# Could you knock out an enraged chimp?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 7, 2010, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830 "2010-07-07T08:20:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 11
### Author:  [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2010, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/201 "2010-07-14T23:34:32Z")
> [@Lobohan](#):
>
> That’s very funny.
>
> Also, Magiver you gonna come back, buddy?
Unfortunately, I don’t think **Magiver** ’s coming back. Last I heard, he was mangled by a chimp during what appeared to be some kind of 3 Stooges act gone awry.
:(☹
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### Author:  [@peledre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peledre)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/202 "2010-07-15T01:08:26Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#):
>
> Unfortunately, I don’t think **Magiver** ’s coming back. Last I heard, he was mangled by a chimp during what appeared to be some kind of 3 Stooges act gone awry.
>
> :(☹
I was curious if he’d seen that episode of Mythbusters, I guess we may never know, the Chimp probably took his eyes and balls.
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/203 "2010-07-15T04:49:12Z")
> [@peledre](#):
>
> No they don’t. Didn’t you see that episode of Mythbusters?
>
> [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GuqiAHGGT4](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GuqiAHGGT4)
>
> [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-JGIYLZZUg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-JGIYLZZUg)
You didn’t read what I posted:
\*\*Using the car analogy it’s the difference between hitting a car in the rear and driving it forward and hitting a car head on. \*\*
This was shown to be the case with Mythbusters.
The second part of my statement was wrong. I should have said 2 cars hitting each other head on at 30 mph transmit the energy of 1 car hitting a wall at 30 mph.
Twice the force of a single punch is transmitted because they cancel each other’s mass out. When a single punch is thrown to the head the energy is dissipated with the movement of the head. When a double punch is thrown, the head does not move so all of the energy is transmitted from both directions.
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### Author:  [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/204 "2010-07-15T06:07:58Z")
Can you please play fair and address the issue that a human cannot throw a double punch with even a FRACTION of the force of a proper single fisted punch?
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### Author:  [@peledre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peledre)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/205 "2010-07-15T15:25:23Z")
> [@Magiver](#):
>
> Twice the force of a single punch is transmitted because they cancel each other’s mass out. When a single punch is thrown to the head the energy is dissipated with the movement of the head. When a double punch is thrown, the head does not move so all of the energy is transmitted from both directions.
The force that a human being can apply to one punch with all of their body weight behind it is far different than the force that a human being can apply to each individual punch of a “double-punch” as you call it.
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### Author:  [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/206 "2010-07-15T15:58:00Z")
If I’m wearing pants, how does the chimp know where to grab to rip off my genitals? Unless I’m wearing my Haffelhoff-esque super tight jeans, then it’s obvious to EVERYONE:dubious:
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### Author:  [@peledre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peledre)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/207 "2010-07-15T17:17:21Z")
> [@leftfield6](#):
>
> If I’m wearing pants, how does the chimp know where to grab to rip off my genitals? Unless I’m wearing my Haffelhoff-esque super tight jeans, then it’s obvious to EVERYONE:dubious:
Chimps in pants is nothing new 😃
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### Author:  [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/208 "2010-07-15T17:28:58Z")
Wait until the chimp double punches you in the nards…
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### Author:  [@EVIL\_COW\_PIE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EVIL_COW_PIE)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/209 "2010-07-15T18:03:15Z")
> [@Magiver](#):
>
> When a double punch is thrown, the head does not move so all of the energy is transmitted from both directions.
Now that you’re back, would you mind attending my request for a link to a video or study (or, hell, even a Mythbusters episode) that proves this is true or even possible. I think it’s been shown pretty conclusively that most the energy will be absorbed by the hands if the head doesn’t move.
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/210 "2010-07-15T19:55:51Z")
> [@EVIL\_COW\_PIE](#):
>
> Now that you’re back, would you mind attending my request for a link to a video or study (or, hell, even a Mythbusters episode) that proves this is true or even possible. I think it’s been shown pretty conclusively that most the energy will be absorbed by the hands if the head doesn’t move.
You mean the transmitted energy that can break cement? I would think that would explain my point. The brick in the video represents an object that doesn’t compress and is braced so it doesn’t move. Furthermore, a fist driven into an object transmits energy better than a straight hand striking against the side of it. You can test this by punching your other hand with a fist or chopping it karate style.
By striking an object from both sides with equal force the object is held immobile (like the brick) so the energy passes into the object. In this case all the delicate connections in the brain get hit by 2 shock waves of energy. You can easily test the transfer of energy to your head by lightly striking both sides. light taps are all it takes to understand this.
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/211 "2010-07-15T19:58:08Z")
> [@peledre](#):
>
> The force that a human being can apply to one punch with all of their body weight behind it is far different than the force that a human being can apply to each individual punch of a “double-punch” as you call it.
