When punching.. the impact goes on the first 2 knuckles? or the last three?

Question

Stupid question I know. Help a beginner. :)

Answer 1

first 2 generally because u can break your wrist reasonably easy if you use the last 3

Answer 2

depend where you hit them and how good your aim is.  middle 3 would be best, less chance of breaking your hand.

Answer 3

In taekwondo you use your first two. They are the strongest and not as likely to break. However... In kempo they use their last 3. I personally would use the first two

Answer 4

whatever knuckels you hit the person with.

Answer 5

like the previous person stated it depends.

in traditional arts its the first two in western boxing its the last three

Answer 6

Depends on the style

Answer 7

If you have to ask this question, stick to Snakes and Ladders.

Answer 8

Vertical punch - the last three

Horizontal punch - the first two

Answer 9

depends on the style but in shotokan it is the first two.

Answer 10

I learned "the first two."

Of course, that is IDEALLY when you are punching at a perfectly flat target that is perpendicular to your punch.

If you end up cross punching to the opposite cheek (for example,) it will be the last 3.

Answer 11

Most karate styles 1st 2 BRUCE LEE favored the middle 2 .I think the last three you risk breaking the the little finger and the small bones around it.

I suppose with slow gradual conditioning anything is possible.

Answer 12

The last three.

That is how boxers do it and they don't break their wrists. Spreading the load over three knuckles as opposed to two reduces your risk of breaking the hand.

Answer 13

The first two knuckles are the best to punch with.  Punching with the other three, especially if you are throwing a power punch will  result in a broken hand.  As for the person who said western boxing teaches the last three knuckles, you are wrong, they teach to hit with the first two knuckles.

Answer 14

it depends like it is better with the first 2 because u have lower surface area so ur hit hits at a more presice point and the damage is not spread however i have hareened the other three more.....i say u shouldnt worry too much euither is right but first two is most likley bettee for u

Answer 15

You must adjust the wrist so that the bones in the hand, of the punching knuckles line up with the forearm bones in a straight line. So depending on how you set your wrist you can punch with the first two knuckles, or with the smallest three. Okinawan and Japanese almost always align the wrist so that the punch is with the two large knuckles. Some Chinese punches tilt the wrist to line up the bone supporting the smaller knuckles. When they are in line with the forearm bones it is OK to punch with them.  You may have heard of street fights where one person broke their little knuckle or the bone connecting it to the wrist. this happens when the wrist is in the wrong position.

**** EDIT:  I wish those unsure of this subject would take the time to read my post before saying something. I lay out the correct way to do either punch and how the wrist must be positioned to to it correctly, without breaking you hand.

**** EDIT:   DaMatrix  You made a comment about Kempo using the last three knuckles to punch. I have studied several styles of Kempo and Kenpo and have rarely seen that punch used. Not sure where you got that idea.  It is definitely not the usual punch for Kempo systems.

Answer 16

In both the traditional Karate and boxing I learned, we were taught to deliver punches with a horizontal fist, dispersing the force over the first two knuckles. The fist, however, and especially the wrist must be conditioned to withstand impact. One good way to achieve this is knuckle pushups and striking practice on a makiwara.

The other advantage to the classical reverse punch/right cross is that it allows for maximum rotation and torque from the waist into the punch. Su Dongchen says that spiral motion is the key to understanding your martial art at a higher level.

Best of luck!

Answer 17

Well, if I was fighting barehanded I'd use the middle knuckle. When I used two first knuckles my hand would collapse often. But realistically it's what ever you can land, in a real fight fists fly pretty fast, not much time for aligning knuckles.

Answer 18

1st and 2nd with a little support from the third.

Avoid the one attached to your pinky at all costs, also keep those fingers tucked in, and the thumb tucked in out of the way.