The Development of Power As a Martial Artist, power is a major concern.  Often, the generation of power is the deciding factor in the determination of an individual's skill.  To develop great power takes not only physical skill, but also a strong mental capacity, a solid working knowledge of the factors involved, and a complete training routine.   Frequently, power is directly related to strength. It is assumed that the biggest and strongest person generates the most striking power.  To the contrary, strength is only one of many traits necessary to create power.  It is proven that a much smaller man can possess a more punishing blow, through the betterment of the various other traits that effect power. WORK VS. POWER Work is a measure.  It is used to designate what has been attained in an action. When throwing a shot put, the work ends where it lands and is depicted by how far the shot traveled.  With a punch or a kick, the work in question is how much damage is inflicted upon contact.  Work has a direct relationship with power. It being the measure of results power being the measure of how those results are achieved.   While facing a target, concentration is frequently on how hard it can be hit.  This pattern of thought only concerns the end result.  It is not power that is in mind. It is work.  Breaking a three-inch pine board does not exemplify power; it shows a great amount of work.  Describing the action used to break that board would be describing power.  A sidekick travelling at 70 mph, cracking the board easily, in a fraction of a second, illustrates power.      Staring at a heavy bag, with thoughts of knocking it into infinity, precision, accuracy, and all other characteristics are soon forgotten. Along with those characteristics is the element of time.  Time is what separates work from power.  Without time in the equation no power is exhibited, only work.  For example, moving a 100lb pile of sand, grain by grain, in a matter of months is a lot of work.  Although, moving that same pile of sand all at once is power.   Consequently, when the work is performed more rapidly, additional power is made evident. This leads us to probably the most important factor effecting power; speed.   CONTINUED