Sidefist Punches

Sidefists are the easiest to learn. Only a couple of rules followed closely will get you moving in no time.

Close your fist and put your thumb on top. The fist should be held with the knuckle of the thumb pointing up and the largest knuckles of the index and middle finger pointing towards the opponent. The larger knuckles of the middle finger and the index finger are the only knuckles used in all punches. Hitting with the smaller knuckles can cause injury breaking the smaller metacarpals. This is commonly reffered to as a boxers fracture.

The punch can be done through or across your center (center is the area directly in front of your sternum). For the purposes of this instruction we will focus on those projecting straight out our center. The punch should be fired from a position level with the shoulder. It should remain at shoulder level or above at all times. (It could also be fired from the hip but would not extend far and is not useful for these purposes)

The punch should move immediatly to the center and then out. The body does not turn until the punch is nearly to it's target. At or near the point of impact the hips will then turn to reinforce the punch. If these two things are not done properly then the punch is considered behind and out of center. This would put great strain on the shoulder joint and could cause injury.

Just make sure that your punch is still in front of you at completion and not partially to the side. Proper execuction will work the pectoralis major and the deltoids without strain on the shoulder joint.