Punching Power: How Much Is Genetic vs. Trained?

Comments · 347

• PO

  @PowerTraining · 11 months ago (edited) · pinned

  FAQ &amp; clarifications. Your questions are likely answered here.<br><br>First of all, we must establish that aside from power in and of itself, KOs come from timing, accuracy, distance, target, and how much mass you can organize behind the strike—i.e., skill. A highly skilled “light hitter” can still score KOs. Conversely, a &quot;power freak&quot; can score KOs with &quot;less-than-optimal&quot; setups.<br><br>Second, the “natural vs. learned” examples (Canelo, Foreman, Lewis, etc.) are illustrative, not absolute. Every elite mixes inherent attributes with trained skill. I’m speaking in relative terms within world-class peers, and my judgments are ultimately experiential, not lab-measured.<br><br>Now to the questions. &nbsp;<br><br>Q: So are you saying power is mostly genetic?<br>A: Raw power output (not to be confused with the ability to score KOs), yes. Key word, mostly. And with &quot;genetic,&quot; I am using the colloquial interpretation of it. “Genetics” must be expressed as well through a lifetime of training (look up gene expression). They’re not destiny; they must be expressed via your environmental stimuli—which in the case of a boxer would be a lifetime of drilling, sparring, pad work, and bag work. If done with high intent, with good guidance and consistency in elite contexts, then yes, you have established your “genetic potential.” When I say “Foreman’s power was genetic,” I mean Foreman-after-thousands-of-hours—i.e., his expressed potential. (Though his trainers likely noticed hints of his power early on.)<br><br>Q: So, explosive power training only contributes to 10-20%?<br>A: This is a completely fictional, general, and anecdotal number on my part. Treat it as a coaching heuristic. It goes with the assumption that you already have YEARS of elite boxing training and solid fundamentals. As the act of boxing (e.g., hitting the pads with high speeds for a lifetime) is already speed/power training to a large extent. If you go from a couch potato straight into boxing, your margin of improvement is obviously way higher.<br><br>Q: If punching power is genetic, why even bother with S&amp;C then?<br>A: For one, I do not (and never will) train an athlete for the purpose of punching power as an isolated pursuit. I develop power in a global emphasis that improves power production and speed as a whole—which will manifest in faster/more efficient footwork, head movement, and yes… punching. To about 10-20% for an elite and established boxer as previously discussed. And the S&amp;C takes a tiny minority of the athlete’s overall training regimen. It does not spill over or replace boxing sessions. Second, robustness and injury prevention. That’s a key pursuit in strength training (power aspects aside).<br><br>Q: Are there genetic tests that can reliably tell if someone’s genetically built for power (like ACTN3 or fast-twitch ratio)?<br>A: Not reliably right now. Single variants (like ACTN3) explain little by themselves, and polygenic tools aren’t validated for “punching power.” Field tests (e.g., med-ball throws, CMJ/RSJ metrics, sparring/match performance), and intuition are the way to go for now. <br><br>...<br><br>👉 Online Coaching: <a href="https://coachsaman.com/coaching/">https://coachsaman.com/coaching/</a><br>👉 Strength &amp; Power for Combat Sports: <a href="https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/workout-plan/team/strength-power-development2026-01-13%2012:05:39">https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/workout-plan/team/strength-power-development2026-01-13%2012:05:39</a><br>👉 Training Programs: <a href="https://coachsaman.com/shop/">https://coachsaman.com/shop/</a> <br>👉 My Book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DM1SRFT6">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DM1SRFT6</a><br>🔴Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/powertrainingcoach/">https://www.instagram.com/powertrainingcoach/</a> <br>🔴Relaxation &amp; Speed for Boxing: <a href="https://coachsaman.com/product/relaxation-and-speed-for-boxing-a-scientific-guide-with-exercises/">https://coachsaman.com/product/relaxation-and-speed-for-boxing-a-scientific-guide-with-exercises/</a>

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• BO

  @BogWizardRP · 11 months ago

  finally a boxing channel that doesn&apos;t cover stuff we already know in Ai voice-over

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• 饶泽

  @饶泽海 · 11 months ago

  When I did amateur boxing I did no weights, did not have a particularly powerful punch. Now I do weights and my punching power is significantly better (although I no longer box as I’m old). Wish I knew it sooner! I bought into the bullshit that weights make you slow…oh well, in the next life I’ll do it right

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• DA

  @darylfields · 11 months ago (edited)

  Look at Sonny Liston grew up being forced to do hard manual labor on his father&apos;s farm and it made him powerful and strong

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• GR

  @Grimloxz · 11 months ago

  That dented heavy bag under prime Foreman&apos;s assault is the scariest thing I&apos;ve ever seen in boxing... &quot;He&apos;ll knock ya inta tamarrah Rock&apos;!!!&quot; &nbsp; Jeez....

  121

• IR

  @ironfist768 · 11 months ago

  Punching power is like other forms of athleticism. Just like swimming, Strongman, Olympic lifting, long distance jumping etc. These guys certainly have the natural potential but they do devote themselves into training and skill development. Golovkin, Povetkin, Klitschko, Kovalev, all these are naturally hard punches but they still had to train to reach their potential.

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• DW

  @dwayneharms8336 · 10 months ago

  George Forman said the first time he got into a ring with another boxer to spar he knocked him out right away and asked if that was it 🤷‍♂️

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• PA

  @padrinozerocool · 1 month ago

  The greatest boxing boogeyman for the past 20 years, Golovkin is a learned power puncher. His punching power coming from technique and rhythm.

  2

• CH

  @charlieprince8671 · 1 month ago

  Training helps you maximize you genetic advantages because certain things like the length of certain bones/tendons ligaments and the construction of certain joints flat out create a physical advantage.

  2

• CH

  @chuckcollins2349 · 11 months ago

  Punching power is God given, training enhances it.

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• AL

  @alanmorrison633 · 4 months ago

  It&apos;s 80% nature. The only people who say otherwise are either making videos titled &quot;14 training hacks that make you punch so hard it feels illegal&quot; or the ones watching and paying for such videos and courses.

  2

• AL

  @alcoyot · 9 months ago

  George Foreman apparently chopped trees often for hours a day. I have no idea how true that is it’s just something I read, but it makes sense. Doing thousands of reps building that rotational strength and full body coordination.

  9