spearhand

[Daedalus]

I think they have a little to do with fighting, it makes a fighters knuckles more conditioned and that can be very useful in a fight, however i dont think breaking boards myself is very practical

Why not use a heavy-bag to "condition" your knuckles? That way you can practice hitting in combinations against a human like object.

[Menjo]

I do use a bag and i never use boards. I was just trying to find something positive about them...

[Shorin Ryuu]

Hmm. Three things.

1. Holding on to the other person and controlling their balance before you hit them greatly reduces the chances of you missing. It's a pretty basic concept yet often "overlooked" by many people.

2. Even if you hit a hard surface, you shouldn't worry unless your form is so terrible anyway. What body part are people specifically worried about hitting when using this strike? If you are using more of a quick movement, the emphasis is on quick penetration and quick withdrawal so the worry of breaking your fingers is greatly reduced. If you are using a continual "thrusting" forward movement, you should develop enough sensitivity to have your hand automatically relax, loosen, or glance off to protect injury. You should only really worry about injury using this technique if you are just "throwing it out there".

3. Just because you see a spearhand in a kata, it doesn't mean you will necessarily be striking with the tip of the fingers.

[CagedWarrior]

1. Holding on to the other person and controlling their balance before you hit them greatly reduces the chances of you missing. It's a pretty basic concept yet often "overlooked" by many people.

That's a great little street technique for almost any move. Say, for instance, a guy is taking a swing at your buddy in a parking lot, you go to him, push him a little in the direction you want and deliver a thai kick right to his stomache. Or pull a guys shirt over his head so he can't see, keep holding it and wail on him.

[Adonis]

I like modified wreslter or mauy thai head clinch where your holding onto the back of the head in a clinch and going for upper cuts to the chin or other part of the face and then when they try to defend switch to hook.

[Muaythaiboxer]

the shirt thing is really smart and really effective from what ive seen its a good way to get in some killer knees and kicks.

[Zaine]

the best thing that you could do for a spearhand is to tap your fingers on things to build up strength in your fingers.

[unknownstyle]

it would really depend on how strong my fingers were, ive seen my instructor go through two unspaced boards likie they were butter, so it really would depend on the strength in my fingers.