Thanks for thinking this through with me Fran. I intend to work much of this on the bag, practicing both ways (I think that now I know something like 11 ways to "throw a hook" from reading, watching, and from my coach who will only accept ONE way <grin>).

There are three reason I thought of this:

1) Generally the "big muscles", especially the core have shorter movements or smaller ranges of motion, so if the body motion starts even with the hands the body motion tends to be "all used up", i.e., up against the stops (at the end of range of motion) before the hands get there.

2) Body/core motions tend to be more likely to commit weight and put one out of balance, especially as you mention if you miss, so saving them to the end and only committing just at or just before the strike means that you already KNOW you will hit.

3) My own hip, shoulder, and back range of motion sucks -- I have had tight ligaments and tendons my whole life, but with arthritis I am even more limited (notice that this is mostly not the painful type, just limiting in movement) so those big core motions are generally going to be even short for me before I "hit the stops".

So I have a general principle that I try to get my core into my punches "near the end" rather than "at the start".

The main disadvantages are that it requires really good timing (a lot of carefully correct practice) and it is easier to 'get lazy' and start leaving out the really powerful portion of the movement, unless I keep working the practice correctly and pay a lot of attention to getting it right constantly.

Also, by moving the leg and hip first, you set up a "wave like" or "whip like" action from bottom to top which proceed smoothly up the body to the shoulder and out through the arm finishing at the hand. This is a very natural way to release energy.

Doing it in the (partially) reversed order is not likely to be nearly as smooth.

I an not however certain that the hip later method would be slower, since I would ideally add the hip just as the arm reaches max speed and JUST BEFORE the strike so we are adding to the velocity of the arm (by turning) rather than having that hip be essentially FINISHED turning at impact (if it had started first it would have already 'used up' its rang of motion unless you overturn it and risk losing balance.)

I really like your videos and always learn a lot by watching and practicing them.

Thanks Fran.

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HerbM