Punching Techniques for Self Defense

Video Transcript

" Different teachers are going to teach different techniques on how to strike, and use your hands, feet, head all your natural weapons. But there’s some general principles that you need to keep in mind. Striking someone with your fist is a very easy way to hurt all the small bones in your hand but striking correctly can inflict a lot of damage and still help you get away. Using a small focus mitt that you can buy from any academy or sports store can be a good target for you to practice your punch. If I just punch with my hand and my arm I’m just using the muscles in my arm but striking with my whole body and everything that I have will help it. If you don’t feel comfortable hitting with your fist, striking with the palm of your hand is just as good and even better. And if you want to practice your palm hits, use the target, strike into it so that you get comfortable hitting with your hand. I’m pulling my fingers back, I’m toughening the inside muscles of my hand so that I can hit very effectively. And I don’t just hit here, remember this is not patty cake you are stopping them from hurting you. Hit hard, hit with everything that you have. There’s going to be times when striking straight forward is not going to be as effective as striking to the side. Maybe slap them to the side of the face or hit them underneath the arms or into the side of the body. Pull all the way through, don’t just hit the target. Strike all the way through. Hitting with the back of the hand is equally as fun. Notice how I open the hand as I hit. Striking with the hammer fist also just as good. Striking back is just as good. These are strong movements that utilize big muscles in the arms using the weight, hitting with everything that you have or even using both hands is an excellent way to develop a strong blow without damaging the small bones in your hand."