Question: Why use a lunge punch when training when nobody punches like that and it is easier to defend against? I have trained in Ninjutsu before and just don’t understand, it just doesn’t seem realistic. Is there a purpose I’m just not understanding?

Answer: This punch is one of many striking styles (cross-punching, jabs, uppercuts, etc.) we practice. The lunge-punch style of strike, attacking with the same-side hand and foot, has an important place in our lessons. This is not limited to the Bujinkan as it seems to be very dominant in the Japanese koryu (old style traditions). A few reasons for learning this type of punch are:

• Learning the principles of how to strike properly using your body, not just your limb. Power is generated from moving the body mass forward (into the punch); foot, knee, thigh, and hip align spine with torso, shoulder, elbow, wrist and fist to drive through the target.
• The body motion helps to close the distance. Whether punch or grab, it can quickly cover distance before an opponent can respond. The key here is to hide the arm movement behind a natural (sanshin style) motion.
• This punch removes the rear shoulder (side) as a significant vulnerability to your opponent’s attack. Think having a sheathed sword or a holstered gun.
• The alignment permits a greater control over weapons such as sword, pistol, staff, rifle, etc, by keeping them out of immediate reach of the opponent until you have the proper space to access and use them.
• The structural alignment promotes a better understanding of distance, timing and angling.

I hope that these few points are able to show the value of this punching style.

Again, I’d like to stress that this is not the only method of punching we employ. It is a part of our foundation. Our martial art believes in “banpen fugyo” (Banpen implies “change” and Fugyo implies “never surprised”), the ability to adapt to changes (strike, grapple, life) as they occur!