Uppercut Technique

[GWJ]

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?

[Maz]

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).

[Bruno]

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.

[Kromm]

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.

[Peter V. Dell'Orto]

Originally Posted by Kromm

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.

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.

[Bruno]

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.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Toadkiller_Dog

and knowing how to do that is as good as any of a justification for giving trained fighters an unarmed damage bonus.*

Of course the same argument goes for weapons too.