our punching skills?

Exploring throwing a punch from the different taijutsu kamae (kyu kamae).

Being able to punch in different directions, to the side, the angles, and behind you.

Punching jodan, chudan, gedan- high, regular, and low.

Punching with your eyes closed.

Punching as sutemi waza, as one is being taken down or moved, being able to fit a punch into the natural flow and opening.

When was the last time you worked on practicing a basic forward punch?

See you on the mat.