How to Punch with a Bare Hand for Self-Defense 

You look like a kind dad trying to teach his son life lessons. Not kidding.

Him:"Let's pretend for some demented reason you want to punch me in the face." *references another video of his* Me:"You stole my pie"

Thanks for the tips! My grandma didn’t stand a chance!

Learning how to punch can be confusing. Especially when the gloves come off. Some people turn the fist, some don’t. Some hit with the big knuckles, some don’t. Some say you should never punch to the head in a street fight, some say that’s crazy talk. So, what exactly is the best fist for self-defense? Here’s a video with my answer. Keep punching! #martialarts #karate #kungfu #kravmaga #tkd #selfdefense

I broke my screen when he said punch him :(

This guy has the best looking teeth !

"There is no super fist." unless you're one punch man 😂

I finally found someone saying the same thing I've been teaching and saying for years!! I even heard guys at a Sports Authority talking about hitting a heavy bag only when they have wraps and gloves on so they don't break their wrist. I challenged that remark and showed them right there I could hit it just fine with power without gloves or wraps and not hurt my wrist. Those things help beginners learn how to keep their wrists aligned and because they do the "super punch" as you call it, the one size fits all. I did a video talking about how targeting dictates how you will strike a target and its something even elite soldiers like SEALs use in their hand to hand training drills.

Your information, presentation and overall videos are just incredibly good man! I had so much confusion with this stupid silly thing. My body knew a punch changes overtime but my mind did not, so thanks!

Why imagine punching such a beautiful face xD

I punched a brick once, and i actualy broke somthing! Now i got a cast over my fist

Thank you Ben Stiller

Great video! Just trying to learn incase some fool comes at me for no apparent reason.

Best shoes is the one that fits.

Is that Ben stiller?

“The best fist is the one that fits” finally words to live by in and out of the sex dungeon

thanks now i can get revenge on my bully for making them do their homework for a week

Great lesson, reminds me of a character from a martial art series who performed all basic karate strikes 1000 times a day each every day since 5 to 55 yrs old.

2:30 "There is no all purpose super fist" I smiled at that part cause the German word for RPG would literally translate to "tank fist" in English. Jokes aside, super video. Thanks for the tips and advices. Keep up the good work! Edit: changed the format

I appreciate the positive approach and straightforward advice... too many self defense instructors dismiss any style other than the one they teach as incorrect and inferior and get defensive and quickly emphasize what a hard ass they are if you try to question them about it.

hehe i was fighting with a guy and he made a punch hitted me jaw at the bottom right and broke his nucle XD

You are the wisest martial art teacher I ever watch

my classmate punch me in the face ... with no reason so I punched him 10 times and he got a bloody face

You're the first person I've actually address this.

When did ben stiller become a fighter

Thanks for the tips like my 79 year old grandma didn't stand a chance

Very informative. I really appreciate this, that'll add more variety to my training which helps and psyches me up A TON

Finally, the right words about punching. Totally made sense. I subscribed while I was half way in the video. Thanks a lot, man. Wise words, in a proper presentation.

Very nice Ando! What an awesome reminder that martial arts are flexible; they have to be in order to really work. So, it makes sense that punching has flexibility too- finding the target based on the position will dictate how you punch. I do practice in the air and on the bag. Air helps me increase quickness, while the bag helps me feel the "real" thing! Thanks for your great insught.

Best answer to the question: "How do you punch?" My compliments. You honor your instructors. You've been trained by the best.

Someone pulled my hair and made me fall on the ground and walked away, I immediately got up, jumped on them, made them face me and like punched them in the nose a couple times. And yes, I’m a girl. Then we got in a serious fight. The person I was fighting was also a girl and guess what, I WON 😂

Thanks I needed this, there this dude at school who keeps pressing me and am going to put these lesson to the test at the right time.

Thank You Sensei🙏🏻

Thanks a lot I appreciate it my grandma stood no chance

when i punch my elbow strains and u cant figure out why. is it because im punching too hard? or im not turning it?

Im a very good boxer and still were searching who says what about punch condition and i felt your opinion about punch is really best , i appreciate you.

