How to Measure the Power of the Human Punch

As a practicing martial artist, you want to be able to measure your improvements. Otherwise, there is no way for you tell if you are becoming a better fighter. Accurately measuring your punching power can be extremely difficult, though. When scientists measure the force exerted from a punch, kick or any other type of strike, they use an expensive piece of equipment called an accelerometer. The device is highly accurate, but purchasing one along with all the other necessary equipment is impractical for the average person. There is another way, however. Bruce Lee used to measure the power of his strikes by observing how far back he move his punching bag.

Things You'll Need

  • Heavy bag
  • Tape measure
  • Chalk
  • Assistant
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Instructions

    • 1

      Hang your heavy bag from a sturdy structure in an open area with plenty of space for it to move. Preferably, you will want to hang it over concrete or another surface that you can draw on with chalk.

    • 2

      Draw a straight line under the center of the bag to mark your starting point.

    • 3

      Punch the bag as hard as you can. Have your assistant mark how far the bag went back with the piece of chalk. Repeat this step several times then measure the distance from your starting line to the other lines.