Why mma fighters use open hand Guards?
Friendly FightsYou always keep your hands open and relaxed. You clench when you punch, which is part of the movement. If you clenched your fists the whole time you would lose energy and make your hits slower for no reason.
Look at literally any pro boxer shadow-boxing. Their hands are not tight, tense, or clenched until they punch (or parry, block, etc.). Edit: These guys are trained with more than a year of experience each, that's why their hands are like that. Relaxed but ready, not resting just responding.
I'm pretty sure that is said in hajime no Ippo, but no less true.
Yup that's the first thing he learned grabbing falling leafs
To be honest, it was nice to see someone finally knew how to record a video
Minus the dumb bitch who thought it was cool to walk in front of the camera mid fight. Camera man was on point though 🔥💯
That show surprised me with how much training wisdom it had laid out about proper boxing techniques. I had a kick boxer friend tell me about it. It was her first anime so it floored her.
Blood flows to where muscles are clenched. Clench your fists too long and your legs get slow.
Part of it is also the rotational energy as well. You want to rotate your forearm as you’re punching and if your first is clenched you’re resisting your own rotation
Yeah it's hard to launch your arm if the muscles are tense the whole time. You have to relax it so you could build up more speed
Actually if you look at the bare knuckle boxers they sre always tensed. If you only clench your first on the end of the punch with bareknuckle you are prone to get your hand/wrist hurt if the punch gets intercepted.
Fuck my opinion? All he is saying is that in Bare Knuckle Boxing you are more tensed than with gloves. When he said you have to keep it tensed he referred to his punch and when he blocked. Again, it’s MORE not “all the time”.
That’s something I already said, but if you want to post a link and think you dropped a mic like a Facebook grandma, go ahead.
The kid in the video boxes for sure, and that is why he keeps his hands open and loose, he has trained that way.
Bare knuckle boxing though you want to clench your fists the whole time and keep them as tight as possible or else you will break your own hands hitting someone, which you probably will do anyways.
Gotta disagree with "the whole time". If you make your hand do a relaxed fist you'll see it doesn't feel much different from a loose and relaxed hand. You can't keep the tension of a tightly closed fist up for several minutes. Try it. Your forearms will gas in less than a minute. In BKF I think you're somewhat right though, they clench the fists and keep a tighter fist more often.
Yeah I’m going to have to agree with the other guy. I know I’ll get downvoted but I have my reasons.
MMA fighters have open hands when fighting because they also grapple and elbow and want more fluidity in their arm movement.
Boxing and or bare knuckle fighting it’s best to have you hand in a state where the fingers can’t move. Especially when punishing, if you roll your fingers in and clench tight the and have your thumb in the right spot the fist will almost keep itself clenched and wastes less energy. You arm muscles wing get tired from clenching your fist. But you have to roll the fingers inward as tight as you can.
A soft fist where you just close your hand leads to a higher risk of breaking a knuckle. The entire point of a punch it to deliver as much force as possible and waste non of it. But with a soft fist energy is wasted as the fingers move, so you punch and relaxed parts of your fist move. the force of the punch rides that movement and can break knuckles.
In a fight you really won’t have to time to think of clenching your fist between punches it’s ineffective and distracting, and after you get him in the face it’s really hard to then think about how to make a fist and if it’s right and how much to clench and clenching before punching and all that.
That’s why you keep a hard compact fish and a strait wrist, punish with the first two and strongest knuckles as they align with the wrist, that way you won’t get a boxers fracture.
In a street fire having a roll of coins in your hand makes a world of difference because it effectively dose the same thing, with a roll of coins in your hand your fingers won’t be able to move when you punch and little to no force will be lost. If any of your fingers are able to move when you make a fist you will have a higher chance of breaking something.
A good way to see if your fist is correct is one: start with the tips of your fingers and roll them inward then the second knuckle and so on the tips of your fingers should rest in the crease of your first knuckle that will pretty much hold it in place just try it. Step two: roll the rest of the hand into a fist with this tightened grip, you will be surprised by how little you actually have to tense to keep it compact and hardened. Step 3: press that fist against a wall and push is anything moves like fingers and so on then that means it isn’t tight enough. (I mean a decent amount of movement not just a tiny bit)
This helps make your fist hardened and lessened the risk of breakage and seeing as the fist nearly holds itself closed you won’t be strained to keep it that way for long potions of time. Keep it clenched the entire fight keep a distance and struck with the first two knuckles.
Yea I'm going to have to agree with the guy that disagreed that you disagree with.
While your comprehensive breakdown is admirable, it seems to miss several key aspects of why MMA fighters use open hand guards. Let me delve into this with a detailed counter-argument to provide a clearer perspective.
