Pure Punching vs Impure Punching. Jack Dempsey’s “Power Line” explained

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2 жыл бұрын

Remember those illustrations from Jack Dempsey’s book “Championship Fighting: Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense” showing the man holding one arm out in a straight line pressed against a wall?
Have you also noticed how certain wing chun nerds who don’t know how to box like to claim this as validation for poor punching techniques that don’t resemble Jack Dempsey at all?
So why did Jack Dempsey include these pictures of a man extending his arm with a vertical fist with three knuckle contact against a wall? Well, didn’t you read the book? It’s an illustrative exercise to teach bone alignment preparatory to throwing punches.
Let’s dig into the power line in this video and discuss so called “pure punches” and “impure punches”, and how fixing your punching form will not only make you a better fighter, it can fix a bad case of tennis elbow and otherwise prolong your combat sports career.
Ramsey Dewey is an MMA coach and fight commentator based in Shanghai, China.
Thanks to my channel sponsor:
Xmartial: catering to all kinds of combat sports athletes from BJJ, MMA, Muay Thai and more. Use my code RAMSEY10 for a 10% discount on everything at
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This video features original music by Ramsey Dewey
Follow me on Instagram at: / ramseydewey

Пікірлер: 823

@johncostello2948 2 жыл бұрын

Great lesson Ramsey. Perhaps you know this story already: Jack Dempsey was attacked by two thugs in front of his restaurant in NYC. It was an attempted robbery. Dempsey knocked them both out. He was in his 80s at the time. When asked about it he said "Boxing could have really help those two gentlemen and pointed them in a positive direction."

@thundrcack 2 жыл бұрын

JD is my great uncle, he's my great grandmother's brother. Well my great grandpa used to love telling that story, but he had dementia later on in life and everytime he told the story the number of thugs would increase God bless his soul. I loved hearing that story

@bigassdummy46 2 жыл бұрын

I was one of the robbers. That isn't how it went down.

@waveexistence3512 2 жыл бұрын

I was across the street and one of the robbers was a female they called Skink around that area. JD made quick work of her.

@thundrcack 2 жыл бұрын

@No-Mad Sadly no. But, I do have his great hair! lol

@VlogCandyMinus Жыл бұрын

@@waveexistence3512 I was working in the Deli across the street and Skink used to come in all the time! Never saw her much after Jack laid her out though....

@daniel-zh9nj6yn6y 2 жыл бұрын

The simplest way to learn correct punching: throw jabs/crosses with a wall on your left (or right). If your elbows flare out, you'll touch the wall.

@captainbeaver_man903 2 жыл бұрын

Yep. We do a drill like that to practice straight punches.

@JoelTGM 2 жыл бұрын

Danks man

@theorganicway2go 2 жыл бұрын

great idea thx!

@Koraxus 2 жыл бұрын

I don't even do martial arts but this would be an awesome exercise for me to do in the morning and get the good energy going

@weefunkster 2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant, cheers

@charlesjohnson7019 2 жыл бұрын

Can’t wait to hear you narrate the rest of Dempsey’s book, thanks for the video!

@emulare1110 2 жыл бұрын

Same 👍😁

@willie_mov 2 жыл бұрын

Where can I find this?

@jerrydmann 2 жыл бұрын

One of the absolute best explanations of Jack Dempsey's power line theory! Thanks so much for the breakdown, Coach Ramsey

@randysimpson1438 2 жыл бұрын

“Championship Fighting…” is the single best book ever written on punching, period. The concepts apply to other types of striking as well.keep it on the nightstand, return to it as needed.

@rollinOnCode 2 жыл бұрын

it is great to see how ramsey is humble enough to learn from his students and centuries old manuals

@ScorpionSuerte 4 ай бұрын

So humble to learm boxing from Jack Dempsey

@Mishkola 2 жыл бұрын

I took a traditional karate of some kind as a kid and my sensei really emphasized correct punching form. Its cool how katas can be used to teach slowly the movements you'll need to speed up later.

@fireeaglefitnessmartialart935 2 жыл бұрын

I did teakwood for a little bit in high school into college and I think it definitely helped my striking in later yrs.

@ikkuhyu4395 2 жыл бұрын

I did karate as a teenager and did not even realize that I still throw my punches this way, until I saw this video.

@varanid9 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I was thinking that as well. That 'pure" punch is pretty much a proper Karate punch.

