Here the rest of the 9th chapter.
"...by testing a spot on the wall just opposite of your own solar plexus - the vitaL body target just below the end of the breast bone. In making the lower test, sway foward from the same standing position - with either fist - toward the solar-plexus spot. But, before you sway, TURN YOUR FIST PALM-DOWN so that the knuckles will be parallel to the ceiling when you press your fist against the wall. The power line still runs solidly through the little knuckle. Now that you have felt out the power line, you can appreciate that the greatest possible solidity would be achieved if you landed every punch with the little knuckle first."
"Unfortunately, however, the hand-bone behind the little knuckle is the most fragile of the five back-bones. It can be broken the most easily. YOU MUST NOT ATTEMPT TO LAND FIRST WITH THE LITTLE KNUCKLE. Instead you must TRY TO LAND FIRST WITH THE KNUCKLE NEXT TO YOUR PINKY (the ring finger). We'll call that the 2nd knuckle. Aiming with the 2nd knuckle usually brings about a THREE-KNUCKLE landing. Those THREE-KNUCKLES ARE: MIDDLE, SECOND (RING) AND PINKY. If you aim with the 2nd knuckle, those three knuckles usually will land togther because the average fist slopes slightly from the middle knuckle to the pinky. Such a three-knuckle landing not only prevents the hand-bone behind any one knuckle from bearing all the punch shock, but it also permits punching ALMOST EXACTLY ALONG THE POWER LINE. Rarely will one of those knuckles make a solo landing. But if you aim with the little knuckle, you risk a dangerous solo landing on forehead of blocking elbow.
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I have a class I must go to.
So I'll finish the rest of this chapter in about an hour.
Is he talking about with gloves or without? I was always taught to punch without gloves using the middle and index knuckles.
The pictures he shows are without gloves.
But the concept translate to with gloves.
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"Always aim with the second knuckle - the one next to your pinky (the ring finger) - and let the other knuckles take care of themselves. They'll take care of themselves all right; for the shape of the fist makes it impossible for them to do otherwise. Clench your right fist and inspect its knuckles. You thumb knuckle is "out of the way" - completely separated from the four knuckles on the striking edge of your fist. More than that, your thumb knuckle is farthest away from your pincky knuckle - farthest away from the end of the power line. Nature took care of that. Never double cross nature and by trying to hit with that thumb knuckle, under and circumstance. It breaks easily. Keep it out of the way."
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"The knuckle of your "index finger" (the one next to the thumb) is fairly prominent, but not as prominent as the knuckle of your middle finger. In some face punches and most body blows, that "index knuckle" will land with the other three, for a four knuckle landing. That's okay. let the index knuckle come along for the ride. Under no circumstances, however, try to land first with that index knuckle. If you do, you'll not only break your power line, but you may break your wrist."
"Beware likewise of trying to land first with the prominent middle knuckle - the source of most hand injuries. Such aiming will slant your hand off the power line and, at the same time, endanger the middle knuckle and its hand bone. When that middle knuck makes a solo landing, itprominence prevents the other knuckles from helping to absorb some of the punch shock. That shock or pressure is terrific in any full-fledged punch, particularly when you nail an opponent with a head blow "just as he is stepping into you."
In that split-second, your fist must withstand the shock pressure of an explosive collision between two hurtling body-weights"
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"Let me repeat: If your punch is landed correctly, in power-line fashion, three knuckles - pinky, second (ring) and middle - will share the pressure and distribute it over the thre hand-bones behind the knuckles. That lessens the chance of brusing or crushing any one knuckle, or fracturing any one hand-bone. Most professional and amateur boxers suffer frm hand injuries during their careers even though their fist are protected by bandages, tapes and gloves, because they don't make a fist properly. As I pointed out earlier, the hands have no such protection in a fist-fight. You must land correctly, not only for power-line explosiveness, but for hand protection.
"We have examined the power line and the second-knuckle aiming for long-range straight jolts; but what about the other types of punches? What about medium range straight punches, hokks and uppercuts? Does the power line and the second-knuckle aim hold good for them?
"Yes indeed they do hold good. YOU MUST HIT ALONG THE POWERLINE IN ALL FULL FLEDGED PUNCHES; AND YOU MUST ALWAYS AIM WITH YOUR SECOND KNUCKLE (RING)."
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"The landing position of your fist may change from the upright (vertical) to sideways (palmdown), in varying degrees, when shooting from differnt types of punches for the head. And it may change in various degrees from sideways to upright in punching for the body. BUT YOU MUST ALWAYS PUNCH ALONG THE POWER LINE, AND ALWAYS YOU MUST AIM WITH THE SECOND KNUCKLE (RING).
You'll get the feel of that power line in other punches later. You'll discover that bending the elbow, in a hook, for example, does not break the line of power. And you'll find out why.
End of chapter 9
Next time chapter 10: Relaying and Exploding.
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