Okay, so I got this idea the other day while watching some UFC stuff online. I saw this beast of a man, Francis Ngannou, and I was like, “Damn, this guy hits hard!” It got me thinking, could I even get close to that kind of power? So, I decided to give it a shot. I mean, how hard could it be, right?
First, I needed something to measure my punches. I remembered reading somewhere that Ngannou’s punching power was measured using something called a “PowerKube.” I did a bit of digging, no way I could get one myself, it looks like an expensive piece of equipment. Instead, I went to a local gym that had one of those punching bag machines, you know, the ones at arcades? It wouldn’t be as accurate, but it’s all I got.
I started by warming up, doing some stretches, and shadow boxing. I felt pretty good, ready to unleash my inner Ngannou. I took a deep breath, and I throw my best punch at the bag. The machine lit up, and the number appeared. It felt like a decent hit, but I had no clue if it was any good.
- Day 1: The first day was all about getting a baseline. I punched the bag a few times, trying different techniques, overhand right, hook and straight right. The numbers were all over the place, it seems like I was not using proper form. I need to check my form.
- Day 2: I watched some videos on proper punching form. I learned that I needed to use my whole body, not just my arm. The power should come from the legs and core. I also needed to twist my hips and shoulders more. I went back to the gym, put what I learned into practice, and noticed a slight increase in the numbers, but it still wasn’t that impressive. I was feeling a bit sore.
- Day 3: I focused on speed and accuracy. I remembered that the PowerKube measures these too. I tried to hit the same spot on the bag every time, as fast as I could. The numbers went up a bit more, but I was still nowhere near Ngannou’s level, which is understandable. But hey, at least I was making progress, right?
- Day 4: I took a rest day. My body was aching, and I felt like I needed a break. I watched some more fights and tried to visualize myself landing those powerful blows. I know it sounds corny, but it actually helped. I don’t think I could have reached this much punching power if I didn’t take a rest.
- Day 5: I went back to the gym, feeling refreshed and motivated. I combined everything I had learned: proper form, speed, and accuracy. I punched the bag with all my might, and the number popped up. It was my highest score yet! I was super stoked. I felt like a real fighter, even though I was just hitting a machine.
I kept this up for a few more days, and my scores kept improving. It wasn’t easy. My knuckles were bruised, and my arms felt like jelly most of the time. But it was totally worth it. I wasn’t going to be the next Francis Ngannou, but I definitely felt stronger and more confident. I even started sparring with a friend, and let me tell you, I could see the fear in his eyes when I wound up for a punch. Just kidding, he beat the crap out of me, but it was a lot of fun.
My punching power journey
In the end, I didn’t break any records. I did manage to increase my punching power significantly. It was a fun experiment, and I learned a lot about myself and the mechanics of punching. Plus, I got a pretty good workout out of it. Who knows, maybe I’ll keep at it and one day challenge Ngannou to a punching contest. A man can dream, right?
