by Joshua Peacock

Created on: May 23, 2009

Bruce Lee was a phenomenal martial artist, popular during the sixties and seventies for his movies and his physical abilities. He often went around and gave demonstrations, and even taught kung fu at his own school for a while. Once at a tournament held by Ed Parker, Bruce Lee demonstrated one of his most famous abilities: the one inch punch.

Contrary to popular belief, Bruce Lee's ability came from a genius master of body mechanics, not a spirtual life energy like chi or ki. Though Bruce was especially adept, this technique is achievable by anyone capable of good coordination. But it takes a good knowledge of martial arts mechanics and a lot of practice. That, and a lot of patience. Developing the one inch punch to a functional level takes a lot of time.

The theory behind the one inch punch is to use the whole body in order to generate devastating penetration power from just an inch away. This technique originates in Wing Chun, but is executed a little different. One principle they share is that which can be described as a door stopper. By door stopper, I mean that you make the body some firm that all the energy you press outwards does not rebound into your own body, pressing you back and ultimately robbing the technique of power. Instead, you stay firm, shooting all that energy completely into the through your opponent.

In order to execute Bruce's one inch punch, you must get into a fighting stance, where your shoulder points towards the target. Hold your arm out, touching your fingers (your hand is in a vertical position) to the target, the arm extended almost completely except for about an inch of slack. Keep the arm and the body completely relaxed, and the shoulders lowered and "off" (limb and out of use). Pressing off your back leg, send energy from the ground through your leg into your hips. Like a ripple, this energy should shoot your hips into the strike, which channels through the arm. Leaning into the strike slightly and dropping a bit into a strong stance, the fist should close and rocket into the target. If done correctly, the torso flicks away from the target a little bit, which projects the strike. Please note that the actual process of executing the one inch punch cannot be accuratelyportrayed through words; it needs to be shown and felt.

The best way to learn this technique is from a qualified Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do instructor. Also, studying Wing Chun is another good way to truly learn and understand the One Inch Punch. Go out and do your own research, but most importantly, go out and practice!

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