[Magister]

one of his punching techniques uses the last 3 knuckle. isn't that a little dangerous? those knuckles are much weeker. i know that ideally you are suppose to work up your resistance with various exercises, but is there really a great benefit to using the three knuckles over the normal first two? it would take a long time to refine and strengthen, and your power is spread over three knuckles in stead of just two.

The normal "first two knuckles" is a method seen in budo as well as Korean styles (from their influence during the Japanese Occupation) as well as the Northern styles of Kung Fu.

However, in the southern styles (Wing Chun included; & hence it's appearence in JKD), the lower knuckles are used in a vertical fist. This is a much more logical technique since it follows the composition of the hand & arm.

To demonstrate; hold you hand in front of you, palm facing you. Note how the last three fingers are aligned with the forearm & elbow. The thumb & first two knuckles are not in alignment. Consequently, the ligaments & tendons of the the hand are strongest in the natural alignment of the forearm.

This means that the first two knuckles need to be "angled" slightly in the horizontal fist so that they alight with the forearm. However, the amount of angling usual results in wrist injuries to the extremities of the wrist which has very little adductive flexion.

Boxers use a natural punching angle & recognise that some punches are better created with a vertical fist & some are most adequate with a horizontal fist. Both are useful.

If you consider one as being better than the other, you instantly get a "for" or "against" mindset. This mindset is one that is one of the cancers of the human mind - whereby you cease to be lead by reality & instead by your opinion. Simply because your instructor told you a certain way, does not necessarily mean it is the right way. Being For or Against simply promotes ignorance.