First, let's address the concept of clenching and energy conservation. You mention that rolling your fingers and clenching the fist tightly saves energy and prevents injuries. However, this approach neglects the dynamic nature of MMA fights. Unlike traditional boxing or bare-knuckle fighting, MMA incorporates various disciplines like wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and Muay Thai, which necessitate a more versatile and adaptive hand positioning. The open hand guard allows fighters to transition seamlessly between striking, grappling, and defensive maneuvers, something a perpetually clenched fist would severely hinder.
Secondly, your point about the soft fist leading to higher risks of breaking knuckles seems to oversimplify the mechanics of a punch. The key to a powerful and safe punch lies in the technique, particularly in the alignment of the wrist and knuckles at the moment of impact. MMA fighters are trained to strike with precision, ensuring that their fists are appropriately clenched at the point of contact to maximize force while minimizing injury. The notion that fingers must remain tightly clenched throughout an entire fight is impractical and disregards the fluidity required in MMA.
Moreover, your analogy of holding a roll of coins in a street fight, while imaginative, doesn't translate well to professional fighting. In an actual fight, especially in a regulated sport like MMA, the focus is on efficiency and adaptability. The open hand guard is not just about striking; it allows fighters to block, parry, and grab effectively. These are critical defensive tactics that a constantly clenched fist would compromise.
You also mention that maintaining a tight fist aids in muscle conditioning and reduces the risk of fractures. While conditioning is crucial, it is equally important to avoid muscle fatigue. Keeping the fist clenched at all times would lead to premature muscle exhaustion, reducing a fighter’s effectiveness over the course of a match. Additionally, modern MMA gloves provide ample protection to mitigate the risk of fractures, which makes the constant clenching of fists redundant.
Furthermore, the idea that rolling the fingers inward and keeping the fist compact at all times is ideal overlooks the necessity of flexibility in hand movements during grappling exchanges. When engaged in clinches or ground fighting, an open hand allows for better control and manipulation of the opponent. This versatility is why MMA fighters train to keep their hands relaxed and loose, only clenching when necessary for striking.
Lastly, your steps to test the correct form of a fist might be beneficial for beginners, but professional fighters are well-versed in the biomechanics of their sport. They understand when to relax and when to clench their fists based on the context of the fight. The strategies employed by seasoned fighters are refined through rigorous training and practical experience, which is far more nuanced than a straightforward guideline.
While your points about energy conservation and injury prevention are valid in a limited scope, they don't fully encapsulate the complexities of MMA fighting. The open hand guard is a strategic choice that balances the needs for striking power, defensive capabilities, and grappling proficiency. It's a testament to the multifaceted nature of MMA, where versatility often trumps rigid adherence to a single approach.
Oh yeah I’m on bored with why mma fighters do open hand because there’s lot of different styles of fighting and gloves to help minimise injuries to the hands. But in a bare knuckle fight in like a street rolling your fingers essentially makes the punish more stable, less finger movement and so forth. And in a street fight if your planning to just punch go with a stable fist if you want to do more then transition to a more lose fist. A lose fist is good for face strikes and so on. It not a bare knuckles power punch. A lose fist also hurts you less, it’s odd but sticking with a more compacted fist hurts the skin and knuckle really bad but dose less actual damage.
All in all. Soft fist for quick jabs that are meant to not k pick someone out just hurt them a little. Hard compacted fist for a I’m going to kit you as hard as I can.
Adding in that you'll get down votes doesn't do anything for opinion btw
I mean probably not the actual reason but I’d imagine it’d use my energy clenching a fist for the whole fight, rather than just when throwing a punch.
That is actually one of the reasons, good guess.
I sparred with my buddy who trains (I don't. I did Muay Thai a tiny bit in college but it never really became my thing) and I know that wearing the MMA gloves that he gave me caused me to open up my hands between strikes. I don't know if I had some that really weren't broken in or if they are all like that, but it definitely seemed like it would waste a ton of energy to keep your hands clenched in those gloves.
I think the other reason why they keep them loose is for grappling purposes. I'm just speculating though. I don't have any practical knowledge of these things.
Exactly, the other half is that an effective punch only has a closed, tightened fist near impact. When clenching the whole way through a punch, the speed is greatly decreased and making dodging easier and the punch weaker.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee
Some skill on display from both.
Respectful, Standup fight Great camera person Involving high school age kids.
This must be an AI created video.
Or down under or Islanders
It feels like Hawaii to me
Do they come from a Land down under ?
Not AI, this has been up for quite a while now a few years at least. AI was not thus good back then, to be honest, not even now. Not yet, at least.
Nah this is Hawaii good sir. Lived there most my life on the Big Island and Oahu, almost every fight I've gotten into either in school when i was younger or later in college were straight up 1v1. We respect a good scrap
It may not be AI, but the spectators are moving at weird speeds...
