The quiet before the first strike is where you decide who’s going to win. It’s a chance to lock your breathing, size the opponent, and make sure every muscle is set to fire on cue. I train that silence like a muscle—tight, controlled, ready. It’s not about the punch itself, but the state you’re in when you throw it. In the pause, you can read the other guy’s tells, gauge their heart rate, and make a move that feels inevitable. That's where the real power lies, not in the swing.