| Any decent self defense instructor will tell you | | | | recommend using a closed fist: |
| that open hand strikes are superior to punches in | | | | By opening your hand and forming a 90-degree |
| a real self defense situation. I should know, as I've | | | | angle between your hand and forearm, you |
| been quoted as saying that, should your self | | | | effectively take your wrist and fist out of the |
| defense instructor try to tell you to make a fist, | | | | equation. The striking surface of a palm heel is |
| its time to get a new instructor! | | | | padded with muscle, unlike the knuckles and won't |
| But why is a closed fist a bad idea in a self | | | | break. Breaking the fingers or small bones in the |
| defense situation? | | | | back of the hand is totally out of the question, |
| OK, first of all, there are two weak links in the | | | | because they don't play any role at all in a palm |
| boxer's punch: | | | | strike. |
| 1. You can break your knuckles or the small | | | | The palm strike can be used to not only strike a |
| bones in the back of your hand. | | | | target, but also form around it, allowing you to |
| 2. Your wrist can buckle and you can damage the | | | | "lead" the direction of the energy of your strike, |
| soft tissue that provides stability in your fist, | | | | while a fist is just a blunt object that can only be |
| commonly known as "breaking your wrist," | | | | used to hit like a club. |
| although its normally not a bone that's "broken." | | | | Now, its always nice when you can end a fight |
| By the way, that's the main reason why boxers | | | | with one strike and that's very possible when you |
| wrap their wrists. | | | | know how and where to hit, but, let's be realistic - |
| There are also two major reasons why the | | | | it doesn't work every single time. |
| boxer's punch isn't as effective as an open hand | | | | If I hit you with a punch and it doesn't knock you |
| strike: | | | | out, all that I can do is hope to be able to land |
| 1. You only have one chance with a punch - you | | | | another punch, with better results. |
| hit your attacker and either end the fight or you | | | | Do me a favor right now and place the heel of |
| don't. | | | | your palm upon your chin, fingers pointing up. |
| 2. You can't control the direction of force with a | | | | Now, close your hand around your face. |
| punch as easily as with an open hand and | | | | Where are your fingertips? |
| controlling the direction of force is the key to a | | | | Exactly, pressing directly against your eyes! |
| knockout. | | | | Now, if I hit you and you fall into a heap on the |
| So, what would be a less dangerous and more | | | | ground, good. |
| effective alternative? | | | | Fight over. |
| What some people seem to think when they hear | | | | But if that doesn't work, I still have the |
| the term "open hand strikes" is a spear hand kind | | | | opportunity to grab your face and head and, using |
| of technique with the fingertips. Although I am a | | | | the pain caused by my fingers in your eyes and |
| strong proponent of using the fingertips, especially | | | | the fact that the strike at least stunned you to |
| the thumb to cause pressure on certain vital | | | | completely control your head and totally disorient |
| areas, I only recommend that for extremely | | | | you. Controlling the head is very important |
| close-quarters fighting, as an alternative to | | | | because, as any gymnast will tell you, where the |
| grappling or judo-type techniques while in a clinch | | | | head goes, the body follows. |
| or on the ground. | | | | There are many other open hand strikes available |
| For long and medium distance striking, the best | | | | to you to use and targets to use them against, I |
| replacement for the boxer's punch would be a | | | | just wanted to use the palm heel as an example |
| palm heel strike. | | | | because it is most similar to a closed fist and |
| Why? For the same reasons why I don't | | | | easiest to understand. |