Most eastern martial arts mention the use of the two prominant knuckles as striking surface for punches( that is the first two knuckles closest to the thumb-the ring anf the middle finger)

However i was reading Jack Dempsey's Championship Fighting which talks about the power line
It mention that the power line ends at the knuckles of the little finger and that the striking surface should be the last three knuckles farthest from the thumb.(the little finger, index and the middle finger)

As far as i know the these three knuckles have a weak skeletal structure and so is prone to injury in fighting.
Even if the these knuckles are trained to withstand the heavy forces that pass through it on impact is it safe to be used in street fighting

Not using it would be a compromise on power vs safety

What is your opinion about it
Thanks in advance

i would never punch someone with my pinky knuckle, it would get shatter. but with propper gloves on, that could be a different story.

When i started off in the martial arts i use to hit the news paper attached to a wall with that surface
and there were no injuries or problems
not ony that but i practiced that for about a year with out any problems
i dont think the human body could get harder than that

but did you punch with your pinky knuckle?

I have been in the Martial Arts for 32 years, and I have hit with every knuckle on my hands. The key is to train them or condition them with a proper striking surface. Use whatever you need in a self-defense situation.

Let me clarify about the striking surface as i made a mistake in the post

The surface in question is the three knuckles farthest from the thumb ie the pinky, index and the middle finger

I strike with the above knuckles aiming for the index knuckle to strike
i used to hit with this surface full fledged strikes
Infact I find it hurts to hit with the two knuckles as followed by most martial arts.

What i want to know is can this fist surface be conditioned for impact via breaking objects as they do in karate etc or any other conditioning exercise.

I studied for awhile under Master Hee IL Cho, you can find out about him on google... anyway he conditioned his entire fist, what I mean is that is striking surface follows all the way across "ALL" knuckles!! He is the guy that punches through 7 or 8 cement blocks with his fist! I have never done just one finger, but I use my entire hand, or backfist!!

The last three are the way to go. Middle, ring, and pinky.

Unless you punching solid bone your going to be hitting with the whole fist anyway.

If you want to learn how to punch there is no doubt in my mind that you should learn from a Chunner. They are by far the best straight punchers in the world. When you punch with an outward rotation instead of an inward rotation you naturally tuck your pinky in and project your index knuckle aligning your first two knuckles with the radius (top forearm bone) and the flow of power.

When using your radius as your channel, combined with the outward rotation you automatically get a blow which cuts downward helping to disrupt there core.
For me there is no other way to punch the torso.

i train in JKD and i use the last three including my pinky knuckle. and i punch vertically. this has a stronger bone structure behind it.

It acctually had a weaker bone structure, its just easyer to align.

If your punching above your shoulder level its comon to punch with the pinky side of ur hand becuase its aligns with the Ulna (lower forearm bone).

so when punching upwards use the ulna to align the punch as it is easyer to route to your core, when punching downwards use the raidus to align (punching with forefinger kuckle).

Are you talking about a hammer fist? If so, that's what ballz is talking about. Unless of course you're talking about an uppercutish punch to the stomach, in which the radius and ulna would be in anatomical position. I can't think of any other punch you would deliver with your palms up.

if you are afraid of your bones in your hands why not use knuckledusters ?? much greater pain and effect on impact as well

1 - there illegal
2 - if I was going to carry a weapon, I’d have something more useful.
3 - you don’t need to reach into a pocket or a bag for your fists, as a general rule I like to keep my hands with me at all times.

Lei - No, im only talking about straight punches where your knuckles are perpendicular to the floor.

This is quite tricky to explain without being in the same room.
I'll try this -
put ur arm out in a finished punch position parallel to the floor (in line with ur shoulder) . We will call this 0 angle.
If your punching above this angle i.e. to the face (+15 degrees) you will use the line of Ulna-outer knuckles.
If your punching bellow 0 angle i.e. solar plexus, then you should be using the line Radius-inner knuckles.

I’ll get back to this when I get my digital camera.

i dont no bout you but my hands just get tougher the harder i abuse them. it sucks sometimes i cant hit the bag caz i cut up my knuckles too bad. i mean i get a lil cut and they just get bigger the more i punch. even with gloves on