Which knuckles do the hitting in boxing?

[HerbM]

Truthfully, I didn't really think it mattered with gloves and hand wraps, but readying Dempsey made me re-think this.

From most of my martial arts training it was always supposed it to be the 1st and 2nd knuckles -- by very slightly tipping the hand down and outside to line up these knuckles with the radius bone as straight as possible. The idea to put the largest and strongest bones in line with the

[Systema is the one partial-exception since they seem to teach you hit with whatever knuckles you use most comfortably to do a 5 minute plank (push-up) on a hard floor most comfortably -- this vary for different people, but it remains the first two knuckles for me.]

In Championship Fighting: Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense, Dempsey says it is the pinky finger that has the best 'powerline', but for a couple of reasons instructs the boxer to aim with the ring finger, and thus end up most of the time hitting with the pinky, ring, and middle finger.

Dempsey is adamant about not trying to hit with the first two fingers.

Any thoughts? Any evidence?

Does it matter?

BTW, this one of the few things in Dempsey's book that I have trouble believing....

--
HerbM

[Scrap]

I make Him right, plus if the Hands are wrapped a certain way theres no problem. plus the Biomechanics are correct

[Youngblood]

Wnen in doubt, jam your thumb in their eye.

[Chris Nagel]

If you feel any trouble in your smaller knuckles when punching, first make sure your hands are wrapped properly in that your hand-wraps do not impede your ability to make a good solid fist (i.e. too much bandage over your palms). The same applies with gloves, make sure you can make a proper fist with them on. Wrapping your fingers around the bar of the glove will help too, as well as to ensure that the small metacarpals in your hand won't shift around when you punch. Then assuming you're throwing your punches properly, and aren't coping a hand injury, the three-knuckle landing as advised by Dempsey should be fine.

Landing with the other knuckles can depend. Say for instance with a long overhand right, the larger knuckles may be better suited, since the force may not be distributed equally if attempted to land with the three knuckles instead. The same maybe true with a jab thrown in an arc to get around a guard.

[HerbM]

Thanks Chris, especially the additional information about the wraps and gloves as I think I might need to pay a little more attention to this.

Do you think the differences in the various strikes you describe require conscious effort, or is that just the result of the angles and directions?

Yesterday, I adopted a 'gel wrap' glove-like substitute for my Mexican wraps. They're Title fingerless, and mostly palmless, gloves with gel on the striking surface and a length of wrap for finishing the security.

My hands are large enough that I already have trouble getting into the gloves unless I turn them just right.

And the gloves don't seem to bend fully, e.g., not quite enough to pull the finger tips easily down and away from the target -- my finger tips are right at the end of the gloves.

I also need to practice with Dempsey's advice to aim with the ring finger to hit with the last three knuckles.

Does any of this make an actual difference?
--
Herb

[Chris Nagel]

It'd probably take some conscious effort at first, perhaps a little more so with hooks. I also noticed in Dempsey's book that he emphasized the three knuckle landing with all of the various punches. It might help to take off your gloves and see how your punches would land for a better idea.

I haven't used the gel-wrap before, so I can't really comment on it. As for gloves, they do come in sizes that accommodate larger hands. It'd be worth checking out. As for feel, I had a good experience with Ringside gloves, larger Reyes are nice too, although pricey. Everlast wasn't too bad after becoming well worn.

It's just too bad that there's such a limited selection at sporting goods stores. The best way is probably to order them from catalogs or online, and if you don't like it send it back and try another pair.