The Ultimate Guide to Punch Bare-Knuckle

📘 Bare-Knuckle Boxing in Muay Boran Nam: Extended ⬇️

This video is a journey through martial arts history, anatomy, biomechanics, physics, and the experience of Chris Price, founder of the legendary Croydon Boxing System, to discover the best way to throw a Bare-Knuckle Straight Punch.

Footage of Chris Price by Sharp-Shield:

Doctor Chris Raynor's Video:

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Muay Nam is a hybrid Muay Boran style I've founded to achieve maximum effectiveness and efficiency in extreme combat sports and self-defense.
Its repertoire is made of around 40% Muay Boran (14 styles) and Muay Thai, 40% ancient European martial arts and Croydon Boxing System, 8% Aikijujutsu, 2% Jeet Kune Do, and 10% other modern and ancient martial arts.

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#boxing
#muayboran
#muaythai
#martialarts

0:00 - Intro
0:06 - History of the Straight
2:04 - Horizontal vs Vertical
3:58 - Which Knuckles?
6:06 - Proof 1
7:59 - Proof 2
9:03 - Proof 3
10:06 - Other Advantages
11:01 - Conditioning
12:04 - Power Levels
12:40 - Other Questions
13:10 - In Memory of Chris Price

Music:
"Scott Buckley - The Climb" is under a Creative Commons (CC BY 3.0) license.
"Vadim Krakhmal - Runic Hills" is under a Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) license
"Yoitrax - Warrior" is under a Creative Commons (CC-BY 3.0) license

[aatee]

I have to chime in, after practicing both fist configurations and studying and teaching anatomy at medschool: I agree with 90% of this video and think it's one rare vid that actually arguments scientifically and anatomically as to why and how the punch is formed like it is. 1) the first metacarpals are the biggest and strongest whereas the 2 last ones are the ones associated with the "boxer's fracture" of the last for example, way more common fx type encountered. 2) the radius carries more load from the wrist and is braced better than the ulna.
However! (there is one big however here)
3) The fist travels in an upright trajectory, hitting at an angle - if the wrist is bent, it is not as strong and is prone to injuries if hitting a strong part especially the forehead.
4) The most important issue not discussed here is the strength (=stability) of the wrist which is not at its best horisontally, but not vertically either!
The best grip is achieved at a slight angle, a bit like grasping a steering wheel at the 1/11 o'clock positions. Try to grip a dumbbell and do some punching motions with it: The wrist is most comfortable and strong at an angle, not totally vertical. That's also if you try to do pushups - a slight angle from the vertical feels best because it is the most stable wrist position. (grab any anatomy book, such as the Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy, and see the example figures there to prove the point.
Even the master Price has the wrist at an angle, if you stop the video as he punches.
That's the angle trad. Karate for example may teach in some schools.
Lastly, the distance is important as well, if you punch something very close, it may still be better to utilize the lower knuckles for that in order not to bend the wrist and lose stability and power.

[stefanekszczykutowicz]

You might find the shoulder naturally sits lower with a vertical fist, leaving the neck and head vulnerable. A horizontal fist tends to bring the shoulder up. Best to learn both ways properly and when to use them

[davehumpleby]

Without any formal training in fighting, I bought myself a heavy punchbag years ago as a cheap set-up for cardio training.
It took very little time to figure out the correct way to strike it with bare hands, elbows, knees, shins, and feet.
This was in the days before the internet or access to any scientific data on the subject. You only get it wrong a few times before you work out how to strike properly.
First two knuckles just feels right.

[Spikebert]

Wing Chun background, yeah we usually use the bottom three, though in my school it's mostly the middle two, pinkie knuckle takes less of the impact- but two points: 1 the fists should be trained and conditioned to make them strong enough and perhaps more importantly 2-we try to follow the "hard/soft" rule- if you're hitting a soft part of the opponent's' body, use a hard part of yours, for hitting a hard part like the jaw or skull, use a soft part of yours- palm strike.

[kit]

A much-debated topic, but in this one I really like a key takeaway, which is that with all the hard shapes of a human head (and especially with both parties moving), it's always risky bare-knuckle punching your opponent in the head with force no matter what your hand position!

[mathieuauffret]

as a radiologist and boxer, i congratulate you for this excellent analysis.

[guilhermealvessilveira]

Excellent video, learned a lot. In JKD we use a lot of vertical fists, we apply like Jack Dempsey tought, but i use the horizontal too because of muay thai and sanda, it's good to have variations. I'll train to hit and try the way showed in this video.

[joedasilva]

Best video I've ever found on this topic
Excellent work 👏🏻

[metube]

What an excellent video! Rigorously scientific and accessible to all.

[danielglenn]

Great job with the proper hitting form on the first two knuckles! As a youngster I didn’t know and messed up my hands more than once. Since I’ve learned, no real hand injuries and two good slick knockouts. Good video thank you!

[davidekhalil]

I love "in loving memory of Chris Price." - Love moves worlds more than fists ever will. Bless you for having such a fine teacher.

[ebkvbgt]

i don't rotate my wrist while throwing the cross with horizontal fist. i leave the wrist tense and still, without turning my fist, instead i rotate my whole arm making sure that i flare the elbow before connecting not too early because that would be a huge telegraph. flaring the elbow gives you more power

[ceseijitsu]

Very well made. The facts presented and supported with references. Thank you.

[thomashalm]

I kinda figured all this on my own. Med student dreaming of being a boxer

[johnnyquiddd]

Thank you 🙏 very useful. With so many different ways of punching I was starting to doubt which is the Best one. Glad to notice that at my Kickboxing gym our Coach teaches us the correct alignment of the knuckles ( hitting with the first 2 knuckles like in the video, but with a horizontal fist and also by turning it) by making us practice drills that will instill proper technique into the body.
Also at home I train my grip strength and forearm muscles ( with the exercises Bruce Lee did, I think they're 7 in total for the forearms ) to have the best results.
PS: Love your channel, you earned my subscription sir 🫡

[Kane-ez]

i used train boxing i used to break my hands and hurt my wrist in street fights took karate dropped gloves at 16 or 17 changed to vertical fist started going bare fisted, training with heavybag sand and rock bags havnt hurt my hands once since still doing conditioning and knuckle push ups today ill be 50, i try not too fight anymore growing up in 80s and 90s we fought everyday diffrent than today

[ReivasMC]

Valuable input.

I agree with most information. The only thing I disagree with is which punch is better, vertical or straight.

Here's the thing, they both got their place. I can feel a clear power advantage with the fist in the horizontal position, but it's also true that vertical is better, faster and safer to punch and block right after.

I'd say the truth lies in the middle and it really comes down to "will the difference in power make a difference regarding this next strike" as it's allways a trade of.

[uclagymnastx-ing]

1910 would be a pretty consistent timeline with what I had been told- that western boxing had received influence and evolution from when our U.S. Marines were over in the Philippines (1898-onward, occupation and insurrection of the Philippines). Filipino boxing was weapons-based- footwork, evasion instead of standing toe-to-toe, defense in tighter... punches based on the knife (hooking knife techniques- hook punch, jabs- jabbing with the knife).

[johnmcgahan]

thanks for finally clearing this up it's bothered me for years!

[Mr]

Fantastic my friend
30 odd years ago I trained In traditional
Shotokan.

First lesson punch with the first two knuckles
Called the rams head.

Respect UK.