What Part of your Hand should you use to Punch with?
When you are punching, it is important that you punch with the correct part of the hand.
This is for many reasons. Firstly so that you can transfer the power from your punch into your target as efficiently as possible. So you want a hard part of the hand as you don’t want it to give when your punch lands on your opponent.
Secondly, punching with the correct part of the hand will minimise the chance of you injuring yourself, you hand or your wrist.
Ok so what part of your hand should you punch with?
Well, different styles have a variety of different techniques but if we stick with the boxing or kickboxing style of punching then your punch should make contact with the first two knuckles i.e. the two closest to your thumb.
N.B. Make sure that when you make your fist, your thumb is on the outside of it. If your knuckles are on the top then your thumb should be tight in on the bottom. Not on the side and definitely not within your fingers.
If you make a fist over your thumb, it will break as soon as you make contact with something!
When you are jabbing or crossing your fist will be flat i.e. your knuckles will be on the top. If your punch is a hook, it is acceptable to have a standing fist i.e. where your knuckles are on the outside or a flat fist. In either case though, you should always aim to make contact with your punches with your first two knuckles.
Why should you punch with the first two knuckles?
It is because of the way that your fist is structured. If you make a fist where your wrist is straight (as it should be), the lines from your first two knuckles runs straight down your arm where as your other knuckles are off at a slight angle. This means that the power from your punch can be directed much more efficiently through your first two knuckles and they can be supported by your wrist and arm where as if you made contact with your other knuckles, they would give. At best this would soften the impact of your punch and at worst, could cause you to injure yourself!
Tags: Boxing, Fist, Kickboxing, Punch, Punching, Technique, training