Man you awesome :D i rarely subscribe anythink but you got me

WOW... WHAT A GREAT THING YOU TAUGHT US .... FITTING THE PUNCH NOT JUST HITTING... IF IT FITS, IT AUTOMATICALLY HITS WELL.... THANKS USTAD ANDO... AND YOU KNOW WHAT IS USTAAD... ITS MEAN TEACHER IN URDU LANGUAGE... I LOVE YOUR FRIENDLY TEACHING STYLE SIR... THANKS ALOT.. BE HAPPY

Ok *Starts punching air like a fool* *STOPS*

Knowing how to properly punch is imo one of the most important things when it comes to self defense. My friend was attacked by 2 random Syrians who were on loads of alcohol and what I assume a few stimulants too (prob. speed, meth or coke/crack). Long story short; we tried to deescalate which is the #1 thing you should ALWAYS DO and that is to avoid fighting at all. We started packing up to just fuck off. 2 of us already drove away (3 of us now) and I was fiddling in my pocket for my bike keys but that's when they took their opportunity. The guy jumped (real name is Achmud bc. police still searching for him so idc about identity privacy) on my friend (let's call him Bob) and he had his back to me. Now I couldn't go for his head because that's where Bob's head was too (he was on top of him) and I didn't want to go blue on blue and hit Bob's temple. The only "canvas" I had was the back of the Achmud. I started throwing punches but accidentally punched wrong and bruised my pinkie (didn't feel it yet because adrenaline). I quickly realized that and threw a PROPER punch right on his back and Achmud started grunting hard as fuck. Left one HUGE bruise on his back. That destabilized him and I threw him off of Bob in a Judo-type way. They ran away faster than an F35 Lightining II Multipurpose Jet together with his Syrian friend. (they clearly weren't on just Alcohol judging by their speed, strength, coordination and overall behaviour). I decided not to chase them but to go help my friend who suffered a concussion. Called 112, cops came, Ambulance came, explained everything. 3 days later and Bob is still in the hospital... My point is; knowing how to throw a PROPER punch has a LOT of impact to the outcome. You might end up hurting yourself more than the attacker if you don't practice basic punches. And fight only when there's no flight option. Hit someone's temple just a few kN too hard and boom he's in a coma or dead. That's what my fight instructor always thought me. A V O I D fights as much as possible, unless there's no way out and it's justified self-defence. Violence will only bring pain, casualties, police and lawsuits. Be safe y'all

thank you very much im learning this just incase something bad happens to me :)

This is a great lesson, for someone like myself, I've never lost a fight, not to say I've been in all too many fights that is, the one fight I had I won. I hurt the fuck out of my hand, because I was getting overwhelmed by a flurry of gang-banger style punches, over the top, fast rolling motion, should I say, style punches, he was trying to scare me I think, as well as get to my face or anything else, I was backing off, over half a 2 lane streets width, using my space to lead him into a false sense of security, I went with what felt natural, which was backing off and away, and sometimes turning my back/ribs, to avoid that critical head/face punch, which is not always advisable but the punches as I said, I could feel, weren't intended to critically harm my ribs/stomach/shoulder bone etc: (we were school kids, hyped on adrenaline, trying to be the bigger men, even myself in a sense)so I let him throw his punches, and eventually, caved to the ground a little when I ran out of space, I waited for the right moment when I had no other choice practically(I'm sure if I continued in this manner, I would have succumbed to a good blow or two, because at this point, he knew he was getting nowhere, and was more or less questioning how he wanted to do it I imagine) it was then that I grabbed all that kinetic energy, in my arms from the ground(I even remember putting my knuckles of my right hand(I was in a crab-like position, almost out of balance)on the ground, and saying this is it, let's go then)and from my legs, straightening my body up and forcing myself to stand, and I went from the bottom right, sharp up to the side of his head, really hoping at first to hit the face, but in that moment you don't always think(which is the most dangerous thing)but because my Dad had taught me things, and I had gone to karate, just a little while(3/4 daily sessions tops, busting a kids nose bleeding as a reaction to again training, and the fact that he kicked me in my nuts I think)I seemed to almost automatically readjust for the temple, as I knew I didn't even want to fight in the first place, my brain was clearly like fuck it(dangerous too, think before you act, trust, nobody wants to go to jail for an accidental cripple/death, it's serious as fuck, beat that into your head)and sufficed to say, he dropped like a sack of potatoes. Even hitting his head on the cement curb, thankfully to God, somewhat lightly, and that was the end of it. About the kid in karate, the way I learned to flatten a guys nose, when he was a green belt, and I don't know I must've been a white, if I even got a belt at that stage, was due to my Father, he had been in tons of pretty violent fights throughout he's life, having to deal with bullies who were almost twice the width of him at times more than likely. He taught me if I want to break the guys nose, simply pull your punch back(I was taught to twist my hands from the side-fist slightly angled ready position to a quarter rotation left if your working with your right hand as dominant to get to a flat vertical fist, with a slightly bent elbow)and imagine your going to punch the nose, now simply think about punching through his head, then you send it, and trust me if you connect and your at the right position, he's either not getting back up, or you were too far away, and now his eyes are blurry to hell, so have your fun. Another thing on the nose, it is one of the most tactical positions to attack in my opinion. Because even if strength isn't your suit, and the other guy is a monster, if you can hit it, you've got a huge advantage, because he's eyes WILL water, at the very least slightly. The method goes as such, 2 left hooks, they don't have to be strong at all, just enough to bend his nose a bit maybe, just to disorient him, then you send your dominant hook, and you make sure you put some elbow grease behind it, street fights are almost never fair however, so this tactic is still useful, but you might rarely get the chance to use it if they are street smart. They will usually try to scare you as mentioned before, dancing about like they have endless stamina, flicking fingers at you, anything to distract you, disorient you, any advantage they can get. That's usually when they're homies come up behind you and either cheap shot knock you (TF) out, or jab you with a knife in your ribs and take your wallet. It's no joke, people are absolute scum when it comes to fair fighting, whether it be in clubs, pubs,festivals, anything. ALWAYS, be aware of your surroundings, and you will always, have the best upper hand, so long as you can keep the threats at distance, think about your hearing especially, because that's when you can become Jason fucking bourne and take 2 at once or worse, but don't you dare get cocky, play it safe, use your distance to recuperate and reevaluate, THEN take action, unless you have no choice, then you gotta think carefully. I hope this does help some of you, I had this fight maybe around grade 6, I would have been 8 years old, more or less, I can't recall. But what I do know is not a single person would easily come up to me again, especially when the whole primary and high school probably saw it on video... Never be afraid to back down from a fight, don't let your ego get the best of your better judgement, trust your gut, and if your getting constantly harassed, stick around a large group of friends or anyone really, if your really afraid, don't go into a corner by yourself, run out into the open, do what you must, if they want to threaten you with knives or anything, you rip they're fucking eyeballs out, and you run lol. I'll end my rambling essay here, great video Sensei Ando, I'm sure this would have taught many.

