How to Punch High Without Hurting Your Knuckles

Author: Keith Pascal
Date Posted: January 13, 2009

Do you hurt your hand when you punch? Are there certain positions where you just aren't able to perform a horizontal punch with those key front knuckles making contact first?

Beginning and intermediate martial artists sometimes have problems punching when the horizontal punch hits above the level of your own shoulder.

Imagine a tall opponent. This guy towers above you.

And now, it's time to punch him, with a good, solid punch. How do you make the proper contact with your fist?

Well, my first two suggestions would be to either punch to a lower spot -- throat, solar plexus, or kidneys -- or to punch higher with a vertical punch.

Both of those are good solutions, but if you insist on keeping your hand horizontal, with palm facing the ground, you'll have to find a different way to punch. If you need to punch high, then you may have to make an alteration or two.

When Your Knuckles Don't Connect on the Horizontal Punch

The problem is that you no longer connect with your 'upper' knuckles. Instead, your fingers collapse as your second phalanges make contact up high. Ouch.

So, are there any quick fixes for this punching problem?

Sure!

It's actually a very easy, quick solution.

Changing the Fist on the Punch

Instead of punching with a fist, and instead of jabbing with a straight-fingered eye jab ( a good solution, by the way), compromise.

Bend your fingers at the second phalanges. Tense your hand. Punch with your fingers bent in.

Note: Another way is to think of this as "extending your punch," by straightening out at the knuckles.

You should be able to punch without hurting your fingers. It's almost like having all of your fingers extended into a Phoenix Eye.

So, my simple answer to punching higher is to change the shape of the punch. Extend the bottom half of your fingers, while keeping the ends of the fingers curled down.

If you really want to master punching, and you aren't taking formal classes, then you really have to read and follow The Punch eCourse (by yours truly) or some similar course on perfecting punches. Don't go it alone, because you
might really mess up your knuckles.