The Corkscrew Punch

In Isshinryu the twist punch or what some call the corkscrew punch was mostly removed for what appeared to be a more efficient and "natural" method of punching and striking with the fist. This is about why the twist punch is of value and may still be an Isshinryu technique even if the Isshinryu practitioners are not aware that it is still in use.

When you visualize a twist punch most see the fist at the waist and as the strike begins and ends there is a spiraling or twisting action all the way through its path and to the target. This is simplistic and in violation of the fundamental principles of martial systems in that this teaching method, a very valuable tool for any sensei, is for novices who have yet to realize the true nature of principles for the sake of the learning process. 

Even the Isshinryu vertical punch for beginners starts at the mid section and processes up and into the target. This too falls into the same space as the twist punch described above except that when explaining its value and efficiency over the twist punch you remove the process of the rotation and spiraling moves into a more direct line that it seems the vertical punch is more efficient but that is misleading. 

Let me clarify, the vertical punch is more efficient than the twist punch but as to its value outside of a teaching tool for beginners it is still way below what is necessary to adhere to and apply the fundamental principles of martial systems. Just take as an example the time it takes to reach a target. The hand/fist still has to travel from the waist to the target. While the twist and spiraling motion is removed the distance remains the same. Removal tends to add more speed but that is still insufficient in a real fight. It ignores what principles are needed for power for what looks and feels right. The crux here is learning something without the benefit of sensei having experienced, and remembered adequately, the real fight. 

Now, to truly understand that both are of value and both adequate is to understand what is misunderstood and missing from using a twist punch. Think of complex forces as they benefit how power is applied when all other principles a in line. In reality the sub-principle of "spiraling" teaches us that most often the twist/corkscrew punch is taught incorrectly and that the vertical fist punch is often taught the same, i.e. without the complex force of a truly applied twisting/spiraling motion. 

PRINCIPLE OF SPIRALING

The most obvious demonstration of this principle is the "twist-punch/corkscrew-punch." The critical element of this technique and any other spiraling techniques used is when the actual spiraling action occurs and that is during impact. The fist, wrist and forearm must rotation during impact, it has to penetrate as the fist spirals into the target. Normally, martial artists work to penetrate about one to two inches but others have the practitioner focus on striking the other side of the bodies target point. 

In addition, some rotation must occur post-impact. When one says "impact" this means when the fist first encounters the actual target on the adversary. Even if the spiraling begins just before we have to ensure that some of it actually occurs after the impact. Take into consideration the principle of economic motion for a twist/corkscrew punch using to much spiraling can result in wrist injuries. 

Joint locks also benefit from spiraling motions. You can witness more of this sub-principle in Small Circle Jujitsu or what the author of "The Book of Marital Power" says should be "Small Spiral Jujitsu." 

Avoid that spiraling arc you see when a novice tries a corkscrew punch/strike. The path that the punch takes does not need to spiral, it does not add any power to that strike/punch as that decreases power at impact. It is most efficient to turn the fist, wrist, forearm on the radial axis (Radial Principle). 

In other areas the spiral is also part and parcel to the other principles that nature uses in all life. Spiraling or the spiral pattern is found everywhere, i.e. look at the branches and bark of a tree and you will find that it spirals, when you look at pictures of the other galaxies you will see many, if not most, forming a spiral pattern and the path that the earth and moon follow traveling through the universe forms a spiral - the moon forms a spiral pattern as it rotates around the earth while the earth travels through the universe. 

Think spiral or helix and this also relates to how both centrifugal and centripetal forces work, another set of principles. 

As you can understand from the excerpt above if both types of punch are applied correctly you no longer have a twist/corkscrew punch and you don't truly have an exclusive vertical punch. The vertical punch and corkscrew punch, for certain tactics and techniques, are actually one in the same. You use a vertical punch model to apply that punch faster, not from the waist either, and then you apply the true twist/spiral motion at the point of impact. You twist/spiral for a very subtle way at the the point impact and into the target. 

The times you may not actually twist is when you apply other complex forces such as carving and shearing or both. After all, everything is more about a cumulation of things as the need to fully benefit from principles by applying all principles as "one" whole and holistic application of martial arts.