The Reality Behind Punches and Kicks: Why They Don’t Sound the Same in Real Life as in Movies

Have you ever wondered why the sounds of punches and kicks in action movies sound different from what they do in real life? It's a common misconception that the latter must resemble the former, but this couldn't be further from the truth. The reality is that these sounds are heavily exaggerated for cinematic effect, much like the trotting of horses in old Western movies might sound dull without added sound effects.

How Human Hearing Works in Real Life vs. Movies

The sounds that we hear in movies are not a faithful representation of real-life experiences. In real life, human hearing filters out background noise that is deemed irrelevant, focusing only on the sounds that are important to the moment. However, in movies, everything is considered relevant to the audience, so the soundtrack must account for this by reducing or removing unnecessary background noise.

The dynamic range of the human voice is also reduced to make it more audible, and the "plosives"—sharp, explosive sounds in speech—are sometimes reduced or individually adjusted to allow for a louder track. As a result, the soundtrack in movies is a carefully crafted blend of sounds designed to enhance the viewing experience, even if these sounds are not entirely accurate representations of real-life experiences.

Why Real Punches and Kicks Don’t Make the Same Sounds

When practicing martial arts or sparring, the sounds of punches and kicks are often much more subtle than what we hear in movies. I have personally practiced several martial arts over the years, and while I've experienced sounds that resemble the "thwacking sounds" in movies, these were limited and infrequent. This is because the theatricality of movies often relies on exaggerated sound effects to enhance the visual and emotional impact.

The sounds in action movies are usually created using Foley sounds. For example, foley artists might use frozen meat being hit with a bat or some other material that is neither too soft nor too hard. This creates a rhythmic and emphatic effect that helps to maintain the pacing and intensity of the scene. These sounds are not just random; they follow a "language of sound" that sound editors have developed over time to symbolize actions on screen.

Conclusion

The next time you watch an action movie, remember that the sounds you hear are not a true representation of what punches and kicks in real life would actually sound like. Movies often take creative liberties to enhance the experience, making the sounds more dramatic and resonant. While this may seem unrealistic, it is a crucial part of the cinematic art of storytelling.

Keywords: punches and kicks, movie soundtracks, real-life differences