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It seems like when I punch and need to punch with knuckles first, I have to angle down, otherwise, it hits the bottom of fingers first and not the knuckles, when practicing against heavy bag.

Check the angle of pictures below,

is this true for you all? Or how do you deal with the angle of knuckles and first contact? See how it hits the green line below.

enter image description here

Stock photos above (not of me, which show what I mean) :

mattsmith5
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2 Answers2

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It is normal for the middle knuckles of your fingers to lead your first knuckles (top knuckles). This protrusion of the middle knuckles is exaggerated when wearing gloves. Your middle knuckles will be pushed back in towards your palm upon impact whilst your first knuckles will move very little, providing your wrist is firm and straight.

Do not compensate by tilting your wrist, or you will be at far greater risk of wrist injury and much of the potential power of your strike may be lost by your wrist buckling upon impact.

Concentrate on aligning the bones which run along the top of your hand - from the knuckles of your first and second fingers to your wrist - with the bones of your forearm. Focus on maintaining this alignment at the point of impact and on directing your power through the top knuckle of your second finger alone, or in combination with the top knuckle of your first finger. The sharper the tip of the spear, the more easily it will penetrate the body.

Remember that in a fight, there are many target areas of a body which protrude, unlike a heavy bag's relatively flat surface. This, along with punch angle, means it is sometimes possible to land cleanly with your first knuckles alone, but it is otherwise normal for your middle knuckles to reach the target first.

Futilitarian
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  • Hi, thanks, not talking about the middle knuckles, but the fingers below the knuckles which lead first, etc, per green line in pictures above – mattsmith5 Jun 03 '22 at 15:42
  • @mattsmith5. I cover this in the first paragraph. By 'middle knuckles', I am referring to the middle knuckles of the finger, not the hand. I have no edited to make this clearer. – Futilitarian Jun 03 '22 at 16:21
  • ok i see, when I am Not wearing gloves ( "protrusion of the middle knuckles is exaggerated when wearing gloves") , like in street fight, the bottom fingers will lead, and not the top knuckles – mattsmith5 Jun 03 '22 at 16:30
  • Yes, and wearing gloves (most gloves at least) exaggerates this effect. – Futilitarian Jun 03 '22 at 16:32
  • whats the proper solution, when in street fight, without gloves? thanks – mattsmith5 Jun 03 '22 at 16:34
  • Using fists is not always appropriate in a street fight. It is easy to damage your hands, even if you are conditioned and trained. If you decide to use your fists, the advice here and to your other related question holds true. Aim to land your punches with the top knuckles of your first two fingers. Be aware though that the bottom of the jaw is very sharp and can cripple a fist. Parts of the skull, including the top of the forehead, are very hard and can be used by experienced fighters offensively; by lowering the forehead suddenly, so that a fist thrown to the face strikes hard bone instead. – Futilitarian Jun 03 '22 at 16:45
  • Let us continue this discussion in chat. – Futilitarian Jun 03 '22 at 16:50
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You are right, the fist on moment of contact must be very slightly angled downward, just to the point to make sure that upper knuckles are making contact first. This is good, also, because it provides a greater contraction of forearm muscles on impact.

Collett89
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user13691
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