@bezimeni0477 2 жыл бұрын

I did katas when i was eight until ten and then went to kumites for five years and totally forgot on effectiveness of punches. Sure i can touch you without even you noticing but they weren't strong shots. Then at the age of 15 went to bjj and am still training bjj but I fool around with friend who trains for mma. And so I found this new love for striking, after this video I threw ten of jabs straights and hooks and they felt natural. I'm so glad i did katas as a kid

@varanid9 2 жыл бұрын

@@didjitalone9544 I thought it was a spin-off series from "Torchwood".

@arsenemarceaux4339 2 жыл бұрын

There is a book "The Straight Lead" by a student of Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do which I also recommend. Evidently Bruce was a big fan of Dempsey and studied his punching techniques. Jack Dempsey is a true legend who spent his early years practically fighting for his life. Out of necessity and hard experience Dempsey taught himself what was effective and why.

@mattchelseadavis Жыл бұрын

This guy doubts jkd lol Jone used jkd to dominate ufc fighters using mma lol

@robertvondarth1730 10 ай бұрын

Dempsey said nothing about corkscrewing the punch. English pugilism had typically used near vertical punching. JKD is built on Jim Driscoll, Jack Dempsey and Aldo Nadi ideas

@jhernan594 5 ай бұрын

💯!!!

@TomCastor 4 ай бұрын

Facts!!!

@cankaya2412 6 күн бұрын

@@robertvondarth1730 he did, read his book

@Dericulus 2 ай бұрын

I know this video is a few years old, but mostly commenting to burn it into my brain. Just the words "shoulder whirl" made sense of something I had misunderstood and couldn't get quite right for years. It's not "turn your punching hand fist over and pull with your other hand" - it's "shoulder whirl." I've never seen or heard anyone in videos or almost anyone in real life mention the shoulder's active role in the motion of a good punch. This is quite literally the missing link between the trunk/hips and the elbow/fist that I needed. Thank you, Ramsey. I'd call you "coach", but I'd rather thank you with sincerity than formality.

@pyronicdesign 2 жыл бұрын

I love how you say "vertical punch, like Wing Chun" because lots of Kung Fu as vertical punches. As well as twisting punches. Most of the man forms have them that I am aware of. Long fist, Wing Chun, Wu breaks manacles, etc. But saying it this way will help people instantly know what you are talking about. And the idea is exactly as you say. Of course, in Kung Fu, at least the Kung Fu I have been taught, all of our exercises, such as touch hands, push hands, and even punching drills stress keeping your elbows in. I was in my 20s before I realized how important that was. Great video.

@a-blivvy-yus 2 жыл бұрын

Basically every form of kung fu *has* straight punches, but wing chun focuses much more specifically on them as a central thing you're always doing.

@davids.7052 2 жыл бұрын

The Pure Punches are the basic Karate punch. As I go further with training, I am really thankful to have started in Karate, as the basics are very valuable and can be easily be integrated into any combat art. (I mean Combat Karate, not sport point fighting Karate). I notice that many of the people who start off with "boxing glove" arts, with padded gloves and wraps to protect their hands, sometimes miss out on some of the details that bare knuckle Karate emphasizes. Until I saw this video I never even realized that these "impure punches" existed, and had to force myself to do it to see what Ramsey was talking about. This is not because I am some kind of grand master of the martial arts or something (I am just an average guy trying to improve), but rather that the Karate punch has been instilled into me so deeply that it is 100% natural. OSU!

@jkdbuck7670 2 жыл бұрын

I had an anthropology professor that threw the atltl a lot and said a lot of the same things about NOT flaring the elbow out when throwing. He was a weird dude but knew so many things.

@mackenzielamb6513 Жыл бұрын

I did this in a half assed laying-sitting position watching this and I felt a night and day difference in stress on the elbows. I've changed my workout routines because of wrong movements, it's made a big difference. Thanks for this, I've been wanting a video about this. Good stuff.

@blockmasterscott 2 жыл бұрын

Watching what you said about not raising your elbow makes me appreciate the benefits I got from being a forms competitor. Not raising that elbow like you said is possibly the number one thing drilled into us folks that do forms. And that Jack Demsey illustration at the beginning was Asian classical martial arts 101!

@MUST-TRT 2 жыл бұрын

I've had that book for a while now. It's definitely indespensible. I also found the description Dempsey uses throughout the book for the footwork to be a series of "steps and falls" in order to generate power without undue muscular effort and to maintain the ability for a "snap" on each punch no matter what the strike is (uppercut, hook, and obviously straight-lead or rear hand punches). Maybe you can do a video on describing your interpretation of the "series of steps and falls" that Dempsey uses throughout the book so we can more thoroughly understand that teaching point in a way we can all apply to our training efforts as well. Great video sir.

