| a) | proper alignments: |
| i) | dimensions: |
| 1) | height - rib level |
| 2) | depth - body in side horse with elbow at ribs and fingers pointing directly forward, vertically |
| 3) | width - in-line with body |
| ii) | body alignments: |
| 1) | hand: |
| A) | rotated to be vertical |
| B) | knuckles pointed directly forward |
| 2) | wrist kept straight (not bent up / down and / or side-to-side) |
| 3) | shoulders - relaxed |
| 4) | upper body / hips - side Horse rotation |
| 5) | legs / feet - side Horse rotation |
| iii) | Point of Contact - first two knuckles of fist |
| iv) | stance - side Horse |
| b) | proper formation - weapon (hand): |
| i) | fingers - standard fist (tightly bent and kept together to form Compact Unit) |
| ii) | thumb: |
| 1) | wrapped under bent fingers (Compact Unit) |
| 2) | do not allow to separate from contact with fingers |
| c) | execution: |
| i) | Method of Execution - Thrusting |
| ii) | execute directly to target (prevent arching line of travel) |
| iii) | improper execution: |
| 1) | improper speeds / methods: |
| A) | executed too slow (transforms into push with fist) |
| B) | executed too fast (stance change unable to keep up with strike) |
| C) | executed too tense (unable to achieve proper 'snap' of strike) (strike looks 'pushed' out) |
| D) | strike not tensed at Point of Contact (improper timing / never tensed) |
| 2) | improper alignments / angles: |
| A) | elbow bend: |
| I) | over bent (strike not horizontal) |
| II) | too-extended (strike not backed by ribs) |
Form Specific
| a) | Common execution errors: |
| i) | over extend the elbow, not allowing ribs to back strike |
| ii) | over bend the elbow, so strike is not executed horizontally |
Example of a proper middle height vertical punch (right)
Example of proper vertical punch formation (middle height zone)
Examples of improper Vertical Punch - weapon formation / angle
formation - hanging pinky finger / tucked thumb,
wrist: horizontal angle - over bent, wrist: vertical angle - contact with wrong knuckles
Examples of improper vertical punch execution (from side horse)
improper height - high / low, width - narrow / width,
depth - too extended