What’s With All The Noise? | Why Fighters Make Sounds

Why do fighters make all those crazy noises? It’s a common misconception that it’s an intimidation tactic – it’s actually science.

Making noise is ubiquitous across boxing, kickboxing, and other martial arts. It is really all about breathing, which directly impacts form, power, and keeping your whole body engaged. There are many different breath modes that can be incorporated into the timing of a punch or kick. FightCamp Trainers Coach PJ, Flo Master, and Aaron Swenson break down why fighters make a sound when they strike, and how making some noise during your training can help you punch with more power!

Why Fighters Make Noise, according to...

Coach PJ

You’re not going to make a sound on your inhale because your body doesn’t work like that. It’s on the exhale that fighters have been known to make all kinds of crazy sounds right when they punch.

There are a lot of breath techniques you can work on and different ways to time your exhale with your punch. Ultimately, when you punch you focus on maintaining proper form, power, speed, and precision, all while keeping your endurance so you can stay in the fight – and win the fight. Making noise on your exhale can help you power through. There’s a lot of science behind it, it’s not just about intimidation!

Flo Master

I like to make noise because when you hit with power and you make a sound, you are engaging your core, buttocks, legs, calves – every part of the body.

I don’t tense up until the point of impact. Like Bruce Lee said, “Don’t sit here and keep tense, you relax.” Right when you engage the bag is exactly the moment when you let out some noise so everything in your body is engaged.

It is scientifically proven that when you make noise when you hit, you hit with more power!

Aaron Swenson

There are different types of breathwork for different types of movements. For instance:

• If you’re trying to lift a car, you are engaging your whole body, so the exhale is deeper and more drawn out.

• If you’re throwing a speed punch, the exhale is short because it requires less energy.

• If you’re punching a bit harder, you will exhale harder to engage more muscles.

• If you’re throwing a kick, you are breathing while you kick because it takes a lot of energy to lift that leg high.

You have to breathe when you take a hit, too! If you don’t let the air out, you get the wind knocked out of you – that’s where that expression comes from. When you get hit in the body, remember to breathe out to engage the abs and let the air go. If you get hit when you don’t expect it, that’s when you get your breath knocked out.

Next time you’re beating on the bag, don’t forget to make a little noise to incorporate the power of your breath in every hit. See FightCamp’s trainers in action for more expert insight on professional boxing and kickboxing training and check out FightCamp’s at-home boxing packages to get started on your own fitness journey!

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