The purpose of this paper was to investigate the right distance and the elbow angle for producing the most destructive upper reverse straight punch in karate, for which the power of punch and the elbow angle accompanying it at the various distances of sitting and standing positions were measured. The subjects employed for this particular purpose were four male karate practitioners whose rank was above second grade or nidan.
In the case of a sitting position, the measurement was taken with the distance between the target and the back of the body of the subject being 50,70,75 cm respectively, whereas in the case of a standing position, the measurement was taken with the distance between the target and the front foot being between 10 and 60 cm and also with the arbitrary distance of Optimum Position.
The results are as follows:
1) The upper straight punch given at a sitting position with a distance of 70 cm was proved to indicate the most powerful impact of 73.65 ± 13.76 kg and with a distance varied either increased or reduced, the impact began to decline gradually.
2) The upper reverse straight punch given at a standing position with a distance of 40 cm turned out to indicate the most powerful impact of 101.15+ 8.35 and with a distance varied either increased or reduced, the impact began to diminish.
3) The Optimum Position was found to be at a distance of 37.6+11.8 cm indicating the impact of 108.25+12.03 kg.
4) The elbow angle of the upper reverse straight punch given at a standing position tended to become larger with the distance in between increased within the maximum range of 40 cm. However at the distance of 40,50, and 60 cm respectively, the elbow angle showed such small differences as were shown in the following: 148.5+8.7,149.3+6.2, and 149.8+5.4.
5) The degree of the elbow angle at the time of making contact with the target so as to produce the maximal impact was 145+7.4 for a sitting position,146+3.5 for standing position, and 142.5+ 5.9 for the O. p.of a standing position.
6) For both sitting and standing positions, a slight bending movement was observed before the stretching of the elbow. As a result of the above observation, it was concluded that the elbow angle accompanying the most powerful punch for both sitting and standing positions was proved to be between 140-150 degrees. The slight bending movement of the elbow preceding the streching was observed as the reactive source of power for reinforcing the straight punch following.
