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

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

[@johncostello2948]

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]

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]

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

[@waveexistence3512]

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]

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

[@VlogCandyMinus]

​@@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]

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]

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

[@JoelTGM]

Danks man

[@theorganicway2go]

great idea thx!

[@Koraxus]

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]

Brilliant, cheers

[@charlesjohnson7019]

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

[@emulare1110]

Same 👍😁

[@willie_mov]

Where can I find this?

[@jerrydmann]

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

[@randysimpson1438]

“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.

[@Mishkola]

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]

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

[@ikkuhyu4395]

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]

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

[@bezimeni0477]

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]

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

[@arsenemarceaux4339]

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]

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

[@robertvondarth1730]

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]

💯!!!

[@TomCastor]

Facts!!!

[@cankaya2412]

@@robertvondarth1730 he did, read his book

[@rollinOnCode]

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

[@ScorpionSuerte]

So humble to learm boxing from Jack Dempsey

[@pyronicdesign]

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]

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.

[@jkdbuck7670]

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.

[@davids.7052]

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!

[@mackenzielamb6513]

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.

[@FredKuneDo]

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]

When do you recommend using the vertical fist?

[@nicksalvatore5717]

@@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]

@@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]

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

[@Dericulus]

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.

[@MUST-TRT]

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]

He missed the main point of the book.

[@AhiMeloOfficial]

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]

@@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]

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

[@ruslanzhao1926]

@@AhiMeloOfficial can you elaborate please?

[@voss456]

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.

[@blockmasterscott]

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!

[@Dark89Avenger]

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]

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

[@aricbost7180]

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!

[@chrisbera7952]

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.

[@bartimaus8738]

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

[@MrWhatevertoday]

Same!

[@Spiritualvirtue]

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!

[@tesityr6722]

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

[@bendadestroyer]

*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.*

[@mrsqueakyvoice97]

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.

[@TheDAP8576]

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.

[@paulcarey191]

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.

[@samuraiyun219]

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

[@chrisgk7494]

Great video! Could you also make a similar one on the falling step Jack Dempsey mentions in the book?

[@RamseyDewey]

Sure. In the meantime, this video might help. The focus isn’t the falling step, but it’s covered in the first couple minutes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f17aaGx5Z5eshMU

[@jestfullgremblim8002]

@F X lel

[@tjitjo]

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

[@thatsgottahurt1234]

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

[@josephrainbolt3849]

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.

[@MojoMoneyMajor]

great info as always love the breakdowns

[@OwOXDOwO]

This video is incredible. Nice work!

[@danielaragao9696]

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

[@DanielOrtiz-dl8eo]

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

[@Brokendownsportscar]

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!

[@TheNimbus12]

Beautiful video to come back to after a KZbin 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 !

[@mennokooper837]

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.

[@Sh0___]

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

[@Arman-jx7hu]

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

[@Kung-Tech-Fu]

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

[@MrRobertFarr]

Thanks, yes, I might have a stretch later. I will get out and train, as you suggested. There's lots of lines, and distances to think about in unarmed dueling ! Lots of rules, to be ignored and lots of secrets to keep !

[@mra2438]

Thanks as always, Ramsey!

[@bashrath1]

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

[@bobadams7654]

Nice clear breakdown Ramsey. Much appreciated.

[@Gyrodyssey]

Fantastic Video!

[@sameerasmr6217]

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

[@fireeaglefitnessmartialart935]

When I'm able to use a speedbag, I like to practice both vertical and corkscrew punches. It's funny that the corkscrew is less stressful on the shoulders compared to the vertical punches when done continuously. I've always tried really hard to not flare my elbows when punching. And I think my time in taekwando helped with that a little bit when moving into wingchun and mma.

[@AleksiBennettGuitar]

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 KZbin imo 👍

[@RamseyDewey]

Thanks

[@lancehobbs8012]

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"

[@frikandelkroket9335]

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

[@joydevmukherjee]

Thanks ramsey. Great pointers 💪🏻

[@tuerkefechi]

Excellent video 👍🏼

[@cserpakbalazs6342]

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

[@YuvrajSingh-cd7cu]

Classic ramsey dewey! Keep it up man.👌👌

[@petercharalampopoulos7180]

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

[@CaptainCowboy476]

Thank you for the great explanation on this .

[@genishugues6827]

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

[@MartyMoose1611]

Thank you for the lesson.