These guys are really good. Puts it in perspective how extremly good UFC fighters really are
Obv them kids are looking to put on a show...to get on a show 😆
I liked everything about this fight from both guys however I just wish they moved it to the grass.
And still too stupid for fighting on tarmac
they dont attempt takedowns so maybe it was all-standing fight?
Until you get knocked out?
They don’t seem to be using wrestling techniques. However you get one of those leg sweeps. High kicks or punches in. Or better yet a straight up KO. You’re kissing asphalt.
Bad place to be fighting especially granted this looks like a pre-planned match.
This sub continuously provides evidence that even a stumble (let alone a punch) above concrete/tarmac can be an instant fractured skull
Because gravity is still a thing, and most people don't stay standing when they get knocked out.
Until one of them falls and breaks something and maybe won't be able to walk for the rest of his life or dies... Do you think that it wasn't stupid?
This was a good fight
Holy shit, 2 guys who can fight...in the same video!
Yessah 🤙🏽
This is one of the best amateur street fighting videos that I've seen. This guy's obviously train..
I leave my hands open specifically to grapple/ counter. Plus palm striking has similar impact force with less joint damage
People don’t realize how fragile the bones in our hands actually are. A bare knuckle punch is such a bad idea lol
Just do what I've done. Shatter both of your hands making poorly formed punches at different times until the bones are strong enough to hold up against it, even though my knuckles are in constant pain and will be until I die.
😂😂
Yeah, gloves aren't there to protect the other person. They're there to protect your hands and wrists.
Try out some pro MMA gloves and then tell me how much of hand protection they provide :D
I've worn them for training. There's a reason that fighters use the bigger 7oz sparring gloves for training. There's a reason boxers and kickboxers wear bigger gloves for sparring compared with fighting.
i dont like how they remove like 5 inches of my reach
you must have some big hands lol
Not at all I'm 5,7. But a well placed hand can throw off someone's jab easily.
Or maybe I have small hands, because in no way would reach change by 5 inches, I measured and change was around 2.5 inches. Il assume you guys just have 2 times bigger hands.
But that's just it MMA isn't boxing the point is to close distance and stop a good striker from connecting
insert bas rutten in pancrase and their open hand strikes (to the head; fists to the body legal)
Rajjjjja get one scrap, fakas in Hawaii gauranteeeee
I think in a 3 round fight those low semi persistent leg kicks from Black Shorts would start to pay long term benefits.
Fuck! Both of these kids can legitimately fucking fight. Good show of respect, no slamming each other on the concrete (although no-shirt could have and then disengaged), and the footwork in both of them was legit. 👏🏼
What's the fuckin title have to do with anything?
I'll watch this all day. WAY better than a flail-fest between two trash fighters.
Could be looking for a parry / counter
Or just not used to fighting bare handed.
Near the end you see no-shirt with his fisted closed so he got the point.
Easier to parry and grab someone
For parrying
One of the best posts on this sub in the last year.
Because you close and snap your fist on impact for extra momentum and force. Open handed allows you to move faster to target and you clench and close fist moments before impact, this increases your speed and allows the moment to have a further “snap” point in the strike inflicting extra penetration damage with the knuckles.
It’s the same reason why when you back fist you cruise to target open handed before snapping your fist close on impact.
It also leaves your hands open to grapple and catch for locks, breaks, and provides you the ability to swat strikes down and away diverting the force of another strike away from you.
You already know this is Hawaii, them islanders don’t play around🔥
This is the city of Waianae on Oahu (Islands of Hawaii) where UFC fighter Max Holloway is from. Cool historical/cultural fact, Waianae was known for their warriors in old hawaiian times during King Kamehameha’s reign. Violence and fighting is rooted deep in each family’s culture there which can have a negative impact on the social dynamics growing up in a family til this day.
Probably to set up for a grab. You can see them switch to a fist on the block
Ever been palmed across the face with an open hand? It hurts as much as a punch with force.
I would think it’s easier to check a punch with an open hand?
It’s not just mma. most fighters have there hands open before they strike
I wanna see their faces after. Both landed some clean heavy blows lol
why???
Good stuff!
You can't grab anyone with a fist
Ready to scrap. Also ready to throw shakaz.
Do
nut
For the accidental eye pokes it causes
These guys are using a long guard for defense which I think is almost a must if you are doing kickboxing, MMA, or anything that will include some form of grappling. Lead hand is extended and relaxed so that it's in a better position for parrying punches, throwing a counter jab, or grappling.
Great scrap, nice kickboxing skills 👏🏻
Great bout
Boxing, you do the same. You just can't tell with gloves, but you keep hands open unless throwing. You catch and parry with palms.
There are multiple reasons for this. MMA fighters often keep their hands open when they’re not in striking range. This helps them react quicker to attacks since open hands reduce reaction time (very useful for catching and parrying strikes). Plus, it prepares them to clinch or grab their opponent, which is super important in MMA/Street fights. It also lets them control the distance better and keep their opponent at bay. Additionally, it gives them quicker access for grappling. And lastly, open hands provide a bigger surface area to protect their face and body, making it easier to block strikes and kicks effectively.
