Have you ever read articles advising you to build punch power by doing knuckle push ups? This is like saying that a key to a powerful car is to make sure the metal of the car is thicker than normal. Are you still a knuckle-callus-building fan? Is there a better way to improve punch power?
Knuckle Push-Up Warning
When I was a young teen and took lessons in Tae Kwon Do, I wasn’t allowed to perform knuckle push-ups.
The instructors said that my bones were still too malleable. I hadn’t finished growing.
They didn’t want to hurt or possible misshape my knuckles.
Knuckle Push-Up Benefits
Performing push-ups while raised on your fists does have some benefit.
For example, you’ll develop solid wrists. You’ll also teach yourself to keep your wrists straight, to avoid injury.
Unfortunately, the articles that promote and teach this knuckle exercise, preach the benefit of all the calluses that these push-ups will develop on the hand.
Note: Again, I’d like to refer you to the analogy of a muscle car. To generate power, I’d concentrate on the engine rather than adding an extra couple of layers of metal all over the body.
As a magician, people look at my hands. I don’t want ugly calluses on the backs of the fingers. I also need tactile sensitivity, to manipulate objects with sleight of hand.
By the way, avoiding developing rough hands has not hurt my martial abilities at all.
While lowering your torso to the floor balanced on your knuckles will teach structure, there are better ways to develop power.
For example …
How to Develop Power Without Knuckle Push-ups
This may seem to obvious, but if you want to develop super power punches, I’d probably practice exercises that … uh … well … included punching (or the punching motion).
That makes sense, right?
How you practice will depend on what kind of punch you are trying to develop. Some punches will benefit from short, resistance training. Other punches have a longer, whipping motion.
The key is to determine the best exercise for the kind of punch that you are trying to develop.
Hint — don’t make those exercises only knuckle push-ups — at least, not if you want to develop a power punch.