[@Clean97gti]

It's pretty crazy how many young pitchers mess up their arms and their coaches are oblivious. Some kids with really strong arms can make fast pitch without extending their arm correctly and end up with rotator cuff injuries and elbow injuries. Snapping your forearm down at the elbow is the fast way to an orthopedic surgeon. A good fastball starts down in your thighs and you throw it with a relatively straight arm, from the shoulder. Good job explaining the body mechanics of good punches.

[@AztecUnshaven]

Big, big fan of the Manassa Mauler. He was often outsized in his career, but his efficient punching skill gave him devastating pound for pound power. He embraced and respected Judo and Catch Wrestling as well. A lot of his mechanics have similarity to old school Kungfu too. Real recognize real.

[@Endru85x]

I remember reading manga about martial arts "Kenji", there are few chapters about Dempsey. Main hero hears a story about Dempsey shovel hook, and there is an explanation that his way of punching has something in common with Bajiquan style. I read it a long time ago, and don,t remember all the details, guess i will refresh it after watching Ramsey video :)

[@HulkVahkiin]

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

[@mohammedaymane9246]

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

[@johnochicago8457]

Excellent Video!!!

[@markprzybylski1543]

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

[@RamseyDewey]

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]

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

[@scottyg5403]

Wow! Excellent breakdown! More please!Thanks!

[@ameliatah4107]

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

[@dibach70]

Very good video sir!

[@ralph4999]

Wow such vital information thank you

[@50043211]

Interessting demonstration. THX!

[@pamelarichardson-nowak5133]

Great breakdown!

[@pashakorabelnikov1299]

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!!🤛🤛

[@tyronekim3506]

Excellent coaching and advice. Thanks.

[@DadBodFit]

My mind is blown, I've never read this novel or even knew it existed in boxing.. to my surprise I learned this from Chinese Kung Fu. From the feet through the legs hips shoulders elbow fist, power flows. Great video Coach!

[@lrod1158]

Great video!!!

[@djm9276]

Nice ! Good Explanation !

[@beawarrior9208]

Thank you so much for this video! Lots of precious information, especially about the tennis elbow and the fact that it's related to the way you train. I needed that ;-) Got the book, didn't find the time to start reading, lol.

[@RamseyDewey]

Ooo… you have to make the time! If you really, really WANT to improve your boxing and bring it to the next level, that book is the key.

[@beawarrior9208]

@@RamseyDewey really?? I'm getting really curious now! I'll start today then. Mike Tyson's life with Cus D'Amato will have to wait 😅 Thanks Ramsey 🙏

[@kathrynwooldridge7874]

Thank you Coach. This was helpful.

[@ironbeastnz]

Interesting video, great tips.

[@jeffreywright2294]

Thank you coach Ramsey !

[@Lucifer7681]

Great video man … keep it up 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@morganjacob1195]

Love it Dewey.

[@SakanLam]

Fantastic explanation.

[@lusitanus6504]

Very usefull. I read the book. Will keep this lesson in mind whenever I teach a new student. Its an important detail and it has to be taught right from the begining.

[@GOBRAGH2]

Excellent explanation.

[@gibberish0002]

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

[@jerelivey2042]

Great video brother👍💪🥊🧠

[@cinimatics]

Part of what makes his book interesting is he teaches it saying anyone can learn to defend themselves. The techniques themselves are basically the way I was taught by some old school Karate instructors. You can generate a ton of power keeping your punches centerline. Especially at short ranges.

[@anatolyalperovich9069]

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

[@georgekondylis6723]

Good stuff. I have always taught the rear foot to move up with the cross. I call it “coming along for the ride”. It also keeps the hips more vertical to the floor, allowing better balance and rotation without excess lean, or leading with the face, lol.

[@miguelmenendez3857]

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

[@albertow.7755]

Beautiful technical lesson, a very professionist

[@luigiaffatati4491]

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

[@Xlayerful]

Excellent video

[@vipercrane190]

Wing Chun techniques are heavily underrated…. if you already know how to fight.

[@umbilokonstanz2542]

Just wow, this is a very excellent video. I wasn't aware of the difference between pure and impure punching. As I came from wing chun it turns out that I luckily have quite the pure way already. But with this knowledge I can refine the punches.

[@haboonaimee]

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

[@uncontrollablemartialartsa1804]

Good lesson coach

[@edwardwilliams3693]

Thanks I will incorporate this knowledge with my martial arts styles