Black shorts won fight for sure when he could have slammed but decided not to slam after he had position under blue shirt.
Parry & counter.
This is a good clean fight been people who respect each other. I like. I love how they add their own sound effects to the punches.
So that the enemy can only make you slap yourself, not punch yourself
Not to get political, but in the George Floyd trial, the world renowned expert pulmonologist testified Floyd was effectively “trying to breathe with his hands and fingers” at the end of his life.
The pumping of the hands was his only means of keeping any oxygen coming in.
Scientifically speaking, clenching your fists is going to require use of your muscles. Your muscles use oxygen. When you’re in a fight, unless you avidly train, you will get winded fast. Conserving every bit of energy helps.
This is one of the strangest comments I've ever read.
Where was this? The crowd is so respectful.
Blue fucked up leaving his knee out and got ROCKED but was able to hide it extremely well. He made a good call to end it.
This is that scene from ‘Never Back Down’ can’t fool me
They really be out Mortal Kombating
The mofos are living in bedrock with the Flinstones
Easier to get the eye pokes
I cant help but get pissed seeing people fighting to get closer, chicks walking in the middle of the fight to get a better angle, and people constantly crowding them.
This is probably first time I'm seeing Americans use kicks and not only punches
Fuckin Hawaiians! Always the best fighters
Try some mma and find out.
There are some pros and some cons, pros that you can keep your arms relaxed, it feels more comfortable and you have the ability to grab your opponent, opponent won't know are you punching with a fist, striking with a palm or going for a grab. It disguises your game. Also its easier to close in the fist for a strike than open it up for a grab.
The con is that there is significantly higher risk of finger injuries, bad grabbing techniques, getting punched or kicked in to the fingers can be a bitch, one of my friends broke 2 fingers like that.
Bottom line its personal preference, both work fine.
I'll beg for mercy if I have to fight a Soutpaw
Great kicks from black shorts
Finally a fight video with no body slams or screaming black girls in the background
There's a guy just off camera, letting air out of a tire every time someone swings or kicks.
blue is just eating up those leg kicks with no reaction
An open hand moves faster than a fist... just my thought. Plus able to grab and block more. Again just a guess
Yea, more options being opened up, but you have to be faster than your opponent.
More surface area to block with and punches come out faster if you're not all tensed up.
I really appreciate that there was a point one of them could’ve picked up the other and body slammed but let it go. Respect.
Hawai’i boys know how to fight.
Hawaii boys know how to fight
For grappling, but yeah kinda useless when they’re clearly just doing kickboxing.
These guys look pretty skilled to me. No one mentioning how black shorts shifts from shouthpaw to right and then back? That'll keep you on your toes.
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Hawaii
Eye gouging and eye pokes are not allowed in the UFC but in the streets there’s no rules, just don’t grab a dudes Family Jewels. 💎
I was taught to wait to make a fist until you are mid strike. More aerodynamic for the duration of the punch, thus, hits harder.
They probably decided beforehand to a stand up spar. They would have moved to grass if grappling was included.
I really never got why people do that little hiss thing when they punch
Helps you brace your core as you attack which is also when you're going to be the most vulnerable to getting punched. Also helps with your breathing which you tend to forget about when you fight
Its good practice to clench your fist while punching to get more speed and energy behind the punch
Can I please get my 2:16 back from watching this.
You'd rather watch some 10 second video where someone gets sucker punched?
You've been dismissed.
air fight
honestly I dont get the hype
Because you don't know how to fight
reminds me of those capoeira dancers, they could land the hits, but they chose not to. boring as shyte
but yea you're right, I don't know how to fight, just a judo black belt, what do i know
if this is fightporn must be some softcore/granny category
Oh wow you're a judo black belt!!! So that still means you can't punch or kick properly, which means you don't know what you're watching and that's why it's boring to you. I don't understand how you think judo is entertaining but this isn't lmao.
contactless vs contact, highschoolers vs adults, if you liked the show it's good, i dont blame you
and btw, never said judo is the supreme art, any style can be entertaining, actualy mma and boxe can be much more entertaining, because more money and more competition
but when i see two guys dancing in a school yard for youtub views it's just lame to me
I see where you're coming from. But i think that if you would train muaythai a couple times and maybe spar a few rounds, you would enjoy this more. I just see good technique and nice setups and i enjoy that, because most of the time in this subreddit it's just a video of some guy getting sucker punched. But i also understand that you think it might be quite boring.
agreed, compared to the many drunk/helpless people getting abused videos, this is better, there's potential. just a lil too friendly
Average redditor condescension 👍🏽
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