Learning how to punch can be confusing. Especially when the gloves come off.
Some people turn the fist, some don’t. Some hit with the big knuckles, some don’t. Some say you should never punch to the head in a street fight, some say that’s crazy talk.
So, what exactly is the best fist for self-defense? Here’s a video with my answer. If it doesn’t play, you can find a summary below.
Either way—keep punching!
How to Punch in a Street Fight
When it comes to a real street fight, the best fist is the one that hits your attacker and doesn’t hurt you. Simple as that! And which fist can do that?
All of them.
And none of them. Here’s the rule—
The best fist is the one that fits.
Horizontal, vertical, thumb under, thumb on top, big knuckles, bottom knuckles… there’s a time and place for every fist out there.
Let’s say you want to punch someone in the face. Think about all the the different angles the head presents.
The temple, eye, nose, chin, jaw, and cheekbone each offer a unique contour. A smart puncher will always match that contour to their hand.
But hang on! Even if you line up your favorite punch to land squarely on your favorite target, the moment the other guy turns or shifts, the angles change. That means your fist has to change, too.
A skilled martial artist is able to make small adjustments, changing from one fist to another on the fly. That’s why you should make it your goal to hit any target from any position.
How can you do that? Hit something! Punching in the air will not teach your hands how to punch. Your martial arts training must include striking something solid.
Practice on bags of different shapes, weights, and sizes. Practice touching your partner’s face and body with your a controlled fist. Even when you spar with gloves, bring awareness to your hands instead of just swinging for the fences.
Don’t just think about hitting, think about fitting.
Oh—and here’s a little secret for you…
Some instructors will tell you that in a real fight, you shouldn’t punch to the head at all. They say you should only use a palm heel to avoid breaking your hand.
The truth is I teach that, too! But only to beginners. Once you know how to pick the right fist for the job, you can punch to the head without much problem.
Here’s another video with more thoughts about when to punch and when to palm heel.
Bottom line—no matter what anyone tells you, there is no all-purpose, almighty super fist.
The perfect punch in a real fight is instead dictated by two factors: your position and the intended target. Ignore this guideline and you will likely hurt your hand.
So, which style has it right? Which fist should you practice?
All of them!
Don’t let anyone tell you you’re punching the wrong way… just do the work to figure out how to punch the right way.
Good information to know but hope I never have to use it 🙂
Hey– me, too! 🙂
Me, too!
Thanks for posting. I followed a comment from Andrea Harkins on LinkedIn….glad I did, I enjoyed the article and presentation. Hope you don’t mind – shared the article on our school’s Facebook. Stay safe and God Bless!
Hi Harold! Welcome to my site. Thanks for the kind words.
Of course, I’m honored you would share my article. That’s exactly why I shot it!
Happy training, sir. Hope to see you again.
Love it!
It answers the “Well what if” guy and the “well I’d just” guy in the same video.
Do the work, train all the tools, and you’ll have what you need when you need it.
Thanks again for great content!
You got it. There is no one-size-fits-all weapon. Lots of guns, lots of swords, and lots of fists.
Thanks for the kind words, sir!
One thing I’d add, is hikite.
Stand with your arms outstretched to the sides. Close your eyes. Now, bring the index fingers of both your hands together so they touch in front of you, with your eyes closed.
Easy? Your brain knows to within millimeters where every part of your body is. If you have hands on your opponent you can quite literally hit him even with your eyes closed, with millimeter accuracy.
Every karate punch ever practiced includes hikite. Grab the guy, stop him moving, grab pull, and hit or clear guard and hit. It’s such an instinctive technique that even untrained people use it. Grab with the left, pull, hit with the right is one of the most common street assaults.
Yes, sir. Agree 100%. I’m a big fan of hikite. Or as I like to call it, hockey-te. 🙂 To be covered in a future video!
I teach this too gentlemen. It one of the ways I make our “weird” point and step with one side and punch with the other hapkido style punches make sense to the beginner. One touch and I know exactly where you are..heheheh. (my evil twin voice). Im assuming that is the japanese word for I have no idea in the world what the koreans would actually have me call it. LOL I call it the seeking hand in honor of Ip Man although I’ve never trained in a single chinese style. Just one heck of a guy!
So, if I understand, I should watch out for the “seeking hand” of your evil twin… thanks for the warning! 🙂
sir i actually enjoy doing things in unbalanced way that you taught in balance video..that way even if i wear my jeans my mind says find your centre and i don’t get lopsided…
Hi Vineet! That’s great! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
Ha! Yes, jeans are a great training tool! And high heels! 😉
Hey I was wonderin if there is a different way you should fight while wearing hard knuckle gloves, or is there no need to fight any differently then one normally would?
Hi Johnathane,
I’m not sure what you mean by hard knuckle gloves, but wearing ANY gloves is definitely different from being bare-handed. Just make sure you practice as close the way that matches your goals as close as you can. If you’re practicing for sport, then wear the appropriate gloves. If you’re practicing for self-defense, then take the gloves off sometimes… or most of the time!
Happy training!
ANDO
Good knowledge about defense.
I appreciate your efforts your doing such a great job.Thanks!
Thank you very much, sir! Very kind of you!