Is this true?

[cross]

I am not saying that it is possible to crack the skull with the hands, (although if you include the jaw as part of the skull then I suppose it is).

But then, why not go for the temple or something, rather than strike a thick skull? (Unless you opt for a tetsui or other open handed technique).

Most vulnerable areas on the head/face are fairly specific when you consider it takes a slight movement of the opponents head and the punch that was aimed for their temple is now hitting right on the hardest part of the skull.

This is on of the main problems to consider when talking about striking with a fist to the face, not so much your own accuracy, but the fact that people flinch when something is flying at their head. All it takes is the other person to duck slightly and you have a good chance of breaking your hand.

Has for using a lighter, 2 things to consider:

1. Unless you practice deploying it and using it on a regular basis, your chances of being able to do it in a self defence situation are slim to none.

2. It limits what you can do to just punching, unless you drop it or throw it.

[TraditionalDan]

Most vulnerable areas on the head/face are fairly specific when you consider it takes a slight movement of the opponents head and the punch that was aimed for their temple is now hitting right on the hardest part of the skull.

This is on of the main problems to consider when talking about striking with a fist to the face, not so much your own accuracy, but the fact that people flinch when something is flying at their head. All it takes is the other person to duck slightly and you have a good chance of breaking your hand.

Has for using a lighter, 2 things to consider:

1. Unless you practice deploying it and using it on a regular basis, your chances of being able to do it in a self defence situation are slim to none.

2. It limits what you can do to just punching, unless you drop it or throw it.

I could not agree more, I personally think it is very unlikely that I would use a lighter for self defence purposes.

[bushido_man96]

Gripping a lighter or some other fistpack object doesn't alter the already-trained punching hand of the Karate-ka. In fact, it would probably improve it. Although it may alter the sieken a bit, I don't think to the point of being that significant.

[TraditionalDan]

Gripping a lighter or some other fistpack object doesn't alter the already-trained punching hand of the Karate-ka. In fact, it would probably improve it. Although it may alter the sieken a bit, I don't think to the point of being that significant.

It probably wouldn't make a significant difference, but I just don't like the idea of relying on it.

I tried it on the heavy bag last night and it seems quite good, for more 'boxing style' punches.

But I struggled with it on the makiwara, or for hard lunging reverse punches. I find with a punch that is designed to have a strong structure behind it (ie gyaku tsuki), the angle on my fingers that is created by holding the object, seems to redirect power by folding my wrist slightly upon impact.

I suppose when you use a very powerful punch (the type you would use against a torso rather than a head), the slightest alteration of the wrist-fist connection can redistribute that power undesirably.

But this is just my training, if you tailored your training to suit this kind of punch, it may prove beneficial.

[yingampyang]

One of my friends told me once, that if you ever get into a fight on the street, and you happen to have a lighter on you, you should have it in your hand when you make a fist because it fills up some of the empty space in your fist and gives you a more solid punch, has anyone else heard of this?

the true power of the fist comes from the waist and the ground, so it does not matter

[TraditionalDan]

the true power of the fist comes from the waist and the ground, so it does not matter

Agreed.

[bushido_man96]

the true power of the fist comes from the waist and the ground, so it does not matter

Agreed.

True; the fist pack just helps to augment it.

[TraditionalDan]

True; the fist pack just helps to augment it.

For some maybe, but not for me.

(You never give up do you?!)

[bushido_man96]

I am just sticking to my guns.

[glockmeister]

I heard that if somebody shoots at you with a .25 apc pistol at 200 years, you could catch it in your hand.