Bare fist, which knuckes and why?

**Dex 2** · Posted On: 11/25/2009 7:22pm

Many of the karate styles hit with the first two knuckles, other styles use the last three knuckles (index, ring and pinky). What's been your experience with each?

When doing push-ups on my fists, I find it more comfortable using the three (IRP).

**Mr. Machette** · Posted On: 11/25/2009 7:29pm

Personally, it's the index, and middle knucks for me.

Those are the most prominent, best supported, and strongest of the knuckles IMO.

The ring and pinky seem to crumple under far less force, and injure much easier. When I am conditioning my hands, those two are always playing catch up to the first two.

But that's just me...

**HailtotheKing** · Posted On: 11/25/2009 7:30pm

Well, I think it goes index, middle, ring, and pinky. So the last three would be middle, ring, and pinky.

**Dex 2** · Posted On: 11/25/2009 7:36pm

Ooops

Thumb
Knuckle 1 - Index
Knuckle 2 - Middle
Knuckle 3 - Ring
Knuckle 4 - Pinky

Karate: 1 & 2
Some others: 2,3 & 4

Thanks for the correction.
Dex 2

**socratic** · Posted On: 11/25/2009 7:38pm

Unless you're used to knuckle pushups you'd naturally feel better on your middle, ring and pinky knuckles, because there's more knuckles to spread your weight across. If you're actually conditioned you shouldn't have much of a problem doing them on the correct knuckles (the index [or 'pointer'] and middle).

A "boxer's fracture" is a fracture of the ring-finger knuckle, is it not? The bottom two are not designed to take the kind of force that the top two can. That's why anyone who wants to make money punching uses the index and middle knuckles.

**Whathappened** · Posted On: 11/25/2009 10:19pm

If you find the last 3 fingers comfortable for your pushups you may want to consider changing your pushup position of your fists.

The best way to get used to a new position is to practice the form against the wall until your ligaments and joints are used to the pressure from the new position before progressing to the floor.

I used to get alot of wrist injuries in Karate until I learned the above tip from Nam Wah Pai instructor.

They have numerous striking places and the wall is always where they start when using a another part of their fist.

**jspeedy** · Posted On: 11/25/2009 10:40pm

Originally Posted by Dex 2

Many of the karate styles hit with the first two knuckles, other styles use the last three knuckles (index, ring and pinky). What's been your experience with each?

When doing push-ups on my fists, I find it more comfortable using the three (IRP).

when doing pushups in class we switch it up, I use both index/middle for some and the other three as well. To me the index/middle knuckle pushups feel better.

I think this has question already been discussed numerous time here. As I already mentioned in an earlier thread which I dont have time to look up.. as a student in x-ray school (now soon to graduate) one of the most common fractures of all is a boxers fracture to the ring &/or pinky knuckle. Never have seen a boxers fracture to the index or middle as of yet and haven't heard one mentioned from the experienced x-ray "vets". What does all this limited experience mean to me? I think it is more natural to hit with all knuckles, but without proper form the last two (ring/pinky) are far more vunerable than the index/middle knuckles, which is why its not common for a drunken punch fest to end in a broken index/middle, and it is very common for a drunken punch fest to end in a broken ring/pinky knuckle fracture= fracture of the 4th/5th metacarpal bones.

In conclusion, crazys/pissed teenagers/ & drunks all break the ring/pinky knuckles not the index/ring knuckles. So I use the index/middle because they are not the ones commonly broken in punching related injurys.

**Tex** · Posted On: 11/25/2009 11:04pm

remember. Your fingers have no muscles, so your push ups are from your forearms up. if you have strong forearms etc.., then its easy to do push ups on any knuckle.

The problem with strikes with your knuckles is that they are not all equal in mass.. the bones in your index and middle are larger, while the bones in your ring and pinky are smaller.. This is why it's generally better to condition the ring and pinky, or stick to striking with your index and middle.

I learned the hard way with this.. hit a guy square with the ring and pinky.. My left pinky knuckle is flattened now. The good thing is that I still have mobility in the finger due to the fact that I only need mere forearm strength to retain movement.

My opinion.. learn to strike effectively, for now, with your first two.. while conditioning the last two.

If you know how to do a proper knife hand, then your thumb is braced against the integrity of the rest of your hand.

There are three nerves that run to your hand.. the median, ulnar, and radial.. They all have about equal function.. so.. regardless.. you're gonna have to condition your hands and strengthen them to minimize pain.

**Tex** · Posted On: 11/25/2009 11:07pm

Originally Posted by alpha2six

remember. Your fingers have no muscles, so your push ups are from your forearms up. if you have strong forearms etc.., then its easy to do push ups on any knuckle.

The problem with strikes with your knuckles is that they are not all equal in mass.. the bones in your index and middle are larger, while the bones in your ring and pinky are smaller.. This is why it's generally better to condition the ring and pinky, or stick to striking with your index and middle.

I learned the hard way with this.. hit a guy square with the ring and pinky.. My left pinky knuckle is flattened now. The good thing is that I still have mobility in the finger due to the fact that I only need mere forearm strength to retain movement.

My opinion.. learn to strike effectively, for now, with your first two.. while conditioning the last two.

If you know how to do a proper knife hand, then your thumb is braced against the integrity of the rest of your hand.

There are three nerves that run to your hand.. the median, ulnar, and radial.. They all have about equal function.. so.. regardless.. you're gonna have to condition your hands and strengthen them to minimize pain.

EDIT:: and that means strengthening your forearm up, and building the skink around your knuckles.. you get a good example of this when you look at Kimbo Slice's knuckles..

**MMAMickey** · Posted On: 11/26/2009 8:29am

Originally Posted by socratic

A "boxer's fracture" is a fracture of the ring-finger knuckle, is it not?

No. A boxer's fracture is the 5th metacarpal (pinky)

the chun strikes with the last three knuckles. they are not exactly known for their power. use the first two. now.

EDIT: re-read jspeedy's post.. he is correct and cares enough to prove it