Delivering A Proper Punch In The Martial Arts

In karate, taekwondo, and other "striking" martial arts styles, knowing how to throw a proper punch is important. Not only does it make you more effective against your opponents, but it also prevents injury to your hands and wrists. Even though the mechanics of throwing a punch seem simple, they are complex. If you strike your opponent in the wrong way, you can do more damage to yourself than him. Taking karate lessons is a great way to learn proper punching technique.

We'll explore the issue of throwing punches in greater detail below. We'll take a look at how to keep your hands and wrists aligned properly to minimize the likelihood of injury. We'll also explain the basics of force, and where it travels when your fist makes contact with your target. Lastly, you'll learn the keys to throwing an effective punch.

There are many types of punches, including the chambered punch, jab, hook, and uppercut. While each is delivered differently, the elements of proper alignment are shared by all of them. Beginning students learn to punch improperly when their instructors fail to correct bad habits. But surprisingly, even experienced martial artists often execute punches poorly.

The main concern - at least for the purpose of this discussion - is that improper alignment of your hand and wrist can cause fractures. This can occur with any of the bones in the hand, but most often affects the middle and proximal phalanxes, and the metacarpal of the little finger. This finger, along with the ring finger, are the least capable of handling the force of impact generated by a punch.

Another common site of injury is the wrist. When a martial artist strikes his opponent with his wrist curved to the side, or angled upward or downward, the radius or ulna can fracture.

A lot of martial arts students practice their strikes on punching bags. The bags can be purchased in varying degrees of heft. The traditional heavy bags offer the closest simulation of hitting a body. However, constant use can lead to joint pain in the wrist and fingers down the road. Also, unless you're wrapping your hands for bag work, the heavy bags can be harsh on your knuckles.

The problem with soft bags is that they do not mimic the experience of hitting a body. Thus, students who grow accustomed to striking these bags are unlikely to appreciate the distribution of force that occurs during a punch. If you intend to practice your punches on a bag, use a medium to heavy bag.

When you punch your opponent, force is obviously produced at the point of impact. But it is important to understand how it is distributed in order to avoid injuring your hands and wrists. The law of physics dictates that the force you generate will be partly absorbed by your body, with your hand and wrist soaking up most of it. This is the reason proper alignment is so critical. The goal is to maximize the amount of force you send into your opponent while minimizing the odds of injuring yourself in the process. And that requires knowing how to punch properly.

First, let's address your wrist. Keep it straight. The best way to avoid fractures in the ulna or radius is to allow the force of impact to travel straight through it. If you bend your wrist, you are likely to injure yourself.

Second, even though we have neglected the elbow in this discussion, it is worth mentioning since it plays a role keeping your hand and wrist aligned properly. When you punch, keep your elbow as close to your body as possible. Doing so will help straighten your hand and wrist, and allow some of the force of impact to travel and disperse through your arm.

Third, focus on connecting with the knuckles of your index and middle fingers. This, too, will help straighten your punch, and avoid injuring the phalanxes and metacarpal of your little finger.

When practicing the martial arts, you want to learn to strike quickly. You also want to learn where to hit your opponent to produce the greatest effect. But don't neglect the art of delivering your punches properly. Avoiding injury is just as important as beating your opponent.