Knuckle push-ups, a quick question?

Question

OK so the knuckle is referring to the part where your finger meets your hand, where the bone bulges out a bit from the back of the hand.

But when doing knuckle push-ups, should you really be doing the push-ups on only your (inner two) knuckles, or should you be doing them on your closed fist (like using your knuckle and top section of the finger, if I'm not being too confusing)?

Answer 1

like punching the ground with both hands ;)

Answer 2

Well not to add to your confusion, but both are actually correct for slightly different reasons. Doing any form of knuckle push up toughens the hand and strengthens the wrist. It works on building the wrist up so that it doesn't snap to one side or the other when landing a hard shot particularly to the body. Either will help here and either is perfectly fine to help acheive this reslut. The main difference that you are really looking at here is with using a flat fist you are conditioning the whole hand or all the knuckles anyway. This to me is the most realistic option for doing them. When someone tell you do them only on the inside knuckles(index and middle) or the middle knuckles (middle and ring) it is to condition the knuckles you are taught to strike with and that depends on your style. I would personally say mix it up and do some of all 3, but I would do more flat fist. The main reason that I would do more flat fist is that unfortunately you are not always going to be able to hit with the exact knuckle that you want to and if the rest of your hand hasn't had at least some conditioning then you are going to hurt your hand. You may be able to hit with the exact knuckle you want to hit with like on a board break or something like that, but in sparring/ fighting you are moving and your opponent is moving and your punches are not always going to land perfectly the way you want them to.

As to whether to do them just on the ridge of the knuckle where it bulges or to use the knuckle and upper finger, definitely start with knuckle and upper finger and then gradually move up to just the knuckles.

Best of luck and keep training.  

Answer 3

This has nothing to do with "style."  You should practice them on your forefinger and middle knuckes (inner two).  

Those are the knuckles of the strongest metacarpals in your hand and they are the ones you should punch regardless of anything else.  Again, closed fist, bare-knuckle punching should always be done with the forefinger and middle knuckle.

The next time you see someone with a casted hand, ask if they punched something and then ask which bones broke.  It will always be the metacarpals of the ring and pinky finger.  Proof that they punched the (door) incorrectly.

Your wrists will probably be wobbly and weak at first so just do one or two at a time to start out.  This will makes your wrists strong and will also harden/toughen your forearms like steel.

Remember that your goal in this is not just to develope the chest and shoulder muscles, etc, but to strengthen your wrist and fist.  So when you don't do as many push-ups as normal, remember that it's something new and the goal is different and it will take time.

Now drop and knock out...... two!!!!

Answer 4

its your index and middle finger knuckles. The ring and pinky knuckles can break since they arent aligned with the wrist and forearm bones. do as many as you can, but do regular palm push ups first to build up strength. worry about your arm power first than build the calluses of your knuckles (this will reduce chances of injury, ever punched a guy flat out on skull?? that stings!). also since its callused, the knuckle will less likely to open too. make sure you do it on a hard lamenated floor, rugs or carpets will waste your time

Answer 5

use your first two knuckles (not middle two). I train with a vertical fist predominantly, and the top two knuckles align with the bones in the wrist and forearm better than the inner two knuckles for strength and power.

Only your knuckles should be on the ground. However, unless you have strong wrists and a reasonably body mass, this can be dangerous. Start standing and doing them against a wall, then on your knees, then with an ukemi ball (or something) supporting you, and then work towards a full knuckle push up.

Answer 6

I think you should consider how you strike to decide how to do the pushup - As Katana said his style strikes with the 2 "top" knuckles - closest to the thumb.

In my art we strike with the 2 "center" knuckles - middle finger and ring finger.  If you were striking in that manner, I would recommend doing your pushups like that.

Ask your instructor to clarify the correct way to strike for your art - there are many opinions, and many are correct, depending on application.  

Answer 7

you should do them on closed fists this makes ur fist stronger

Answer 8

When I do knuckle push-ups, I do the push-ups on my middle and index knuckles. I actually use the front of my fingers as well, but with a closed fist. I hope I did not confuse you even further.  

Answer 9

The proper way to do them is to roll up onto the first two knuckles. Th es would be your index finger and your middle finger, at least for Okinawan karate training as these are the knuckles we make contact with when we punch.

Edit for many- The ones you should condition are the ones your style hits with. Some styles od not use the first two knuckles, and too advise somebody to condition only the first two knuckles if their style doesn't use them too strike with is ridiculous. If you really trained you would know that.

Answer 10

don't try to balance and use only the knuckles, there is too great a chance of rolling your wrist and getting a bad sprain. have the first part of your fingers on the floor as well, the load will be on your knuckles still but you will be in a much better position with your hands.