And that force is absorbed in the deflection of the object struck.
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### Author:  [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/212 "2010-07-15T20:24:50Z")
> [@Magiver](#):
>
> You mean the transmitted energy that can break cement? I would think that would explain my point. The brick in the video represents an object that doesn’t compress
Where does the force go if the brick doesn’t break?
Edit: addressed below
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### Author:  [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/213 "2010-07-15T20:26:36Z")
> [@Magiver](#):
>
> And that force is absorbed in the deflection of the object struck.
Do you understand the huge assumptions you’re making here? If all the force is absorbed then you would never have KOs in boxing. Hell, no-one would ever be killed by bullets! Wait, you’ve discovered INVINCIBILITY!
Edit: unless someone shot you with bullets from both sides at the same time. Bummer.
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### Author:  [@EVIL\_COW\_PIE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EVIL_COW_PIE)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/214 "2010-07-15T20:28:27Z")
**Magiver** , so I’m guessing you know of no study that supports your theory nor can you provide a video link of someone getting knocked unconscious by a “double punch” or \*anything \*being broken by this method.
> [@Magiver](#):
>
> You mean the transmitted energy that can break cement? I would think that would explain my point. The brick in the video represents an object that doesn’t compress and is braced so it doesn’t move.
No, that video represents something that is not braced on the opposite side of the strike. If it had been supported on the other side of the strike zone (most) all of the energy would have been absorbed by the hands and the brick would not have broken.
> [@](#):
>
> By striking an object from both sides with equal force the object is held immobile (like the brick) so the energy passes into the object. In this case all the delicate connections in the brain get hit by 2 shock waves of energy. You can easily test the transfer of energy to your head by lightly striking both sides. light taps are all it takes to understand this.
Yes or no - Do you believe that if that brick were balanced vertically and you double punched it, it would break?
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### Author:  [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/215 "2010-07-15T20:50:40Z")
> [@EVIL\_COW\_PIE](#):
>
> Yes or no - Do you believe that if that brick were balanced vertically and you double punched it, it would break?
The brick might not be outwardly damaged, but the intersecting waves of force would destroy it emotionally.
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### Author:  [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/216 "2010-07-15T20:54:56Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#):
>
> The brick might not be outwardly damaged, but the intersecting waves of force would destroy it emotionally.
Stay on topic. Enraged brick. _Enraged._
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### Author:  [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/217 "2010-07-15T20:57:52Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#):
>
> The brick might not be outwardly damaged, but the intersecting waves of force would destroy it emotionally.
Well wouldn’t it you? Imagine the horror of your last earthly thoughts being of an enraged Moe Howard.
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### Author:  [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/218 "2010-07-15T21:40:46Z")
The only double punch I’ve ever seen in a real fight is [this one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G33A-kJrXI) by Pacquiao and it didn’t knock the guy out. (Note that the title of the video includes ‘LOL’, because, well, how could it not?)
Therefore, I conclude that the success ratio of this technique is 0%. 😉
But it is hilarious.
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/219 "2010-07-15T21:54:01Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#):
>
> Do you understand the huge assumptions you’re making here? If all the force is absorbed then you would never have KOs in boxing. Hell, no-one would ever be killed by bullets! Wait, you’ve discovered INVINCIBILITY!
>
> Edit: unless someone shot you with bullets from both sides at the same time. Bummer.
You’re comparing a boxing technique which damages the brain in a different manner. One has nothing to do with the other. A single hit to the head involves accelerating the head so the brain sloshes side to side. The purpose of the blow is to accelerate the head. A great deal of the energy is absorbed in the process. The only similarity between a single blow to the head and a 2 handed blow is the fact that it involves the hand. The damage to the brain is done by 2 different processes.
Less energy is used in a double strike but a greater amount of the energy is transmitted as a shock wave. It is an apples and oranges discussion. The brick video clearly shows the transfer of energy transmitted by a human hand. There is no question that energy is transferred. The myth busters video clearly shows that by canceling out the mass of each hand you get the force of the impact of hitting a solid object. Its as if the head is struck from one side with the other against a solid object only with twice the power.
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-knock-out-an-enraged-chimp/545830/220 "2010-07-15T21:59:36Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#):
>
> The only double punch I’ve ever seen in a real fight is [this one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G33A-kJrXI) by Pacquiao and it didn’t knock the guy out. (Note that the title of the video includes ‘LOL’, because, well, how could it not?)
>
> Therefore, I conclude that the success ratio of this technique is 0%. 😉
>
> But it is hilarious.
That wasn’t even a punch. It was a love tap. And a pretty stupid one at that if his opponent had been watching and saw the opening it gave him.
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