Punching   ?

Question

what part of your knuckles to you punch with?

Answer 1

There are several answers that are correct here. Usually in most Japanese and Okinawan arts the two largest knuckles (index and one next to it) are used but only if the wrist is in a position so that the bones in the hand are lined up straight with the forearm. In that position if you look at the bones connecting the ring finger and little finger they are not aligned with the forearm. Many people have used hook punches while having their wrist lined up this way. This can cause the little finger to get injured.

If you change the hand position so that the three smallest knuckles are in line with the forearm then you can safely punch with those three knuckles.  So what I'm saying here is that you either position the hand so that the two largest knuckles are in line with the are to use them, or you change it so that the bones of the three smaller knuckles are lined up with the arm.

Answer 2

you use the 2 biggest knuckles next to your thump. Make sure they are inline with you wrist and forearm to support the impact, else you can break your wrist. there are others hand strikes that are just as effective for various purpose.  Get some karate or taekwondo books in the library, they should have some pictures. palm strike is not bad. There is a saying that you use soft on hard  or you use hard on soft. Meaning , you use your knuckles, phoenix fist (hard) to hit the nose, throat (soft) or you use palm, hammer fist,  (soft) to hit chin, head, (hard). That way you don't damage your body parts. That is why, some martial artist may receive a punch with a head-butt and it can break the opponent's wrist. Best to perform one you have done iron head training.

Answer 3

I'm with pugpaws on this one.

Depending on how your arm and wrist line up and what kind of punch you are using it changes.

Personally, I don't throw a WHOLE lot of thought into concentrating on which two knuckles I am hitting with because if my arms, wrist, and hand are all in alignment then the proper knuckles will hit first regardless. I am more concerned with punching through a target, and the target area, then the direct impact of which knuckles, etc. If you punch properly, the mechanics of the whole arm and body as a unit  with everything lining up properly at the point of impact are much more important.

I would prefer to elbow most people in the face, then punch them if I am not wearing gloves. But then again, I am not so found of getting people's blood on me, in the open wounds of my hands scraping along their teeth from a bunch. Not sure what that has to do with your question, but just thought I would share..

Elbows to the face > punching to the face.

Answer 4

For a straight forward punch you make initial or primary contact with the front of your first two knuckles.  These two which are the biggest and strongest and are supported more directly by the bones in your hand and wrist behind them than your other two knuckles which are sometimes referred to as floating knuckles which break quite easily.  While the floating knuckles make contact when you get good penetration when punching to the body they don't have to absorb near the shock and impact that the first two do.

Answer 5

the first two knuckles

Answer 6

i would say the top side. when you punch do a twisting motion. that will open them up.

Answer 7

try to use all five if your knuckles are big enough, but if not your two strongest are your middle knuckle wich is your strongest impat point of the knuckle, and the index finger knuckle, but like i said, try to use all five...... some people have huge middle knuckle, abnormally bigger than the rest..a punch from one of those could send people to the ER

Answer 8

You have a couple of fair answers and a couple that are not so good. The whole purpose of using two knuckles is to consentrate the force into a smaller surface area, kind of like the difference betwwen getting poked with a 1" rod and a 1/4" one. the smaller on hurts worse.

I do not recomend using all five knuckles, as this distributes the impact to much, and windes up being more of  apush then a strike.

The middle and Index knuckles are the strongest, just look at their size compared to the other two. Almost all karate and TKD uses these two knuckles to make contact with. I am not really sure about other styles. I know some Kung fu styles at least use the lower two knuckles.

Edit- Keep in mind that the main target area for an Okinawin karate punch is the solar plex, so no dealing with teeth.

Answer 9

A doctor once told to hit with the middle knuckles because they are the strongest.

I once read in a martial arts book that you should punch with the index and middle knuckle though I don't remember why.