Uppercut Technique
 

Hi!
In Martial Arts book for te GURPS 4e is technique "Uppercut". But I don't know what are differences between "ordinary" punch to the face, and uppercut technique. Uppercut is usable in Close Combat, and normal punch isn't?

Re: Uppercut Technique
 

A normal punch deals thrust-1. Uppercut deals thrust+0.
But then Uppercut has limited target-locations (upper body) and is at -1 to skill (unless you buy the technique).

Re: Uppercut Technique
 

For real-world description - a plain punch to the face is roughly horizontal, while the uppercut is a vertically aligned blow that comes from below; classically, an uppercut strikes the underside of the jaw (driving the head up and backwards) but as noted in the technique that's not the only viable location.

Re: Uppercut Technique
 

Also in the real-world technique, most of the power is generated through upward translation from a lower to a higher stance, substantially engaging the strong leg muscles. This is as opposed to using the whole body torsionally or, worse, using just the arms. Using the legs in this way gives the uppercut power comparable to a kick. Relatively few punches can compete until you get into things like superman punches, which GURPS would call a Committed Attack if not an All-Out Attack.

Game-wise, the technique is built as a punch with -2 to default for +1 to damage, and +1 to default for limited target selection (upper body of standing foe), for a net default of -1.

Re: Uppercut Technique
 

Note that all properly thrown punches leverage the legs and hips - and knowing how to do that is as good as any of a justification for giving trained fighters an unarmed damage bonus.*

Uppercuts, like the man says, leverage a stance change (although not a huge one) to get even more power from the legs and hips. Although it's listed as an uppercut, it can also represent other attacks in a similar line - a shovel hook, for example (a Rocky favorite), behaves a lot like a GURPS uppercut in terms of target limitations and damage.


* It's easy to feel this too. When I hold mits for people I tell them "that was arms. You're arming it. That was arms. THAT was it!" when they finally get it to click that you're punching with your whole body. But for everyone, a proper uppercut will hit harder because you're in a better position to leverage all of that muscle.

Re: Uppercut Technique
 

You know, that all suggests that a prone fighter should have a damage penalty to punches... or at least not get the skill-based bonus.

In TKD we were certainly trained to punch "from the hips", which naturally involves the legs. Our teacher nattered on and on about how we twisted our wrists mid punch, but throwing from the hips always seemed more significant to me.

Re: Uppercut Technique
 

That's probably in Technical Grappling. ;)

And yes, it would make sense for everyone to get it. It's not like prone levels the playing field; it's still worse to be the untrained fighter in that spot. You don't know how to leverage what you've got as well as the trained fighter.

You could easily extend the damage penalties listed under Postures, Hit Locations, and Techiques (page 98-99 of GURPS Martial Arts) to punches as well as kicks.

Re: Uppercut Technique
 

Drat! I knew I missed something.

Guess Technical Striking . . . nah. Who'd buy that?*







*More seriously, the first question I'd ask is "is it even needed?" Striking unarmed and with weapons is lovingly detailed in the Basic Set and Martial Arts.

Re: Uppercut Technique
 

Of course the same argument goes for weapons too.

Re: Uppercut Technique
 

I can see treating some superman punches as committed, but I'd say the defining characteristic of it is deceptive. It starts as a kicking motion, then the leg is jerked back and the energy put into the punch.