The stuff of legend in films such as Kill Bill: Vol. 2, Jet Li’s Fearless and the feature-film re-imagining of The Green Hornet, the one-inch punch is actually a punching exercise that translates into a close-quarters strike of significant explosive power. Made popular by Lee, of course, at demonstrations such as the 1964 Long Beach International Karate Championships, the one-inch punch also has been notably used by martial artists such as Michael D. Echanis. “You hear some people refer to the one-inch punch as this, but this is actually a three-inch punch” Lamar M. Davis II explains, gesturing with an open palm and fingers pointing toward his opponent’s central chest. “The one-inch punch actually comes from the first knuckle.”
Positioning himself in front of his demonstration partner’s chest-held focus mitt, Davis continues: “I just explode from here into the glove. And there’s not going to be any pulling back.”
The demonstration speaks for itself, as the impact of Davis’ one-inch punch knocks his partner significantly off-balance, sending him backward several steps — all without a windup preceding the explosive strike.
A martial arts practitioner for more than 40 years, Davis has devoted more than 30 of those years exclusively to training in Lee’s art of jeet kune do. Davis is certified as a full/senior instructor by five of Lee’s original students.
Jeet kune do expert Lamar M. Davis II is the founder and head instructor of Hardcore Jeet Kune Do. He serves as the executive director/senior instructor of the Hardcore Jeet Kune Do Chinese Gung Fu Association. Davis is also the co-founder of the International Wing Chun/Jeet Kune Do Alliance and the Efficient Warrior Alliance.
For more topics from Bruce Lee’s jeet kune do, such as :
- attacks
- defenses
- energy training
- timing
- mobility
