What is the difference between power punches vs flash punches vs check punches?

In this post I'll break down what each of these are and when to throw them for maximum effectiveness in a fight.

Video Breakdown

Power Punches

Power punches are your fundamental shots that will cause damage and TKO or KO someone.

They are thrown anywhere from 80-100% power behind them, putting your entire body into each punch.

The most important part about throwing with power is knowing how to use your body to generate that power.

It's always a full body movement.

Punching power is generated from the ground, from your legs, from your hips, from the torso - with the arm and fist being the connection point and transference of that power.

Power comes from the rotational twist and torque of your entire body.

You are always punching through the bag, through your opponent - never at.

The upside of power punches is damage (TKO or KO). But there are downsides to power punches as well:

• Slower
• Telegraphed
• Energy expenditure

Because power punches are slower and are easily telegraphed, is why you use other punches such as jabs to set them up.

As for energy expenditure, this is why you need to train fight cardio.

Now remember, just because you are throwing with power does not mean you get to be off balance or ignore proper technique. Don't ever mistake brawling haymakers as proper power shots. They often miss and put you in bad position to get countered.

You should always be in correct position before and after throwing a power shot. Whether it hits or misses.

So power shots are your key punches to cause maximum damage. But there are other two ways to throw the same punches: as flash or check punches.

Flash Punches

Flash punches are speed punches.

You throw the same punches that are usually delivered as power shots but instead you throw them with speed.

You don't fully rotate and torque as you do with power punches. Instead, you flick the punch. Nice, quick snapping punch in order to make them react so you can follow up with something else.

This way you throw what are perceived as power punches (cross, hooks, uppercuts) but you throw them with speed to help you conserve energy, break rhythm and set up additional power shots.

For example: a cross is traditionally considered a power punch. You wouldn't want to lead with power shot as your first punch. But if you throw the cross as a flash punch, you can use it to follow up with another power shot such as a lead hook.

This gives you a lot more variety within your combinations because now you can lead with punches you may not usually throw first.

Check Punches

Check punches are essentially the same thing as flash punches with one exception - they are thrown as a counter.

You time someone coming in aggressively and you throw a quick check cross or check hook or check uppercut at the same time.

You are checking them as they're coming in. Their body momentum is moving forward and it meets you punch. Two forces collide and it's usually lights out.

You've seen this many times before. When it happens in real-time you don't know what punch landed. One fighter is rushing in, the other is stepping back. The former goes down, the latter is still standing and you don't know what happened.

Remember, a check punch is similar to a flash punch but it's done as a counter on retreat, meeting their body momentum and weight coming in.

Striking Fundamentals Vol.1

if you are ready to build a strong punching foundation that will win you fights then look no further than "Striking Fundamentals Vol.1" program.

It will show you the 4 fundamental punches every fighter needs to master and 8 fundamental combinations to start using with power punches or with flash punches.