@AhiMeloOfficial 2 жыл бұрын

He missed the main point of the book.

@AhiMeloOfficial 2 жыл бұрын

Thats what happen when you have an expert reputation, you don't have the mind of a beginner. So you can't learn anything new.

@Gothfield 2 жыл бұрын

@@AhiMeloOfficial I felt like his trigger step was off too. Jack really emphasized putting your weight onto your front foot and then lifting that same foot. That clearly isn’t happening in this demonstration.

@experiment54 Жыл бұрын

@@Gothfield takes way too much work for most people to master

@ruslanzhao1926 Жыл бұрын

@@AhiMeloOfficial can you elaborate please?

@FredKuneDo 2 жыл бұрын

Good explaination, Ramsey. The reason I teach punching at first with a vertical fist ( both in Kyokushin and Kickboxing) is just to get the practice to "keep the elbows in". When this becomes a good habit, it is time to start explaining the rotational options, which are often depending on things like distance and height of the target, to keep the wrist in the most stable position. So vertical, horizontal and diagonal fist positions are all useful, when you know the "why" and "when" of the best bone alignment.

@AtlantaHays 2 жыл бұрын

When do you recommend using the vertical fist?

@nicksalvatore5717 2 жыл бұрын

@@AtlantaHays When someone shells up with a high guard, you can use vertical fist to penetrate their guard. You can also consider hooks as vertical fist.

@AtlantaHays 2 жыл бұрын

@@nicksalvatore5717 yeah, I was thinking of hooks as the only punch where my fist is vertical. Breaking a high guard also sounds like a good time to use it. Thanks

@ashischattopadhyay9598 2 жыл бұрын

Break-up is Fun for once, nice mechanics for 'stability'.. well-founded formulae! Felicitations:)

@voss456 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video! I love your videos on Dempsey’s book, they’re super helpful and I feel like these little “tips”/“fixes” can really elevate your boxing.

@chrisbera7952 5 ай бұрын

That was a big part of our curriculum at the Wednesday Night Jeet Kune do group since Bruce Lee had letter correspondence with Dempsey after reading his book. Bruce incorporated the power line (3/4 hand position , bottom three knuckles,) The Drop step and the upper body twirl for his lead punch. We worked the heck out of it. Bruce also added what he called the "hammer principle," which was really borrowed from fencing, where the hand would drop in a hammering motion at the start of the punch to make it more telegraphic. Bruce was an unbelievable creative and analytical thinker. Until recently we were the only ones I knew of who worked Dempsey's stuff. The internet has opened up vast amounts of knowledge.

@aricbost7180 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent video thank you! I first learned to punch in Ashihara Karate and your Dempsey explanation was almost exactly the same. Huge difference in power with the added bonus of the ability to slip through an opponents guard. Excellent points delivered very clear and concise. Easy to understand and follow. Gold star!

@mrsqueakyvoice97 2 жыл бұрын

Best part about this video is hearing how you humbled yourself and chose to listen and learn something a student offered to teach. Zero ego, just recognizing and absorbing good technique without bias. More people need to treat life with that sort of attitude.

@bendadestroyer 2 жыл бұрын

*This is one of the best videos you've done. The training of the back for punching power blew my mind. I used to punch steel beams in the grocery store for fun on occasion, years later I couldn't figure out why my elbows pinch when I bench press... now I know.*

@tesityr6722 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Billy Zane! Great stuff, great technical explanation - keep up the great work!

@bashrath1 2 жыл бұрын

the delivery has improved so much the past year. great job ramsey!

@tjitjo 2 жыл бұрын

This video is INSANELY good man! Thank you so much!

@josephrainbolt3849 2 жыл бұрын

I bought Jack Dempsey's book because of you. I got a paperback from Amazon I'm going to read it this week. I glanced through it. Love the illustrations. Thank you for the recommendation coach wish I got it sooner.

@mra2438 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks as always, Ramsey!

@bartimaus8738 2 жыл бұрын

Because of you I bought this book years ago, it´s great! Love to see you making videos about it :)

@MrWhatevertoday 2 жыл бұрын

Same!

@bobadams7654 2 жыл бұрын

Nice clear breakdown Ramsey. Much appreciated.

