Are palm strikes and knife hands allowed in MMA?

[Mishima Zaibatsu]

As well, are you allowed to attack the side of the neck with a knife hand?

Always wondered this.

I know palm strikes were basically what was allowed in Pancrase, although, Bas Rutten was really the only guy I was aware of who applied palm strikes properly.

If true, why don't we see either?

Seems me to like this would cut down on broken hands.

 

[Mishima Zaibatsu]

Damn, wrong forum, sorry guys.

Can an admin switch this too Cageside?

 

[StillReal]

I don't think you're allowed to purposefully strike the neck, but that could be totally wrong.

 

[Mishima Zaibatsu]

I don't think you're allowed to purposefully strike the neck, but that could be totally wrong.

Yeah, I think it says the throat, but not the neck.

I can understand the throat being off limits, but why the side of the neck? Is that dangerous?

You can kick the side of the neck in MT. Seems pretty effective.

 

[Jesus X]

I think rabdy couture used palm strikes in one of his fights as GnP might have been some other wrestler can't remember well. Knife hands don't work or else machida and other karate guys in mma would of used them.

 

[StillReal]

Yeah, I think it says the throat, but not the neck.

Is can understand the throat being off limits, but why the side of the neck? Is that dangerous?

You can kick the side of the neck in MT. Seems pretty effective.

How you described it seems much more accurate to what I remember hearing.

I'm sure if you tried to karate chop someones neck they'd let you try, but it seems like it would of caught on by now if it was effective. I feel I can generate much more force with a punch than a chop, so why not just punch their neck? Seems pretty easy to block a chop.

But I do believe palm strikes are under-utilized.

 

[Mishima Zaibatsu]

You guys make a good point about the knife hand. If it could be used, we'd have seen it already probably, not like there's a shortage of Karateka and Tae Kwon-Doka(I think that's right).

The palm strike though, I'd like to see others use this.

It's pretty clear that it works and I don't understand why some havnt been using it when you wouldn't have to worry about breaking your hand on your opponents head.

 

[KWingJitsu]

Really?

lol.

 

[Mishima Zaibatsu]

Really?

lol.

I was aware of Hackney using the ridge hand against Yarbarrough, but I was sure if they were still allowed in MMA because he really don't see them anymore.

 

[RickStorm]

If I recall correctly you can use both knife hand strikes and palm strikes but there is no throat strikes allowed

 

[Sweets]

I reckon if you have a dude turtled knife hands to the side of the neck could be very effective because they focus pressure near the discombobulation zone at the brain stem.

 

[KWingJitsu]

I was aware of Hackney using the ridge hand against Yarbarrough, but I was sure if they were still allowed in MMA because he really don't see them anymore.

Ok I'll play nice.
That wasn't a ridge hand though it was incorrectly described as suck. it was a knifehand as seen in the picture.
Yes ridgehands, palmstrikes and knifehands are "allowed".
You don't see them "much" for two reasons: lack of opportunity and lack of people who've trained to use them.
Used to be the same with hammerfists till everyone started using them.
As an aside, palm strikes work better in the clinch and the guard, and I can assure you you have seen plenty of those if you've watched enough fights..

 

[RickStorm]

discombobulation zone

I hate getting hit there

 

[Sweets]

I hate getting hit there

Lol it's the worst.

 

[soundoff71]

I'm waiting for the day to we one of these in the cage: The Brachial Chop, which can be done with an open palm or a karate chop.

Here is detailed instruction on the technique:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Efb0jvbjA&nohtml5=False


Here's a couple of Marines doing it:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcaOr1TBA1w


And before you guys write this off, keep in mind that boxer Ricardo Mayorga did this to Din Thomas with a backhand/backfist (hard to tell) at the Shine press conference:


View: https://youtu.be/GrxsJIn_q30?t=224


(Edited because of a better angle.)

Din was momentarily 'tarded from that shot to the brachial plexus. If that dude wasn't there to hold Din up, he would've probably hit the ground.

It is not a power shot, it's more about accuracy and timing. Lots of MMA guys carry their hands low, & an accurate striker like a prime Anderson or Wonderboy could potentially pull it off on the grappler with low hands.

I would think a standing palm strike or hammerfist to the collarbone/clavicle would be effective. Supposedly, it only takes 7-10 lbs. to break a clavicle.

There was a time when spinning shit & karate front snap kicks weren't used, & now they're used all the time. The sport's young, it's only a matter of time till some karate dude busts out something like The Brachial Chop or a hammerfist to the collarbone.

Analyst Lawrence Kenshin made an excellent video showing Okinawan karate-like techniques applied in MMA:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juyanT_0zoM&nohtml5=False

 

[Zeph]

As well, are you allowed to attack the side of the neck with a knife hand?

Always wondered this.

I know palm strikes were basically what was allowed in Pancrase, although, Bas Rutten was really the only guy I was aware of who applied palm strikes properly.

If true, why don't we see either?

Seems me to like this would cut down on broken hands.

Pretty sure knife hands would be illegal.

 

[Sweets]

I'm waiting for the day to we one of these in the cage: The Brachial Chop, which can be done with an open palm or a karate chop.

