Kickers--How well do you punch?

[Toptomcat]

I've incorporated a full range of boxing punches into my hand work and I still use ridgehands, mainly as a power shot to a cornered opponent.

[RW]

I've incorporated a full range of boxing punches into my hand work and I still use ridgehands, mainly as a power shot to a cornered opponent.

Cool. Interesting.

Would you use ridge hands in a real fight? Have you ever hurt yourself hitting say, a punching bag full power with the ridge hand?

Actually, are we talking about the same ridge hand? (Haito) :

I'm so intrigued now

[DWx]

Ridgehands aren't too bad. I wouldn't say I'd never use one in a fight. Our ridgehands are also in more of a swinging motion than that example you gave RW, like at 0.14 in

. We really swing into it.

[Toptomcat]

My ridgehand is not quite as swingy as DWx's video, but definitely closer to that than RW's video. I routinely hit the heavy bag with a full-force ridge hand and have not had any injuries.

What frustrates me about it is that I don't know why it works. It seems like it'd just be a haymaker-type strike, easily seen and slipped or blocked- but whenever I get someone into a corner it seems to hit quite consistently when I mix it in with other strikes.

I also use a regular knife hand to the head that comes in a lot like an open-handed soto uke, usually preceded by a step to the opponent's side and the use of the other hand to sweep aside the opponent's guard.

[wingedMonkey]

I'm pretty good at punches even though my main style is TKD only because I concentrate on my whole body. I realized that even though old Chinese masters did agree that legs are the longest and strongest part of your body, you still have to train the rest of your body and not forget about it.

[Toptomcat]

You need old Chinese masters to tell you that legs are stronger than arms?

[wingedMonkey]

You need old Chinese masters to tell you that legs are stronger than arms?

lol