What are knuckle push-ups good for?

Question

I remember these from martial arts classes as a kid. Is it just about mental discipline, or do they work different muscle groups than standard push-ups?

Answer 1

The sole purpose of knuckle pushups is to build a layer of callus on your knuckles -- sort of home-grown brass knuckles -- to make your hits more effective in martial arts.
The knuckle pushups are not good for your joints, because knuckles weren't made for that sort of treatment. But I guess martial arts people have to prove how tough they are, and they'll worry about arthritic joints later.

Answer 2

Well not to add to your confusion, but both are actually correct for slightly different reasons. Doing any form of knuckle push up toughens the hand and strengthens the wrist. It works on building the wrist up so that it doesn't snap to one side or the other when landing a hard shot particularly to the body. Either will help here and either is perfectly fine to help acheive this reslut. The main difference that you are really looking at here is with using a flat fist you are conditioning the whole hand or all the knuckles anyway. This to me is the most realistic option for doing them. When someone tell you do them only on the inside knuckles(index and middle) or the middle knuckles (middle and ring) it is to condition the knuckles you are taught to strike with and that depends on your style. I would personally say mix it up and do some of all 3, but I would do more flat fist. The main reason that I would do more flat fist is that unfortunately you are not always going to be able to hit with the exact knuckle that you want to and if the rest of your hand hasn't had at least some conditioning then you are going to hurt your hand. You may be able to hit with the exact knuckle you want to hit with like on a board break or something like that, but in sparring/ fighting you are moving and your opponent is moving and your punches are not always going to land perfectly the way you want them to. As to whether to do them just on the ridge of the knuckle where it bulges or to use the knuckle and upper finger, definitely start with knuckle and upper finger and then gradually move up to just the knuckles. Best of luck and keep training.

Answer 3

First it strengthens knuckles. If you look around you can see some of the things shao lin (sp?) guys do to strengthen their knuckles. I AM NOT A DOCTOR but if you put pressure on bones it builds their density (another benefit to lifting). I really don't think 100 knuckle push ups is going to do damage. You will probably damage your shoulder before you damage your knuckles
My wrists get stiff from regular pushups so I will use knuckle pushups because they take the pressure off my wrists. I don't think that is the main reason but I suspect I am not the only one.

Answer 4

Basically the same muscles will be Incorporated your pecs and triceps, but the knuckle position will provide more support for your wrists.

Answer 5

Hey I am here for the first time. I came across this question and I find the answers truly useful. I hope to offer something back and assist others too.

Answer 6

Sore knuckles?

Answer 7

I'm taking karate and a lot of the macho black belts do knuckle pushups. They think it makes them look cool but really it's extremely bad for your knuckles. Your hands are delicate! If you want to make pushups harder, move the horizontal or vertical position of your hands.

Answer 8

they're only good for cramping your hands... it's almost a craptastical ideal.

it's hard on the knuckles... not a good idea.

just do pushups the old fashioned way... and then that's hard on the wrists.

Answer 9

Knuckle push ups are harder to do than regular ones, in martial arts, because they are harder, it can be mentally toughening as well. Therefore, you toughen physically and mentally.

Answer 10

Sounds to me like all they'd be good for is skinned knuckles.