This is a subject that will take much more than one article to cover since it is almost our main weapon in our fight arsenal, right after the mind. I prefer to use mind rather than brain which is basically a piece of meat (an organ) the mind is what is inside, what you think with. If I ask you to show me a fist and how to use it you would think, “what a stupid question”. Well, I must say I have seen many workouts and have seen many who did not understand as their are some who have never struck a moving strong person and have never felt the pain of a poorly placed strike. Also remember that all of our readers are not Masters and are just beginning their San Soo journey so we must do our best to prevent useless injuries. So let’s start with the “fist”. Many make a tight fist but it lacks structure which can be broken if they hit a heavy bag. When I was a kid, I liked going to the Pike in Long Beach and watching the guys show off to their girl friend how hard they could hit the bag at the arcade. Watch them moan with pain, hold their arm an head for their car, you had to try not to laugh. So, make a hard fist, now bring it up to eye level, is it straight, if you put something flat across your 4 fingers, would it lay flat or do the smaller fingers pull in so it looks twisted.? If they do and you hit a hard target the wrist could try to roll, straining the wrist. Look closley at the fist the woman is making in the photo, look at the structure, nothing is even, if you hit someone hard not only would you hurt your wrist but most of that strike would not make contact do to unevenness. Many students think that a fist like that can really hurt someone and it can, unfortunately it is you.When learning to make a fist watch it till you can tightly roll it and the fingers look like a table top. Then practice until you can close and bring it up so you make the perfect fist automatically. The fingers are wrapped tightly in the palm and the thumb bends down to lock the two top fingers, I have seen students punching with their thumbs up. San Soo seldom uses a karate twist type straight punch, in a fight so most of your fist strikes will be more roundhouse. You should find a bag and lightly strike so you develop a feel of how much arc to use on you wrist and elbow to protect from injury. Many times I watched Jimmy open his hands in between strikes and form moves. The main advantage is you have the option to many changes as openings occur, you are not locked in to your starting move. You may change to a claw, chop, back knuckle, palm, etc. remember an open hand moves faster. That is why a jab in boxing opens up in the glove making it a much faster punch as closes when it lands.
Ron Gatewood
