Expert: Alan Kahn - 1/26/2007

Question
Im a mixed martial artest. (I love my art form) The speed and timing in my right (power) is much slower than my left(lead) hand. My right seems to get fatigued in my shoulder and bicep within 2 or less rounds. Wicked power though. Is there something wrong with my shoulder? I have been doing this for 10+ years, im realy quick in my right and lightning fast in my left. how do i spped up my right without loosing power? Thanks alot cheif, i really appriciate it.

Answer
HI Super Joe

It is difficult to tell what is causing your stated "slowness" in your right, but if you have "wicked power", then it can't be too bad, for power comes from speed. Perhaps you mean that your right hits HARD with a lot of force, but not a lot of "pop" or retraction speed.  If the muscles in your shoulder and bicep are continually fatigued, you might consider getting a nerve conduction test done on your right cervical plexus, which is the nerve bundles that exit your neck and go down the arms. If there is a problem in any of those (slight entrapment, impinged tissue etc.) it could show up as chronic muscle weakness. But that is probably not the cause,for pain or numbness usually also occurs. but it is a thought.

The way you get a "faster punch" is by trying to "punch faster" in your workouts. there is no magic bullet that I am aware of. Do the double end and speed bag. On the heavy bag, try to time your workout and have a workout partner count your punches in a minute. try to increase the number of punches.

read some of the training articles on Rossboxing.

http://www.rossboxing.com/thegym/thegym25.htm

http://www.rossboxing.com/thegym/thegym24.htm

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ss11.htm

main list
http://www.rossboxing.com/

Good luck and I hope your right shoulder and arm catch up to the speed and performance you want.

sincerely

Alan Kahn
author, the speed bag bible