Anybody prefer palm strikes for self defense ?

yomchi

Jimkel wrote:

You know what Mick, you really made alot of sense in that post which has caused me to rethink the usefulness of the palm. Your Writing style is very clear and concise and it made me think of what I may have lost since Beginning Shotokan training.

Altough I have gained much I cannot completly forsake Weapons like the palm in favour of punches simply because I haven't found much use for them, That reflects my own ability, not the usefulness of the palm. I still favour the punch, because its what I'm good at, In fact overall It's Gotta be low aimed kicks and sweeps:D , but thats a different Thread.

Fair play to ya!
Jim

Im really glad Mick Coup contributed to the thread. As I've made very clear in the past I am a new student to the world of combative theory and anything I put forward may sound confusing. Mick is one of the leading names in this field - and you can see why.

Thanks Mick for contributing!

Your right it was a bit smart aresed and I do apologise for the antagonism.

I am familure with the "Fight or Flight" Mechanism, I study Psychology. I just found your words a little muddled and confusing the first time round, wasnt sure what you were getting at and tought you were just trying to "wheel in the big words" for effect, as Im sure you have experienced people doing before on forums.

No problem Jim, I was enjoying the discussion with you and didn't see a need for the antagonism. An arm chair MAist I am defo not! I teach 4 times a week, and currently undertaking a project inI reland for Lee Morrison and have travelled quite a bit just to learn my base art of TKD! Anyone that knows me knows Im a hands on guy, so that kinda got to me! But no hard feelings!
I wasn't trying to bring in big words just to sway anything its just what I know and learned in the past.
Psychology is a big interest of mine! Something i'd like to learn more about.

I'll give you the benifit of the doubt in that your right about the whole "Fight or flight thing" you just didnt say it clearly, you may notice some spelling and grammer errors in your first reply to me.I must stress that I am not picking at your grammer, I'm far from perfect in this department, but it muddled the final point a little

On re-reading it, yes I agree it's not grammatically great! Apologies for any misunderstanding I caused.

So as you can probably see from my training The palm does not feature much in my style, Therefore I questioned its usefulness, Yes I am only Human. Well lets not fall out over

Absolutely no point in falling out over the fact of fist or palm!

Baggio...

Jimkel wrote:

Punching a skull is very different to punching a wall, the head is not fixed in place, unless their head is against a wall while you hit it your not going to feel the full resistance of a skull.

True... the skull is obviously not as hard hitting a wall. But most of the pro boxers who have busted their hands up have been wearing gloves (including having their hands taped up) while hitting the head. So it's definitely possible to damage your hand in a street fight... In fact it was an old street fighters trick to drop the head as the punch came in, so you had a change to damage the hand as it impacted on the skull.

Another factor to consider - is someone who may have had very little training, or their hands are not used to taking impact. Again they may be more prone to damaging the fine bones in the hand. So I think it's definitely a safer option.

Jimkel wrote:

Palm attacks require an unnatural twist of the arm, and in a palm shot position the arm is very easy to break, ask any advanced Jujitsu student, they would take that arm and snap it.

Also, Palm strikes don't require an unnatural twist if done correctly. It is similar to a "piston" type of motion - It's totally straight as it impacts the head. On someone grabbing your arm and then breaking it mid fight - while he's being hit in the head repeatedly. That I'd love to see...

That said... punching is also very effective... But my personal choice would be always be open hands in a street fight.

But that's just me...

Musashi

Mick (Coup) always puts his ideas and theories across succinctly and clearly. Any of his writing I've happened across was the same. Any one interested should look up his paper (cause that's what it is) on Plastic vs. Elastic Energy and his grasp of Physics is .....well......sexy! There I've said It!

In fairness on Micks' course he showed his basic curriculum, explained the reasoning and the hard skills behind it, and I cannot find fault with any of what he teaches. I'm sure the higher level stuff offers more options, but he starts with the high percentage stuff, so if I never again (unhappily) met Mick Coup, I have enough of his instruction to be working on.

Mick is a big guy and can "lay the smack down" but every person on his course benefited from his instruction. I found I've been bending my strikes and "clipping" the target rather than penetrating as I thought I had been. A little tweaking and my striking was way better. For those who don't have access to a proper pro. boxing coach this is invaluable training! Most of us culchies don't have top tier trainers, unless we travel to see them.

If you are one of the few (compared to how many train nationally) who train in an MMA/SBG gym, never mind. You have access to coaches we can only read about down here in the sticks. All you other guys who train in cold ass sheds like mine, get up to a Mick Coup or a Lee Morrison Seminar and enjoy World Class Instruction you can take home to your mates

Millionaire

speak of bare fist.... was doing some full on bare fist combos in Jeet Kune do class this afternoon on focus mits. some people were hurting their wrists a bit esocially if I put heavy resistance on the pads (which was not required for the drill, ur supposed to let the pad give a bit).

It felt very different hitting pads full whack bare fist, as opposed the the usual hand wrapped golved up muay thai I am doing.

John Brawns new Punching DVDS are very good too, as they cover, punching barefist and associated drills, re using fists for self defence.