Skill in punching doesn't mean only delivery and hitting your target.accuracy, speed and powerful punches are just part of the technique of punching.Other elements include the position of your body when the punch is delivered, the path of your punch moving forward as well as returning, the way your punch is thrown. The most used and the most important punch in jeet kune do is the leading straight punch. It is a fast punch as it travels only a short distance; it is an accurate punch as it goes straight forward; it is thrown with a minimum effort and consequently does not disturb your balance.
The leading straight punch is launched from an on-guard position and the trajectory of your punch should be a straight line in front of your nose, as in photos1, 2 and 3-using your nose as the guiding point.One of the big advantages of the JKD delivery is that you can throw a leading straight punch and still be well covered. Your body is protected any you are also in position to recover quickly from a miss.
In comparison, the classical system initiates its punch from the hip and exposes that section to an attack, as in photos A, B and C.When the punch is completed, it ends at one side of the body and the other portion of the body, especially the face, is exposed when the hand is withdrawn to the hip, as in photo C.
In the next series of photos, from 1 to 4, you will notice the difference in delivery between the JKD and the classical system. In the JKD system, as in photo 1, the hands protect the face and both the right and left sections of the body evenly. while in the classical, only the right side of the body is protected. In photos 2 and 3, the JKD fighter has already delivered his punch completely while the classical is still in the process. Photo 4 shows where the blow ends in both systems.