Blog · 17 November 2015
A correct punch
In Krav Maga training, great emphasis is placed on the way you punch. Emphasis is placed on a “correct” form that differs from that used in combat sports but is common to most self-defense systems. Two of the most frequently asked questions are:
- Why does how you punch matter so much, as long as you put enough force behind it, and
- Why does it matter whether you’re on the street or in the ring — why aren’t the techniques the same?
The simple answer to the first question is probably fairly obvious: you need to punch correctly so as not to injure yourself. Given that this is a self-defense situation, the goal is to defend myself successfully, get away, and not get hurt. If I break my hand but manage to carry the technique through, I end up at the hospital for a splint or cast, but I can at least say I fulfilled the first part of the mission. However, I might injure myself more seriously, or at an inopportune moment during the fight and be unable to defend against the attack or escape the aggressor, which could put my life at risk. The longer explanation adds several more compelling elements, if needed: the striking technique must be fast and without preparation, which this form guarantees from the outset. It must also be effective yet easy to learn — without “secrets” that take a lifetime of martial arts practice to master. The second question is related to the evolution of combat sports. These have adapted to competition rules and the protective equipment used. Boxing bandages and gloves, whether for boxing or mixed martial arts (MMA), are designed to protect the hand of the person striking, not the person receiving the blow. They help stabilise the wrist and fist in general, as well as absorb and spread the impact over a larger surface. In street fighting situations, the goal is to punch with your fist against a softer surface (one that has muscle over the skeleton, rather than directly against bone). The hand is exceptionally complex and consists of 27 bones, most of them small, and there are few muscles to stabilise the fist on impact. 
Elements of a correct punch:
- Contact with the target must be made with the first 2 knuckles — metacarpals II and III
- The thumb presses against the next 2 fingers — index and middle finger — to provide more stability in the fist
- The wrist is aligned with the fist and forearm
- The fist is rotated approximately 45°
- The elbow is pulled inward
Even with the protection provided by ring or cage equipment, injuries occur when striking with the last two knuckles or with the thumb (especially in the case of hooks). Here are some X-ray images of such incidents:
