Palm strikes - Do they work?

**Wesker** · Posted On: 5/10/2004 7:37am

I did a search on the subject and didn't find any prior threads, so my apologies if this has been brought up before.

My sensei says we should use palm strikes, instead of punching, for self-defense. Is this practical?

I've seen Keith Hackney stun a 500 lb sumo wrestler with a palm strike, but I still question it's usage. By using palm strikes I shorten my reach by approx 2 inches. I would break my hands most likely with punching, but if it saves my life I'm all for it.

**Ronin** · Posted On: 5/10/2004 7:42am

You don't lose reach cause you are STILL stepping into the strike, loss of reach is overrated in "in your face" combat, and THAT is where you apply palm heels.

Hooking palm heels to the temple are devasting.
Thrust plam heels to the chin can cause some serious damage ( specially if the head is tilted back).

And they DON'T **** up your adorable little hands as much as punchs do.

**chaosexmachina** · Posted On: 5/10/2004 7:42am

I tend to agree with palm strikes (or other openhanded strikes, like hammerfists) for self defence. I don't want to break my hand. But I don't really train with them, so I'd probably just revert to fists if I tried them.

**SamHarber** · Posted On: 5/10/2004 8:08am

I give palm strikes the thumbs up as well. Thats mainly because I have bony arthritic hands.

***WhiteShark*** · Posted On: 5/10/2004 8:55am

Bas Rutten

**Orion** · Posted On: 5/10/2004 9:02am

Palm strikes deserve their fame. You can hit hard, you can hit fast, and you can hit from many different angles. And you flow into grappling like a fat dirty handed porn-loving kid into a cake.

**SlimJim** · Posted On: 5/10/2004 9:58am

Palm strikes would serve as a nice intro from the hands-up-I-don't-wanna-fight-you posture. Then when they take another step at you, blast them.

**MrMcFu** · Posted On: 5/10/2004 10:05am

Originally posted by WhiteShark
Bas Rutten

That sums the whole thing up.

**Ronin** · Posted On: 5/10/2004 10:32am

If you still have doubts, go to the nearest wall and punch it at half force, now palm heel it at half, or even full force if you want.
Notice a difference?

**Punisher** · Posted On: 5/10/2004 1:37pm

Besides when you hit a dude with one and he drops, it looks like you just bitch slapped him and he is a *****. I'm serious.

One time a kid at my school was talking **** trying to bully me, something that he did many times before. I usually just stood there and took it, but this time I snapped. He slapped me across the face and I responded with a "slap" that sent him staggering back a few steps to oohh, aahhhs, and groans of several onlookers.

I wish the story has a good ending, but it doesn't. The guy got pissed of and charged at me swinging. I just finally got the guts to stand up to this guy, but I wasn't mentally prepared for a full on fight and froze. He landed and couple of shots before I could put my guard up, pushed me to the ground, and then people broke it up. I guess I ended up "losing", but still that palm was sweet.