This is the defining technique of Wing-Chun. Punches are thrown as if pulling a string off the centerline of your chest, with the elbow down and in front of the body which is totally supported by the weight of the practitioner. The fist is held vertical and the contact points are the bottom three knuckles. The fist is twisted on impact for maximum effect consistent with the Six Points Harmony (Wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle), on the same vertical plane.
• Speed - Because the elbow is not swung back behind the body, the vertical punch is faster that the conventional roundhouses punch - the shortest distance between 2 points, being a straight line. As body rotation is not a key part of the Wing-Chun punch, the interval between punches is minimized. In contrast to the roundhouse punch, or punch from the waist as seen in other martial arts, the Wing-Chun punch is like a machine gun, not a cannon; it seeks to overwhelm the opponent through a constant bombardment of strikes. This fact allows the Wing-Chun practitioner to punch repeatedly, in a controlled fashion, without over-rotation or sacrificing body positioning. The force of the punch is maximized by integrating the punch with forward body movement, where the arm is linked to the body by keeping the elbow on the centerline. Thus, reliance on the weak shoulder joint is significantly reduced. Additional acceleration in the final stage of the punch is provided by the natural upwards snap of the wrist, imparting the legendary 1-inch-punch power.
• Energy - The Wing-Chun punch seeks to hit with maximum force but with minimal momentum transfer. The philosophy is that the damage is done when the punch lands and a short space beyond. Pushing through with the punch serves no purpose as it forces your opponent out of your striking zone, and compromises your balance. The practitioner learns to generate much energy in a short range, through structure and relaxation. Damage to the opponent’s internal organs and brain is the goal.
• Protection - Keeping the elbow low and forward protects the front of the body, whereas swinging the elbow back would open up the front of the body to attack.
• Hand strength - The vertical fist places the knuckles forward, allowing them to take the impact of the punch and transmit the force down the back of the hand. A horizontal fist, in contrast, puts the finger joints in front of the knuckles so the impact must be taken there, making it easier to break the fingers. This can be tested by punching a wall with a vertical and then a horizontal fist. Note that the vertical fist can be used to strike a hard wall without causing pain at medium levels of force. This is not possible with a horizontal fist. In the vertical punch, the bottom fingers (the shorter metacarpals) are the primary striking points. These shorter (more stable) points are linked in a direct line to the Ulna, the larger of the 2 forearm bones - the radius is floating, and weaker. With the vertical punch, the 2 forearm bones (radius and ulna) are parallel and not crossed as in the more common horizontal punch. The Ulna is in turn, rocketed into the humorous providing a direct linkage for maximum strength.
• Force redirection - The vertical punch redirects the force from the punch downwards into the puncher’s legs and into the ground. In contrast the horizontal punch redirects the force from the punch sideways into the puncher’s waist. This gives the vertical punch a more solid foundation.
The force redirection can be easily tested. Hold your fist vertically in front of you, your elbow down, one foot behind the other. Ask someone to push against your fist and you will feel his force being redirected into the ground. Repeat, but with your fist horizontal and your elbow at shoulder height and to the side. You will feel his force twisting you sideways, leaving you with nothing to push back against.
The vertical punch is the basis for the Wing-Chun chain punch - alternate left and right vertical punches thrown in quick succession, resulting in a fast flurry of a few punches per second. The chain punch is simple, effective and difficult to counter.
Wing-Chun students are taught that when in doubt as to which technique to use, they should attack with the chain punch. This avoids the "analysis paralysis" that can occur when an overly-trained martial artist gets into an unstructured street fight.
