I see martial artists everywhere claiming to teach Bruce Lee’s One Inch Punch. Unfortunately, many of them are wrong. Worse still, some of these blows not only have nothing to do with the principles found in Jeet Kune Do (Bruce Lee’s martial arts system), but a percentage of them are not even good blows.

Bruce Lee’s punch is not a shove

Although this short technique can send an opponent flying backwards, the punch is not a “shove”. There is definitely penetration in the punch. Hit on; it is not a gentle push back.

Not a reverse punch

This short stroke is most often executed from a vertical position. You don’t start with a fist where the phalanges of your fingers are at the top and the back of your hand is at the bottom at the beginning of the technique and then reverse when the punch makes contact.

The punch does not depend on recoil energy

Some blows penetrate forward … and continue to move in a forward direction. Others rely on retraction for some of the power of the blow. (Yes, it really is true).

Bruce Lee’s one-inch punch relies on forward energy. Going through and past your target is very important in this shot.

The one-inch punch is not just a gimmick

There are definitely some stunts in martial arts that are nothing more than tricks. They are based on some physical law that the audience does not know is in effect … or even a trick of some kind. Not so with this punch.

It’s the real deal.

Sure, success is a great show, but there’s so much more to it than that. Imagine being able to generate that kind of energy from such a short distance. You could hit anywhere with recoil force.

Although the punch is concentrated in such a small amount of movement, it still needs proper positioning throughout the body. Good positioning is good positioning. But in the case of the Bruce Lee coup, it will definitely increase the power.