I recall reading an interview with the fight choreographer where he developed it as a way to keep kids from actually hurting each other when they tried to imitate the fight scenes. Apparently some kids did actually punch each other too hard imitating their favourite westerns, so TV fight coordinators looked to ways to keep the fights looking good, have a signature style, but not as dangerous to play at.
So yeah, it was designed to be ineffectual in real life. Someone was thinking of the children.
Also on purpose. Producers were afraid that someone might try to copy it.
