What has the potential to hit harder, punches or kicks?

I was just wondering was the general opinion was on the board about this - What is capable of producing more physical power,or punch or a kick?

Anyone know of any scientific studies on this?

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There are many paths at the base of the mountain but all who reach it's peak see the same moon.

I think punch.

With the foot, whatever part of it you strike with (Apart from ball of the foot, which is difficult to land) you're hitting with a very large area. As we all know, the smaller the surface area you're striking with, the more pressure applied. With the hand, you can attack with various different fists, but in general the surface area is a hell of a lot smaller from the hand, than the foot. Even with the fist, you're only really hitting with the knuckles. With a foot, you're hitting with something probably 3x the size.

i would think a kick even though the surface area is bigger the legs are much stronger that the arm and the muscles involved with a punch. so i think you are putting more speed and force into it

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"Holy bat farts"
"Just remember there's many kinds of toughness in this world and not all of them involve kicking in someone's teeth to prove a point." SammyGirl Fan Club

“	Originally Posted By: Prime Fu i would think a kick even though the surface area is bigger the legs are much stronger that the arm and the muscles involved with a punch. so i think you are putting more speed and force into it	”

But a correctly performed punch will have the strength of the legs and the hips in it's motion?

Surely that provides more power to your punch than your kick.

Punch, pending on motion. A regular straight punch probably won't produce the same power as say a roundhouse would.

LOL..... this is actually one of the ways my teacher was introduced to our system.

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It's all about the nitty gritty.......

“	Originally Posted By: Inferus But a correctly performed punch will have the strength of the legs and the hips in it's motion? Surely that provides more power to your punch than your kick.	”

Mm Hmm!

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Oh THAT'S how that works!

If you look at the world records in breaking they are mostly the hands

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You are not where you have been and you are not where you are going you are only here.

True dat. Ive nobody ever seen anyone kick 5+ concrete blocks and break them. Not to say its not possible, just people dont seem interested in training that part of their body to that degree.

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

“	Originally Posted By: Inferus But a correctly performed punch will have the strength of the legs and the hips in it's motion? Surely that provides more power to your punch than your kick.	”

a correctly perfomred kick uses the hips too!!!
and thats why i said arm and other muscles involved because there are many

and are we talking about the competition breaking that is shown on espn everyonce and awhile? most of that breaking is done with body weight.

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"Holy bat farts"
"Just remember there's many kinds of toughness in this world and not all of them involve kicking in someone's teeth to prove a point." SammyGirl Fan Club

“	Originally Posted By: Prime Fu a correctly perfomred kick uses the hips too!!! and thats why i said arm and other muscles involved because there are many and are we talking about the competition breaking that is shown on espn everyonce and awhile? most of that breaking is done with body weight.	”

Yes, but it's to nowhere near the degree of a punch.

I think the major thing is, a leg has more power for things like pushing and lifting, however a arm has so much more power for striking and fast motions.

what do we think about the shin being more sturdy that the knuckles?

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"Holy bat farts"
"Just remember there's many kinds of toughness in this world and not all of them involve kicking in someone's teeth to prove a point." SammyGirl Fan Club

Shin would be more sturdy, to a certain extent... with certain training behind it.

But shin to palm, different story.

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It's all about the nitty gritty.......

very true it depends on the conditioning on the shin and other parts like the palm. my sifu does iron palm and i wouldn't put my shin against his palm

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"Holy bat farts"
"Just remember there's many kinds of toughness in this world and not all of them involve kicking in someone's teeth to prove a point." SammyGirl Fan Club

Hey I do Hung Gar, which is more hands than feet, but even I recognize legs have more power than arms.

True, there is the question of targets and skill to consider as well. Much easier to punch someone up above, than kick. But if we ignore that, which would you rather take from:

A) punches to the head from someone who's mounting you?
B) ****kicking to the head from his friend?


I pick (A).

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What is the sound of one hand clawing? -- chanh buddhist proverb

Interesting question, does Mike Tyson punch harder than Peter Aerts kicks?I think you might find that the most powerful strikes turn out to be punches because there are people who just punch, but I can't think of anyone who just kicks.