Jab, cross and hook punching power and the physical characteristics affecting them

Jab, cross, and hook punching power and the physical characteristics affecting them. Mikael Paajanen, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä Background: Powerful punches are essential in full-contact combat sports, yet few studies have examined the physical qualities underpi...

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Main Author: Paajanen, Mikael
Other Authors: Liikuntatieteellinen tiedekunta, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Jyväskylän yliopisto, University of Jyväskylä
Format: Master's thesis
Language:eng
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access: https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/103278
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author Paajanen, Mikael
author2 Liikuntatieteellinen tiedekunta Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences Jyväskylän yliopisto University of Jyväskylä
author_facet Paajanen, Mikael Liikuntatieteellinen tiedekunta Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences Jyväskylän yliopisto University of Jyväskylä Paajanen, Mikael Liikuntatieteellinen tiedekunta Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences Jyväskylän yliopisto University of Jyväskylä
author_sort Paajanen, Mikael
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description Jab, cross, and hook punching power and the physical characteristics affecting them. Mikael Paajanen, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä Background: Powerful punches are essential in full-contact combat sports, yet few studies have examined the physical qualities underpinning punching power. This study explored how rapid force production and maximal strength relate to jab, cross, and hook power in combat athletes. Methods: 74 male and 31 female athletes from boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA participated. Punching power was assessed using the PowerKube (ICC = 0.80–0.92). Physical characteristics were measured with tests including the reactive strength index (RSI), jump push-up RSI, countermovement jump, broad jump, landmine throw, one-repetition maximum bench press, and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP). Results: For males, all rapid force tests showed significant correlations with all punches. The strongest were observed with the landmine throw (r = 0.43–0.58, p < 0.001), followed by jump push-up RSI and RSI (r = 0.32–0.49, p ≤ 0.006). Bench press showed weak but significant correlations (r = 0.28–0.34, p ≤ 0.016), while IMTP was not significant. For females, jump push-up RSI showed the strongest associations (r = 0.49–0.77, p ≤ 0.006), followed by landmine throw (r = 0.43–0.56, p ≤ 0.017). IMTP was significant for the cross (r = 0.47, p = 0.009) and hook (r = 0.44, p = 0.015), and bench press for the cross (r = 0.41, p = 0.024) and hook (r = 0.49, p = 0.005). The top 10 punchers of each gender outperformed the bottom 10 across nearly all tests, except for IMTP and the cross punch in males, with most effect sizes being large. The strongest in IMTP and bench press also outperformed the weakest in all punches (d = 0.47–1.27). Conclusion: Rapid force production is the key physical attribute for punching power, with maximal strength, especially upper-body in males, and both upper- and lower-body in females, also contributing.
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This study explored how rapid force production and maximal strength relate to jab, cross, and hook power in combat athletes.\n\nMethods: 74 male and 31 female athletes from boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA participated. Punching power was assessed using the PowerKube (ICC = 0.80\u20130.92). Physical characteristics were measured with tests including the reactive strength index (RSI), jump push-up RSI, countermovement jump, broad jump, landmine throw, one-repetition maximum bench press, and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP).\n\nResults: For males, all rapid force tests showed significant correlations with all punches. The strongest were observed with the landmine throw (r = 0.43\u20130.58, p < 0.001), followed by jump push-up RSI and RSI (r = 0.32\u20130.49, p \u2264 0.006). Bench press showed weak but significant correlations (r = 0.28\u20130.34, p \u2264 0.016), while IMTP was not significant.\n\nFor females, jump push-up RSI showed the strongest associations (r = 0.49\u20130.77, p \u2264 0.006), followed by landmine throw (r = 0.43\u20130.56, p \u2264 0.017). IMTP was significant for the cross (r = 0.47, p = 0.009) and hook (r = 0.44, p = 0.015), and bench press for the cross (r = 0.41, p = 0.024) and hook (r = 0.49, p = 0.005).\n\nThe top 10 punchers of each gender outperformed the bottom 10 across nearly all tests, except for IMTP and the cross punch in males, with most effect sizes being large. The strongest in IMTP and bench press also outperformed the weakest in all punches (d = 0.47\u20131.27).\n\nConclusion: Rapid force production is the key physical attribute for punching power, with maximal strength, especially upper-body in males, and both upper- and lower-body in females, also contributing.", "language": "en", "element": "description", "qualifier": "abstract", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.provenance", "value": "Submitted by jyx lomake-julkaisija (jyx-julkaisija.group@korppi.jyu.fi) on 2025-06-09T17:42:05Z\nNo. of bitstreams: 0", "language": "en", "element": "description", "qualifier": "provenance", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.provenance", "value": "Made available in DSpace on 2025-06-09T17:42:05Z (GMT). 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spellingShingle Paajanen, Mikael Jab, cross and hook punching power and the physical characteristics affecting them Valmennus- ja testausopin maisteriohjelma Master's Degree Programme in Science of Sport Coaching and Fitness Testing
title Jab, cross and hook punching power and the physical characteristics affecting them
title_full Jab, cross and hook punching power and the physical characteristics affecting them
title_fullStr Jab, cross and hook punching power and the physical characteristics affecting them Jab, cross and hook punching power and the physical characteristics affecting them
title_full_unstemmed Jab, cross and hook punching power and the physical characteristics affecting them Jab, cross and hook punching power and the physical characteristics affecting them
title_short Jab, cross and hook punching power and the physical characteristics affecting them
title_sort jab cross and hook punching power and the physical characteristics affecting them
title_txtP Jab, cross and hook punching power and the physical characteristics affecting them
topic Valmennus- ja testausopin maisteriohjelma Master's Degree Programme in Science of Sport Coaching and Fitness Testing
topic_facet Master's Degree Programme in Science of Sport Coaching and Fitness Testing Valmennus- ja testausopin maisteriohjelma
url https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/103278 http://www.urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202506095078
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