Article: Won't You Break Your Hand?

[JohnnyCache]

The horizontal fist only came into popular use in sport boxing after the introduction of thickly padded gloves. There was a good reason for this. A vertical fist protects the hand from injury. Two biomechanical principles are key.

Has the author of this article ever looked at an x-ray of a human hand?

The lower two knuckles float - they are attached via float to secondary carpals that are attached to the ulna via a float.

The thumbward two are anchored directly to carpals that are anchored directly to the primary, largest carpals, which are anchored to the larger radius. The safest punch is to hit with the thumbward knuckles. The pinky shouldn't be struck with. The third knuckle shouldn't make primary contact. The experiment given RE leaning on a wall is completely subjective -milimeters of hand shape and knuckle development render the results different from one person to another.

As for the "biomechanics" of the vertical punch, you form a vertical fist by turning from the shoulder, not the wrist - your wrist is in the same position vis a vis the ulna and radius that it's ALWAYS in when your wrist isn't bent.

[Ken Pfrenger]

LOL the author of that article is a Medical Doctor:)

[D Dempsey]

I met and trained with Keith when I was stationed at Ft. Bliss before he deployed in '06. In addition to being a medical doctor I think he was originally a chiropractor.

[maofas]

The idea of spreading out the impact across more surface is logical in and-of-itself, but not when you're spreading it away from a big solid knuckle and onto 2 pieces of ****. Someone is going to have to show scientific proof that the pinky and ring finger knuckles together can absorb more than the first knuckle before I switch.

Wrist alignment is a non-factor. A person who practices a vertical fist adjusts their wrist properly for that punch, while a person who strikes with a horizontal first uses a slightly different alignment. A person who practices one will always think the other is more awkward for their wrist.

[JohnnyCache]

LOL the author of that article is a Medical Doctor:)

Why is he advocating hitting with the most vulnerable part of the hand on purpose?

[Ken Pfrenger]

Maybe he graduated last in his class or maybe you just don't get what he is saying.

[MrBadGuy]

Why is he advocating hitting with the most vulnerable part of the hand on purpose?

He's obviously trying to get people to break their hands so he can treat them. Creating demand for his supply. Classic Doctor trick.

[D Dempsey]

He's obviously trying to get people to break their hands so he can treat them. Creating demand for his supply. Classic Doctor trick.

Yeah but he's a doctor in the Army so he doesn't get anything for treating people, just his regular salary.

[Torakaka]

Well I certainly find that the only times I feel strain on my hand is when I accidentally hit with the "bottom" three knuckles. Then there's that whole thing about the "brawler's fracture" being a break on the pinky or ring finger part of the hand.

Also this:

"Face the wall and extend your arm completely straight out in front at your own chin level. Make a horizontal fist (palm down) and place it against the wall. Now lean your weight onto your fist so that it is as flat against the wall as possible. You will find that not only will your wrist bend upward, it will bend outward as well in order to keep the fist flat against the wall."

... has practically no bearing whatsoever on how anyone would ever throw a punch. I do not practice punching at an angle and I certainly don't practice punching walls. Also, if you have any experience boxing you know that your fist doesn't land horizontally when throwing a straight punch, but twisted (hence "corkscrewing" your punch). If you land with your fist horizontal, you're not turning your fist over properly.

And just looking at your hand



you have to specifically try and angle your hand in a fairly drastic way to make sure all three knuckles land flush on a target. Personally, if I make a solid fist and try to press the knuckles against the wall, I can't actually manage to make contact with all three knuckles.

[Jim_Jude]

He's obviously trying to get people to break their hands so he can treat them. Creating demand for his supply. Classic Doctor trick.

Repeat customers. CLASSIC CHIROPRACTOR TRICK. I've known enough ex-chiropractors to know this: those that seek "the final adjustment" for their patients get alienated pretty quickly.