Getting Technical...

[Pineapple]

I'm pretty new to the board and I have several questions which have bothered me for a while.

1. When you punch which knuckles should you strike with? I've heard the last 3 or the front two. I want to condition my knuckles and I feel more natural punching with the last 3 yet Ive heard several times the smallest knuckle is too fragile. Its just a curiosity thing really, I want to hear peopels opinions and reasons.

2. Front kick, how the hell do I work on pulling my toes back. When I kick too high up, my toes stop pulling back naturally. Any tips??

3. faster/stronger punches, punching bores me quickly by myself. Any faster trick tips to increase speed and strength?

Thats it for now, any advice is good advice.

[Shikonboss]

1. Generally Karate use the first 2 and Kung Fu the last 3 - it depends on how you line the fist to the forearm, for angled hitting the first 2 are used to hit downwards and the last 3 to hit upwards.

2. Stand on tip toe to stretch.

3. Work on connecting the fist to the feet through good postural alignment and internal core connection. The deeper the muscles to the spine used the more powerful the punch. Speed will come then from 'ease' movement, get rid of any unnecessary tension.

[Alcatraz]

1. depends on the punch. Oi-Zuki, Kizami-Zuki, Gyaku-zuki = First two knuckles. If you''re hooking a punch you'll find that the natural striking are is the last three.

2. Don't worry about it..If you are kicking Jodan (Head level), you should be training the striking area as the heel, not the ball.

3. Bagwork..No tricks or tips, just hard work with pads or bags.

[clouddragon]

Top two knuckles for the style of Taijiquan I practice

[Mikeitup]

1. Generally Karate use the first 2 and Kung Fu the last 3 - it depends on how you line the fist to the forearm, for angled hitting the first 2 are used to hit downwards and the last 3 to hit upwards.

2. Stand on tip toe to stretch.

3. Work on connecting the fist to the feet through good postural alignment and internal core connection. The deeper the muscles to the spine used the more powerful the punch. Speed will come then from 'ease' movement, get rid of any unnecessary tension.

I have seen this is systems such as wing chun etc. When I did Lau Gar it was top 2 knuclkes. SPM uses the phoenix eye fist although any shot we use to the head are either palm or gau choi (hammerfist).

[empty cup]

some great advice there, wing chun snap the wrist at impact and different flavours use either the top two or bottom three knuckles. Training you can use pads and strike from different distances and angles, short range is particularly good for gaining an understanding of where the power comes from. Shikonboss has given good advice, the punch is not just about the arm, back and shoulder it is more about building and releasing torque in the body and all of that comes from the legs and their contact with the floor. contracting and releasing the body will add much to a punch

[Raging Pagan]

2. Front kick, how the hell do I work on pulling my toes back. When I kick too high up, my toes stop pulling back naturally. Any tips??

I have a rather odd habit - I wonder if anyone else does?

When I perform a kick that needs the toes pulled up (the front kick and traditional turning kick come to mind) I find my hands are no longer in a fist, but that I have my fingers straight up to the first knuckle, then tucked in. It's a bit odd!

[Chaleira]

Welcome Pineapple! And so there you have it. It all depends on how your school trains I've always been taught the 1st two knuckles as well when it comes to striking with the fist.

[decker dude]

It maybe something to do with your balance Raging Pagan, do you find you have better balance doing that with these kicks?

[zenman40]

i use both. for harder punching i use the first two knuckles. for the wing chun straight blast the last three.