@Spiritualvirtue 2 жыл бұрын

This is so insightful! I feel like I learned a lot just from my first watch of this video. I'll definitely be studying this more and taking it to the heart and to the bag!

@Dark89Avenger 2 жыл бұрын

This is without a doubt, your best content. I had no idea how complex striking actually is, before watching your videos. Also it is cool to see that the core mechanics to generate power are kinda universal, regardless of the activity

@danm8004 2 жыл бұрын

We'll you don't remove and hang up your weightlifting arms when it's time to hit the heavy bag, right?

@thatsgottahurt1234 2 жыл бұрын

I didn't realize how much I needed to learn that pivot step thankyou for sharing.

@scottyg5403 2 жыл бұрын

Wow! Excellent breakdown! More please!Thanks!

@gibberish0002 2 жыл бұрын

This deserves more attention. Really opens up alot of good points here...

@pashakorabelnikov1299 Жыл бұрын

wow got to give a big respect to this guy watch many coaches never seen someone so call and focused on little details so much huge thanks to this man right there!!🤛🤛

@DanielOrtiz-dl8eo 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent! Thank you for this. As someone who is going through tennis elbow problems, im deeply thankful

@OwOXDOwO 2 жыл бұрын

This video is incredible. Nice work!

@samuraiyun219 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome video Ramsey, Keep it up with the Dempsey content!

@mennokooper837 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Ramsey. I read Dempsey's book last august but I could not completely figure out how to interpret the power line. But now it's finally clear.

@tyronekim3506 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent coaching and advice. Thanks.

@joydevmukherjee 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks ramsey. Great pointers 💪🏻

@Brokendownsportscar 2 жыл бұрын

great video, Ramsey! There was a ton of knowledge within that i clearly needed. I did a slo mo of my punch and found all sorts of wierd things including impure punching. i dont so much have pain but rather a lack of power. Thank you for everything!

@jeffreywright2294 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you coach Ramsey !

@Arman-jx7hu 2 жыл бұрын

That was an extremely educational video!! Thank you coach!!!

@GOBRAGH2 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent explanation.

@pamelarichardson-nowak5133 2 жыл бұрын

Great breakdown!

@sameerasmr6217 2 жыл бұрын

I need to say as always, Thank you Ramsey 🙏 Be safe be happy be healthy...!!!

@morganjacob1195 2 жыл бұрын

Love it Dewey.

@HulkVahkiin 2 жыл бұрын

I could listen to this guys voice forever. Oh great video.

@50043211 2 жыл бұрын

Interessting demonstration. THX!

@TheNimbus12 2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful video to come back to after a KZfaq break. Love the baseball analogies. I always thought there were so many parallels in baseball and martial arts. A book to be written on that !

@YuvrajSingh-cd7cu 2 жыл бұрын

Classic ramsey dewey! Keep it up man.👌👌

@CaptainCowboy476 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the great explanation on this .

@petercharalampopoulos7180 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for clarifying, I've been wondering about this for a while

@dibach70 2 жыл бұрын

Very good video sir!

@paulcarey191 4 ай бұрын

man oh man! what a great translation of dempsey's work, i have the book too and i'm kinda of stuck at the same place you are, not really stuck but it's almost like i can use a study partner to finish - but either way this video helped me understand the great jack dempsey's dynamite punching a lot more. i'm so impressed and grateful with your humble excellent way of teaching that i'm subscribing now. Tku my friend keep up the great work.

@Sh0___ 2 жыл бұрын

Needed to hear this. My elbows been killing me for weeks. Think I've been flaring my elbows. I'm gonna give this a try. Thanks Sifu

@cserpakbalazs6342 2 жыл бұрын

This is awesome thanks. Sooner or later I'll have to read that book.

@mohammedaymane9246 5 ай бұрын

Great lesson, learned so much. Good job man. Awesome channel

@SakanLam 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic explanation.

@danielaragao9696 2 жыл бұрын

Very great content coach Ramsey, thanks for the nice knowledge, Dempsey was the man, and thanks to you I read his book twice and it really make a difference in my game. Thanks coach for sharing the good knowledge, that’s what coaching is about. Master

@uncontrollablemartialartsa1804 2 жыл бұрын

Good lesson coach

@johnochicago8457 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent Video!!!

@kathryn.wooldridge 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Coach. This was helpful.

