Cupped Hand Strikes

[joesteph]

This video by Kelly McCann can be seen at:

http://www.blackbeltmag.com/kelly-mccann-combatives-for-street-survival-cupped-hand-strikes/videos/256

He compared the strike to the hook punch, and I noticed how close he was to the target, whether pad, BOB, or demo partner. He sees its use as an opening, not a KO; you have to follow it up with strikes while your opponent is disoriented. I feel he made a good point that it might not hit the ear, but that the face and neck can still really feel it, and then you go into further action.

Do your think it really is an opening, such as that the other guy's right in your face, or do you think that the way McCann uses it, you'd already be in the altercation?

[Kuma]

If used right, it sure could be. McCann actually called this a "short cupped hand blow" in his first Combatives DVD collection. There was also a long cupped hand blow where your opponent catches you by surprise so you use what I call a spearing elbow (hand up by ear, elbow point in front as you step back to create distance so when they rush in they hit your elbow and it temporarily halts their advance) and then step forward like you were throwing a baseball with the long cupped hand blow.

Try it out on the bags and pads, both of them are vicious.

[Mistassailant5]

Cupped Hand strikes are indeed very powerful strikes; however, when striking around the ear you must be careful because if you use too much force, the power will rupture your opponent's eardrum, which may be a tad overkill, but in a more dangerous situation something like that would be appropriate.