Another excellent production! I was taught that the action of turning the fist orientation from vertical (0:23 in the vid) to flat (0:20) as the punch is being delivered causes the two bones of your forearm (the radius and ulna) to twist together and form a stiffer, more stable structure for receiving the equal-and-opposite force that the impact of the punch is going to deliver (to you!). By allowing the impact energy to be dissipated through your arm, you reduce the likelihood of injuring the hand or wrist. I agree that having proper orientation when you hit the target (so as not to apply excessive torque to the wrist) is the most important consideration in delivering a solid punch safely and effectively. Regular practice with a hanging heavy bag is the best way I've found for developing the required hand-eye-coordination and balance/spacing skills.

this is like the fifth video of fighting technics and im worried for a lot of grandmas in this world.

I also want to know that when I puch heavy bag in what way I will move my legs and my body

I have never been in a fight, but as a girl I'm preparing incase I ever get mugged. It's so scary to think that if I'm unprepared there could be very serious consequences. So I'm going to try to learn via the internet ☺️

I was hitting in the air and then he said not to do that

I've punched people in the face bare-handed numerous times and somehow never injured my hand (yet). In all honesty, when it was done in self-defense or anger, I have no idea how I held my hand, it all happened so quickly. I'll try to pay more attention if it happens again... PS: As a long time martial artist, I've hit a lot of things practicing punching. The worst injury I ever got was when I thought I was punching a canvas covered wrestling mat that was hanging on the wall of a gym. Not! It was only thin canvas over the concrete wall. My hand swelled up to where I couldn't see any knuckles or any other anatomy at all. I was pretty lucky nothing broke.

This guy tried fighting me so i nearly brokke all his bones like a pro so he does not do it again

I’m going into a school notorious for physical bullies. I’m not very confrontational so I probably won’t need this but the confidence boost will be nice

Wow that was an awesome vid, I enjoyed that exercise. It all makes perfect sense

unbelievable... my friend used to do martial arts and always told me there's ONE specific way to punch... smh...and i kept refusing to believe him so happy i found this video..

I can't throw punches, I damaged my rotor cuff

You really said it more than anyone else

It depends on the individual and the condition of the hand of the individual

u h- thanks- now i can be prepared for any middle/high school fights xD im not screwing up nope- i should get a punching bag- how to convince my mum..

"It can be confusing to find out how to throw a real *punch* . That's because there is so much *conflicting* information out there." Ha, nice one.

