Palm strikes...

[BaguaBoxer]

palm strike

also the area which you hit the person is important to the effectiveness of your palm strike

[Yinboxer]

Striking with open hands allows the "CHI" to flow more naturally allowing you to focus more power. Also, palm strikes are great because you are able to deliver more snap in them thus producing more power.

sdizier

http://www.thelawofthefist.com

An open palm is also more "flexible" than a fist. Try it yourself. Make a fist, stretch your arm out and turn it as far as it will go. Now, open your hand and you will notice that you can turn it even further.

To make a comparison with nature, what animal punches in a fight? A gorilla will slap you, a bear will swat you, a tiger will claw you (a "palm" with claws) and a monkey will slap and pinch you. I'm not saying you need to imitate the animals in your fighting style, It's just an observation.

Just ask Mike Tyson how well a punch works when you aren't wearing gloves! I believe he broke his hand punching a guy in the face, and the other guy didn't even fall down! Punches do have their place, they are good for soft targets. Palm strikes are good for hard targets like the head.

[koto_ryu]

Just ask Mike Tyson how well a punch works when you aren't wearing gloves! I believe he broke his hand punching a guy in the face, and the other guy didn't even fall down!

I know exactly which time you're talking about, and while he did break his hand, you best believe that guy fell down. He cracked his head off the street and had a severe concussion and a fractured jaw.

[Yinboxer]

I know exactly which time you're talking about, and while he did break his hand, you best believe that guy fell down. He cracked his head off the street and had a severe concussion and a fractured jaw.

Perhaps I was mistaken. However, It is not necessary to break your hand on someone to do damage. There are more preferable techniques.

[47MartialMan]

My wife, who was my girlfriend way back then hit me with a palm strike a week after I had shown her.

[Yinboxer]

My wife, who was my girlfriend way back then hit me with a palm strike a week after I had shown her.

What did you do to piss her off? Or is she just a psycho who likes to beat on her boyfriend? I guess you guys worked things out since you married her!

[47MartialMan]

You know the usual female being pissed at boyfriend thing. But that was the LAST time I allowed her to get a hit in.

[Yinboxer]

You know the usual female being pissed at boyfriend thing. But that was the LAST time I allowed her to get a hit in.

Nothing like a crazed woman to help you work on your defense!

[kung-fwho?]

Nothing like a crazed woman to help you work on your defense!

don't we all use palm techniques when there are no women in our lives....

[Tom Yum]

don't we all use palm techniques when there are no women in our lives....

Sticky hand drills?

[kung-fwho?]

Sticky hand drills?

exactly!

[47MartialMan]

Sticky hands-yeah, that only pisses them off more.

[sdizier]

An open palm is also more "flexible" than a fist. Try it yourself. Make a fist, stretch your arm out and turn it as far as it will go. Now, open your hand and you will notice that you can turn it even further.

To make a comparison with nature, what animal punches in a fight? A gorilla will slap you, a bear will swat you, a tiger will claw you (a "palm" with claws) and a monkey will slap and pinch you. I'm not saying you need to imitate the animals in your fighting style, It's just an observation.

Just ask Mike Tyson how well a punch works when you aren't wearing gloves! I believe he broke his hand punching a guy in the face, and the other guy didn't even fall down! Punches do have their place, they are good for soft targets. Palm strikes are good for hard targets like the head.

I almost agree with everything you say minus why mike can't punch without gloves. Boxers have "boxers fists" which occure when training with boxing gloves which prohibit you from training tight fists. A well trained MAist will never break their hands in combat since they train, usualy with out gloves, and with tight fists or open hand strikes .

[hornet]

Ba-Gua is based on the palm strike.

Kung-fu is just a nick for chinese MA.

That said the palm is not to me messed with.

I use it more than anything else myself. Why? It's faster than a punch, more versatile and it needs no tension. (If you clench your fist you are spending up your precious energy)

Yeah, you can break your wrist if you do dumb things with it.

[47MartialMan]

Nothing like a crazed woman to help you work on your defense!

Not really-cause you cant hit back as hard as you would like to.