He simply pushes some one standing completely off balance. It doesn’t require much force, just the amount generated from placing your hand on some one and twisting you’re shoulder.
In my boxing gym my coach will get lads to step in teh directions he says until he tells them to stop, no one is aloud to move they’re feet and he’ll take a look at you’re stance and push you if you’re off balance… Obviously they don’t fall down because they’re in some form of stance but it makes them stumble (usually back into stance as they over compensate trying to not fall over)
Because you know the chair is there when Bruce lee does it you’re not as worried about falling so sub consiuosly you make less of an effort to stand up.
the inch punch is a demo of short range power
you are correct about the chair
the one done in that demo is a push one but it can also be done as a strike
check this video out http://www.brucelee.nd.e-wro.pl/bruce%20lee%20i%20jeet%20kune%20do.mpg
he would not have been able to break the wood if it was a push!!!
Anyway I doubt Bruce would have used the one inch punch as an actual fighting technique.
The idea is that you strike using the same mechanics as the inch punch demo.One of the ideas behind it is the use of the falling step to get bodyweight into the strike.He got the idea from Jack Dempsey!!
Its also used in latosa escrima (philipino weapons fighting) where you need to generate short power with a weapon .
this should give u an idea of the falling step
taken from another forum
"The concept behind the falling step is this, think of stepping on a set of scales and jumping up and down on them, you’ll notice that you’re weight reading rises from say, 11 stone to 16 stone. In essence in that moment that you land on the scales, you transform into a heavyweight for a split second. And so the theory is that you punch with the force of an extra few stone.
To practice just imagine that when stepping forward when you punch(stepping into your punches is something you should always try and do with every punch) you are stepping and falling down a step.
Dempsey said that every straight punch shopuld be performed with a falling step"
its explained in Dempsey’s book-its actually a very rare book and sells for at least £100
Im in Total disagreement with you on this. What you discribe is a push all the power goes through the feet not the fist. Its the same as POSE running,to generate power to the feet not the fist,Allthe power is going down the front leg, chin past knee off balance, cant generate power.
should of been clearer. you don’t throw the punch whilst you’re foot is stepping, you take a small step forwards instance and throw a split second after your front foot has touched the floor. Probably not explaining it right but it works
also Bruce didnt just step with his punch he also made sure that the strike lands just before or at the same time as the foot hits the ground.In that way all the bodyweight would go into the opponent.“Hand before foot” is also used by fencers to closese non-telegraphically.
this was taken from a froum post by one of Bruce lee students
"Anyway, here is the little trick that Bruce liked to show off using the falling step. By now, I’m sure everyone on this board has seen this, but there are details that might be interesting.
Stand about four or 5 feet away from your training partner.
Stand on left leg with right foot hooked behind the knee.
Extend right arm straight out and aimed at partner’s chest, fingers pointed upward, wrist locked.
Weld downs the right shoulder.
Now Fall forward until your right foot must step out to prevent you from falling flat on your face, letting your hand strike your partner’s chest.
Note: Here are the tricks. . Arm must be held rigidly straight, allow no bend, so there is no punching motion (this is just exercise on principle). The right foot hitting the ground must be at the exact same instant the right hand hitting your partner’s chest. Most important, the right knee MUST NOT BEND EVEN A LITTLE or the impact with the opponent’s chest will be partially absorbed. If done correctly, your partner will be knocked to the moon. Advise, using a telephone directory or something for padding, and be extra careful not to damage the heart. The effect is deep penetrating and might cause electrical disruptions in the heart (V-tack), especially if used at high altitude. In other words, never do this around the ski lodge."
And theres barely 2 feet to place you’re leg back to balance, plus the subconiuos fact you know the chair will abosrb the fall.
Its a good demo of weight transfer and balance but people go on about it like he could lift a man off the floor and send him flying with a 1 inch punch like off the Matrix…
Thats the problem with bruce lee, very fit guy, very talented but so much of his legacy and built on hype, myth and is exagerated by the ignorant.
Your right its a push.
But it has other benifits ,not used in boxing.
If used on to a finger tip strike with a loaded wrist it can penetrate the softer areas.
With gloves it is just about usless unless you want to blast your opponent off of you in a clinch etc.
Even so to do that would be better if you could blast him off with one high palm strike and one low both going out at 45% over one of his arms with that step through onto the end of it.(not leagle in boxing though).
Those are the techniques from Wing Chun that mr Lee added onto to create the one inch punch.
Getting snap onto the end of the thrust is difficult.
Although if you have completed iron palm training and practice bare handed chi sao you can accidently split face skin with it.
Wise move.
To go around and sit and study all the styles available is benifitial,you just sit and shut up, watch for a few lessons and then take the first lesson for free all the while taking in all the seniors moves.
Can really generate some power in my right hand when I step in off the left 