Palm heel or fist to the face?

**SifuJason** · Posted On: 7/13/2012 11:10am

My question is why do people thing palm heel strikes are slaps?

**Permalost** · Posted On: 7/13/2012 11:12am

**bobyclumsyninja** · Posted On: 7/13/2012 2:44pm

Originally Posted by SifuJason

My question is why do people thing palm heel strikes are slaps?

It's a generic term. It's like saying punches, instead of hooks, straights, uppercuts, backfists, etc etc.

Open hand strike is a very dry term. Use it if you prefer. I'll stick with slaps...and I'd never willingly give open hand strikes in return for taking closed fist strikes, in any but the most narrowly limited situation.

Originally Posted by Permalost

Yep. Cold cock.

**Permalost** · Posted On: 7/13/2012 2:58pm

Originally Posted by bobyclumsyninja

It's a generic term. It's like saying punches, instead of hooks, straights, uppercuts, backfists, etc etc.

You can throw a palm strike as a hook, straight, or uppercut without it being a slap though.

**bobyclumsyninja** · Posted On: 7/13/2012 3:04pm

Originally Posted by Jim_Jude

**** ton of videos

I see Bas competing in a rule set that mandates them to the face, I see instructionals, I see talking and dummy demos, I see cold cocks. Got any of 2 people fighting, where they both know it's started, where they are effective?

How about one with 2 people in a fight, and one is punching, and yet the slapper wins out, b/c they're more effective against a resisting, aware opponent?

I've seen many a fight, on youtube, and a few in person, and don't remember seeing that. Is that b/c I haven't looked enough, or b/c people don't know the d3adly when it's available to them, or b/c they aren't as effective when it comes to it?

Cupping the ear would be effective, but if you rupture an eardrum, and end up w/ police involved, how does that look?

**doofaloofa** · Posted On: 7/13/2012 3:20pm

Making a fist is pretty instinctual

it's no suprise that most fights use fists instead of some fancy open hand technique or elbows

I have never used elbows on someones face, but I have knocked my elbows on solid objects and it usually hurts a lot. Must elbows be conditioned to prevent them getting injured when fighting?

**Zerstörer90** · Posted On: 7/13/2012 3:37pm

I had one situation back in high school where a guy tried to punch me (and failed) and i slapped him so hard it took him off his feet. I've never personally had an open hand strike do more to me than sting and maybe knock me off balance a little. On the other hand I've punched people (with a bare-fist) and seen them open up with cuts and be dropped and also been punched (with a bare-fist) right on the button and been put down. I think a punch requires more accuracy to avoid injury and is easy to inflict damage with, while an open hand has less chance of injury, it's much harder to do damage with. Risk vs. Reward kind of thing.

But wouldn't it come down to what you are more comfortable with as a fighter? I mean both have shown to work to a degree, and both seem to have draw backs. I fail to see the dichotomy, I would happily put a right straight through someone's nose with no worry of breaking my hand, however I don't feel comfortable throwing an uppercut or a hook without the proper equipment (unless it was to the body).

**Permalost** · Posted On: 7/13/2012 4:26pm

Originally Posted by bobyclumsyninja

Got any of 2 people fighting, where they both know it's started, where they are effective?

How about one with 2 people in a fight, and one is punching, and yet the slapper wins out, b/c they're more effective against a resisting, aware opponent?