The Haymaker: Part I

Let's talk about punching!

The simplest and most effective punch is the straight punch. Power comes from the hips, driving the arm towards the target.

It's strong... It's fast... It's devastating...

It's also the punch we should be regularly seeing on camera, but rarely do.  In its place, we see something else. Something I wish we'd see less of...

Of course, I'm talking about the haymaker.

If you're unfamiliar with it, the haymaker is a rounded punch that curves in a swinging motion, making impact on the side of an opponent's face. If executed correctly, the haymaker (like the straight punch) is thrown from the hips, with body and arm turning together. But even then, the haymaker is slow, easy to block, and leaves one wide open for a counterstrike.

My opinion is that even when the haymaker is thrown correctly, it isn't a particularly great punch. Which is a problem, because on film, I almost never see it properly executed. Thus making what already started out as a less than stellar move even worse.

The typical on-screen haymaker is all in the arm, removing the power of the hips, as it slowly circles in a weak curve towards an opponent's cheek. It becomes a punch I like to call...  The Captain Kirk. Mostly, because William Shatner seemed to throw them on a regular basis throughout his entire run on Star Trek.  

He's also an early pioneer of the "clasped hands double punch" and the "dual karate chop on top of shoulders" escape maneuver... But that's another blog for another day... 

Today, we're talking about the haymaker!

I think the reason this punch is so popular on camera is because it's easy to react to. Since the target is on the side of the face, rather than straight forward, it's more natural for the performer taking the hit to turn their head to the side and double over in simulated pain.

The problem with the straight punch is that the angle of the hit doesn't lend itself to turning to the side. It's also an angle that makes it harder to position the camera in such a way that it hides the fact that no contact is being made.

So... What's the solution? A continued use of the haymaker?

Not a chance!

Turning to the side as a reaction to being hit is an effective way to sell a strike. The problem is that we shouldn't be changing the punch to fit the reaction. We should be changing the target.

Normally, a straight punch is aimed towards the center of an opponent's face, striking the nose head on. If the target is changed to the cheek, the performer taking the hit can still turn to the side, reacting to the hit. It isn't the natural striking point for a straight punch, which is why this tweak isn't readily obvious, but it'll allow the performer taking the hit to effectively emote on camera.

It's a subtle change that makes a big difference! And with that one simple adjustment, the haymaker can be entirely removed from the fight. The final result will look stronger and faster on camera, and it's a quick tweak that can be easily applied!

So, with all that being said, is there ever a time and a place where the haymaker should be utilized? There is, and next week, you'll learn when and where that is!