Home Base for Fists

Today in kid’s class we explored how to bring a punch back to “home base” and how not to bring a punch back to “home base”.

Home base, in this instance, means a good cover position with the hands up and the elbows down.  For our “good” return path, we threw the punch and came straight back to home.  For our “bad” return path, we threw the punch and made a big curved arc back to home.

The straight line, most of the time, is the best return path because it gets us back in a good cover, ready to punch again.  The curved line, most of the time, is a weaker return path because it leaves us open to counter punches and takes longer to be set up to punch again.  Are there exceptions?  Yes.  Always.  For the most part, the policy that pays off is to bring the fist and the elbow straight back to home base.