Why can't I throw a punch?

[Alan Armstrong]

Another aspect to highlight separately, fist are over rated in a real fight, unless there is an emphasis on using clench fists with punches and hammer fist, elbows kneess and head, as they are all closed respectively, with no need to change their shapes.

However open palms are far more versatile with chops, spear hand, palm hand, pushing, grabbing, which involves changing hand shapes, that can also (if the need arises) can also be used with closed weapons, fists, elbows knees Etc.

The MA system of Bagua = Change, addresses and utilising this concept wholeheartedly; perhaps it is worth while see what they have to say, for example in this video