Thank you for this teaching sensei.

Thanks😁 this helped me

This is major high quality sensai

1st lesson to shift to Delhi

You’re so friendly that it would be impossible for me to even consider hitting you Sensei.

Hint : Some times when you punch someone and he have his mouth open you might cut your arm if you stike his teeth so do not aim for the mouth . Simple

thank you so much my man for teaching me all these things, ive been watching for a while.

hee I m liker 100, do I get a free punch ?

never had it giving to me that straight forward ,thanks ill be pr acting more often now!more than llikely will throw a punching bag up!

I always punch my wooden door room until it does not feel pain anymore

*the title just described a normal punch....*

Hey Sensei Ando Loving your videos there helpful and fun, were new to karate (Dad/Son/Daughter) and were struggling with keeping a steady stance - any advice you could give would be fab 👍

Beautifully explained sir... thanks

"use anything" i use *Read more*

Sir , the word Sensie made me feel like i m watching a Cobra Kai video ♥️

i always hold back when i fight,because always when i get serious(i get angry)if the fight continues i get like that,and i always end up making someone fall flat on the floor crying or screaming...but many times i got my ass kicked at the beggining cuz i had mercy on the wrong guy

Thank you sir I search this up today because my friend said I didn’t know how punch and I told him how to punch so he just slammed me in the jaw and it kinda hurt so I wanted to really know how to punch!!! Thanks Heaps!!!

Now i see how i got a 2 boxer fracture 🙂💔

Thanks for the tips, this is gonna help if I decide to fight back due to me being threatened in school all the time

Wow thank you! I made a mistakes then xD tell you the truth I love street fighting even I'm a girl xD and I just throw some punches I don't care if my hands got bleed I just want the one whom I punch got a damage. But thanks to you sensei I know what will I do !!!

Ando: how to punch well RU-vid: nononono Ando: oops I meant for self defence RU-vid: nobody is tricking us Ando: It WaS StEvEnS idEa

I’ve been doing martial arts for about 7 years and I just got the feel for punching about a year ago it is not easy but it is worth it

So where and how can you use your knuckles effectively when hitting the head?

When o was a younger man and a street fighter before I got arthritis in my back and bad knees and bad hands from years of street fighting what I have learned is i always aimed with my first knuckle and middle knucles I have never broke those 2 knuckles by punching like that but I am a very expieranced street fighter and know how to fight and how to transfer power from the ground up by turning my hips into the punch I also can fight both orthodox and South paw which that makes me a very dangerous fighter I've seen rookie fighters who made mistakes like closing their fist around their thumb and shit or their fighting stance is literally standing straight up which is easy for a take down if you chose to do so which in a street fight I always avoided the ground because that makes you an easy target or rookie fighters wouldn't tuck their chin down

It literally was 6 years ago... Damn the time flies fast

Don't hit the top or back of the head, never! this is the second time i broke my fist knuckles (the fifth one on both hands) by doing that, also hit with the first two, the second two are really weak and cant handle much pressure.

Steve is punching* That one Dragon: oh no

Correct me sir. I punch with my two big knuckles(fore and middle) as impact point together with the whole flat of my close fist. but that is ideal if i punch with my arms stretched perpendicular from my body. But if I strike a straight punch on a taller guy my fist will flexed to bend at the wrist so my fist will land flat on the target. So I prefer to punch a straight cross to a taller guy so my fist will not bend at the wrist but the impact point is already the middle knuckles and the smaller knuckles.

Hes so true with common sence

Good Training Ando!

You have a great way of presenting valuable info. Thanks! Just subscribed.

I like the old RU-vid channel Barefisted for the way to do it on the street.

best advice ever received

Great lesson Mr. Miyagi

Awesome tips!!!!

You know what you're talking about. Good job!

Thanks, Dad

Everytime in a fight when i punch with bare fist my thumb always breaks !! 😭. Explain why?

Going for the best stability with most area to take impact on the fist, it's the flat fist without fingers curled inside. The lack of a tight curl inside lets the lower part of the fist 'collapse' a bit when the impact is at an angle or on that part of the fist, bringing the main knuckles and aligned bones into contact, and reducing the force that would bend your wrist. Hitting off-center from the intended striking surface is in effect putting a snap wrist lock on yourself, and that's not something you want to do.

“Pads or pads or boards or PEOPLE”

Winter gloves are op as hell just go for the nose. U wont feel it as much but if u get their nose they're gonna feel it and ur hands look bigger witch makes you more intimidating to them

Genius.

Thanks