@ameliatah4107 Жыл бұрын

Brilliant video - I used to get that tennis elbow from hitting the bag too, I will concentrate on changing my technique now. Thank you so much

@ralph4999 2 жыл бұрын

Wow such vital information thank you

@Gyrodyssey 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic Video!

@frikandelkroket9335 2 жыл бұрын

The concept of the center line, the elbow etc. It’s like my first Wing Chun lesson decades ago.

@djm9276 Жыл бұрын

Nice ! Good Explanation !

@KingWayne714 2 жыл бұрын

I love the technical breakdown

@MojoMoneyMajor 11 ай бұрын

great info as always love the breakdowns

@albertow.7755 2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful technical lesson, a very professionist

@anatolyalperovich9069 2 жыл бұрын

You are very good teacher. I have enjoyed that video a lot

@Xlayerful 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent video

@Kung-Tech-Fu 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome! That was a missing link type thing. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us! Much appreciated!

@MartyMoose1611 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the lesson.

@luigiaffatati4491 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Great Sensei. Your explanation is very clear! I always follow you and thanks for the teachings! Greetings from Rome (Italy)

@jerelivey2042 2 жыл бұрын

Great video brother👍💪🥊🧠

@tuerkefechi 10 ай бұрын

Excellent video 👍🏼

@relectric69 Жыл бұрын

Great video. Just got Dempsey's book.

@frankbaron1608 2 жыл бұрын

you explain this really, really well.

@RamseyDewey 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks

@Markperna1 2 жыл бұрын

This is seriously great advice.

@lrod1158 2 жыл бұрын

Great video!!!

@drspin1820 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! I've done both wing chun and boxing; one thing which I carried over from wing chun to boxing was to keep my tucked elbows in with my body behind it. Throwing jabs and crosses from this position means you've always got your elbow behind the extension of your arm, generating more power and helping prevent it from flaring out.

@lancehobbs8012 2 жыл бұрын

It is SUCH A GOOD TECHNICAL MANUAL!! I will crap on for an hour about this book and the techniques...then i start shooting the stepping straight with 3 knuckle vertical landing on stuff " see it WORKS"

@DragonSlayer-tg5mk 2 жыл бұрын

Kudos to you for being able to keep your ego in check and learn from a student!!!

@guytakamatsu7326 11 ай бұрын

Thank you for doing this video. I took a look at the book by jack. Dempsey and could not visualize the instructions. Your video was worth 1000 words.

@miguelmenendez3857 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you sir you see many people punch wrong and not draw power with the lower body nice you that you broke down basic fundamental

@TheDAP8576 2 жыл бұрын

Heck yeah I love that book! I studied it inside and out and even made a list of all the offense, defense, counters and footwork so I can do drills! As for the elbow flaring, during my Taekwondo days, the Sabumnim would have us punch with our punching side against the wall so our elbows couldn't flare out. We did the same with back kicks to keep the knee tucked.

@ianhenderson3078 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video. I found you because of the women's self defence videos but ... stayed for the stuff like this.

@haboonaimee 2 жыл бұрын

What an amazing video,this will help with reach and preserve my elbow more

@Lucifer7681 2 жыл бұрын

Great video man … keep it up 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

@oubliette862 2 жыл бұрын

good stuff, great subject coach.

@THEANPHROPY 2 жыл бұрын

Thank ou for he upload Ramsey brother! Much appreciated. I was taught the: "pure punch" in Karate; then again in multiple styles of Gong fu such as, 7 star praying mantis, Shaolin Gong fu (includes Sandai), Western Boxing! Peace & Love!

@markprzybylski1543 2 жыл бұрын

Good to see you. Haven't seen any vids come up in my feed for months.

@RamseyDewey 2 жыл бұрын

Well, if you subscribe and check your subscription tab instead of the recommended videos tab the robots want you see, you’ll see new videos on this channel every day.

@markprzybylski1543 2 жыл бұрын

I am subscribed, have been for a year or 2 since I discovered your channel. Thank you for responding.

@genishugues6827 2 жыл бұрын

This is brilliant! Pulling excercises to improve weight transfer! I never thought about it before, thank coach

@wetgoo5416 2 жыл бұрын

Nice fundamental video!!!

@AleksiBennettGuitar 2 жыл бұрын

That closeup of the footwork during weight transfer was super helpful. I was thinking of it as driving my hip but got an immediate increase in power from deliberately shifting my weight and it ties in well with the principles in the Dempsey roll which you showed in another video. Best martial arts channel on KZfaq imo 👍

@RamseyDewey 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks