WHICH IS BETTER: OPEN HAND STRIKES OR CLOSED HAND (PUNCHES)?
All strikes have their uses. In general, open hand strikes are easier and faster to form and can be used on any part of the body. Punches are better on soft areas because unless you are extremely well trained you can break your hand and wrist (this is why boxers tape their hands). Palm strikes deliver more power than fists because the palm sits right on top of the forearm bone. The fist has all the small bones and tendons acting as shock absorbers thus slightly cushioning impact force. To make a proper fist you have to squeeze the hand very tightly which tends to tighten other arm muscles and thus slow down top speed. (It also reduces looseness and sensitivity). Palm strikes also segue easily into chops and vice versa. It should be noted that in World War II, our soldiers were taught to use open hand strikes over punches for all these reasons.
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