Tae Kwon Do judges, as well as judges of other martial arts, have long held the idea that punches don't pack as much wallop as a kick. Just think about it--if you ever really needed to, you'd kick in a door, not punch it in, well unless you have a boxer's arms. The reason is pretty obvious: the leg is heavier than the arm (at least for most folks), and therefore can deliver more momentum. In studying martial arts sparring technique, the trade off between fast and powerful comes to the forefront. Fists, since arms are lighter, are fast. Legs because they are heavier and longer, are slower but deliver more force.



In tests recorded by National Geographic for their program 'Fight Science', August 2006, sensors were used to compare the force generated by kicks and punches from top martial arts practitioners. A $150,000 government-certified crash-test dummy known as the ?Hybrid III anthropomorphic test device.? outfitted with sensors and measurement capabilities created especially for this research, allowed scientists to measure the impact of blows, throws, and kicks, providing data that frequently astounded the scientists.

The tests showed that the martial arts hype isn't just hypt. The amazing balance Ninja's supposedly possess isn't just a myth. Drunken boxing movements can be done by a real guy without benefit of Matrix type special video effects. The sensors showed that a hammer fist to the chest is powerful enough to stop the heart, and although the hammer fist doesn't deliver as much force as a Tae Kwon Do spinning back kick, which the load cell registered at 1500 pounds, it is extremely accurate. The Fight Science research showed that when it comes to punches and kicks, the size of the limb your are striking with does matter. The most powerful punch was made by boxer. No surprise there since boxers focus exclusively on training to punch and the size of their arms show it.

In other words, as far as punches and kicks go, 'Fight Science' proved what martial arts fighters have known for generations: punches can be delivered fast and accurately, but depending on the size of your arm or the size of your opponent, you may need to strike with your leg, which has more mass, in order to get the job done.