melee combat animations length ... ?()

Hi...

i would like to ask you what is the best choice for kick and punch animation (or any other attack animi)..


Method 1:

A --- B ---- C


Method 2:

A --- B --- C ---- C ----B ---- A


---
A is the first post (preparing to hit)
B is the mid pose
C is the punch contact


The first one will clamp on the punch contact.
The second one will return after punching....

i´m actually using the second one.. but i´m not sure.. the first and last poses must to match with idle pose... sometime is not fit well... because attack animations are not CrossFaded...

What do you use for this?
Thank you