Here is detailed instruction on the technique:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Efb0jvbjA&nohtml5=False


Here's a couple of Marines doing it:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcaOr1TBA1w


And before you guys write this off, keep in mind that boxer Ricardo Mayorga did this to Din Thomas at the Shine press conference:


View: https://youtu.be/GrxsJIn_q30?t=224


(Edited because of a better angle.)

Din was momentarily 'tarded from that shot to the brachial plexus. If that dude wasn't there to hold Din up, he would've probably hit the ground.

It is not a power shot, it's more about accuracy and timing. Lots of MMA guys carry their hands low, & an accurate striker like a prime Anderson or Wonderboy could potentially pull it off on the grappler with low hands.

I would think a standing palm strike or hammerfist to the collarbone/clavicle would be effective. Supposedly, it only takes 7-10 lbs. to break a clavicle.

There was a time when spinning shit & karate front snap kicks weren't used, & now they're used all the time. The sport's young, it's only a matter of time till some karate dude busts out something like The Brachial Chop or a hammerfist to the collarbone.

Analyst Lawrence Kenshin made an excellent video showing Okinawan karate applied in MMA:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juyanT_0zoM&nohtml5=False

Holy shit! I watched the first one and I was skeptical but the boxer! Holy shit!

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

1. The following acts constitute fouls in a contest or exhibition of mixed martial arts and may result in penalties, at the discretion of thereferee, if committed:
   1. Butting with the head
   2. Eye gouging of any kind
   3. Biting
   4. Spitting at an opponent
   5. Hair pulling
   6. Fish hooking
   7. Groin attacks of any kind
   8. Putting a finger into any orifice or any cut or laceration of an opponent
   9. Small joint manipulation
   10. Striking downward using the point of the elbow
   11. Striking to the spine or the back of the head
   12. Kicking to the kidney with a heel
   13. Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea
   14. Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh
   15. Grabbing the clavicle
   16. Kicking the head of a grounded opponent
   17. Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent
   18. Stomping a grounded opponent
   19. Holding the fence
   20. Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent
   21. Using abusive language in fenced ring/fighting area
   22. Engaging in any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes injury to an opponent
   23. Attacking an opponent on or during the break
   24. Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee
   25. Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the round
   26. Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury
   27. Throwing opponent out of ring/fighting area
   28. Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee
   29. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck
   30. Interference by the corner
   31. Applying any foreign substance to the hair or body to gain an advantage

Yes. Both are legal. Palm strikes are terribly under-utilized. Knife/ridge hands don't really get used, especially in reference to strikes to the neck but I feel like that's probably just because of how hard it would be to aim for and land a shot direct to the neck. What you will see is that quite a few guys strike with the thumb side of a closed fist when throwing overhands and even some hooks. I'm not sure if that's on purpose or just poor form.

 

[Ted Williams' head]

I imagine an increase in the use of palm strikes would directly correlate with an increase in eye pokes.

I always figured you wouldn't be able to get the same kind of wallop in a palm strike because you're spreading out the point of impact and don't have the density behind it like a fist does.

 

[Mishima Zaibatsu]

I imagine an increase in the use of palm strikes would directly correlate with an increase in eye pokes.

I always figured you wouldn't be able to get the same kind of wallop in a palm strike because you're spreading out the point of impact and don't have the density behind it like a fist does.

True, you might not get the same kind of power behind it.

But at the same time Bas was known for being able to KO guys with a single right hand palm strike.

 

[La Paix]

As well, are you allowed to attack the side of the neck with a knife hand?

Always wondered this.

I know palm strikes were basically what was allowed in Pancrase, although, Bas Rutten was really the only guy I was aware of who applied palm strikes properly.

If true, why don't we see either?

Seems me to like this would cut down on broken hands.

Big John is always good to answer these types of questions over Twitter if you have an account. He's pretty active and answers quickly.

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

I always figured you wouldn't be able to get the same kind of wallop in a palm strike because you're spreading out the point of impact and don't have the density behind it like a fist does.

Less cuts but the same wallop. Don't think about them like a bitch smack with the whole palm of your hand. You're really striking using the "heel" of your hand. Right by the wrist. Very solid. Watch some old Pancrase fights and you'll see guys getting dropped from palm strikes.

 

[Mishima Zaibatsu]

Big John is always good to answer these types of questions over Twitter if you have an account. He's pretty active and answers quickly.

Thanks.

I'll see about hitting him up.

 

[kneeblock]

Are you trying to get someone killed OP? Only if hands are registered as deadly weapons.

 

[Ted Williams' head]

Less cuts but the same wallop. Don't think about them like a bitch smack with the whole palm of your hand. You're really striking using the "heel" of your hand. Right by the wrist. Very solid. Watch some old Pancrase fights and you'll see guys getting dropped from palm strikes.

No doubt they'll do damage, I just wonder about the concussive force where you're not getting the weight of the fist in there with it.

Maybe it's just my boxing bias, but I just wonder in what situation you'd use a palm strike instead of a punch. I know Bas did great work with them in Pancrase but that was out of necessity. I don't remember him throwing many (if at all) in his UFC fights. I know he knocked out TK with a great punch combination.