Punching with the lower knuckles...effective?
I've just learned that the Wing Chun punches strike with the lower knuckles, as opposed to the more familiar boxing or Karate punches which hit with the first and second knuckles as they are bigger and harder. But the alignment of the bones in the wrist is stronger for the lower knuckles, minimizing impact damage (to you) and lessening the chance of the punch being turned at the wrist on impact.
But the little knuckles, man??? Ouch! I've only ever hit bags (or people ;) ) with my big knuckles, and admittedly my wrists are a little bit damaged but I've never broken a bone doing it. But smacking someone in the point of thejaw (accidentally) with the little knuckles has got to run the risk of breaking the small bones in the hand. Question time:
What do you think? Do the little knuckles get stronger (I assume so) the more you practise or do you get hurt no matter how long you go? Has this happened to anyone?
And which do you prefer?
"Forfeit the game
Before somebody else takes you out of the frame
And puts your name to shame
Cover up your face
You can't run the race
The pace is too fast,
You just won't last!"
no emphasis on a single knuckle
i don't think anyone is recommending focusing a single knuckle as a target point. i've always been taught to use the bottom three knuckles not as a row, but as a one side of a surface, with the first three knuckles going out those three fingers being the other side. that way, you're spreading the force throughout a nice, flat, safe surface.
the bottom knuckle comes into play when contact has been made and the arm is following through the body. when you hit and that flat surface is making contact, press that bottom knuckle out through the body. this helps add the wrist and a bit more of the tricep - kind of a bit more penetrating power.
again, that's what i'm taught. ideas?
-rtb
Punching and the knuckles
This is my 2 cents on why I think punching with the lower knuckles might be beter then the upper knuckles-
First of all, the structure with the arm and its bones are more consistant, providing strength and force behind the fist. The three lower knuckles sort of line up as well, dispersing the energy that is absorbed more equally through all three.
In any sort of confrontation, you may risk breaking something, that is just a fact of life, but conditioning can help.
"try not, do or do not. There is no try."