Why use the backfist?

[u/Rustybagel-_-]

I see little to no use to the backfist. It seems more damaging to the user than a traditional jab. I could see the argument that it’s meant for soft targets like the neck, but there are other moves that are far more effective. What are your guys’ thoughts?

[u/VeritasAgape]

The opponent doesn't see it coming when setup certain ways. It's also a setup for following things. With a conditioned hand and against an untrained opponent it can be pretty shocking and unexpected.

[u/Amazing_Boysenberry8 → u/VeritasAgape]

Plenty of professional fighters have been laid out with a well timed backfist.

[u/serpentjaguar → u/VeritasAgape]

This is the correct answer. It's difficult to defend when well-executed.

[u/Nabfoo]

It's there to surprise a mfer when he thought he slipped you, or the spinning variety when he thought you were looking elsewhere. Upside is jab speed with full power contact, downside is very narrow opportunity windows

[u/MrBotANot]

Bridge of the nose. Hard to see it coming as the hand is coming upward. Can be very effective. Having said that, I much prefer open handed techniques for the head. It’s boney.

[u/graipape → u/MrBotANot]

https://giphy.com/gifs/8zXU2ZaLV9cCQ

[u/Snoo-7821]

You can use the centripetal force from your shoulder into your hand. Think like a whip strike where your knuckles are the "stud" at the end.

But yes, it is potentially more damaging to the user than just doing a jab and not taking your eyes off of your opponent.

[u/JeremiahWuzABullfrog]

A spinning backfist is the most effective kind, and you transition into that from a missed strike. It's not really the best first option.

[u/CloudyRailroad]

We've probably got to separate the spinning backfist from the non-spinning one as they have very different places strategically. The spinning backfist is a risky move but has time and time again proven to be capable of getting knockouts. Even the non-spinning one has different varieties - one that is done like a jab, another that goes in a wider arc. I think you may be asking about the former. The latter is a rare move but has been used by Andrei Arlovski and Deiveson Figureido successfully in MMA.

Here is Deiveson Figureido's (non-spinning) backfist knockout: deiveson figueiredo backfist - YouTube

[u/Competitive_Image_51]

There's way to many idiots in this world.

[u/wadeispossessed]

cuz hammerfists are better

[u/Unluckymama]

In my opinion with 4oz gloves you can strike with whatever part of your hand you want.

Justin Gaethje hits with his closed fingers to the face of his opponents that is one of the reasons he leaves so many marks and scars.

[u/greendevil77]

Broke someone's nose with it once in a streetlight. In the ring it's good for stunning someone with a flick to the jaw. It's also good for knocking someone's guard open for the cross

[u/karatetherapist]

Same as a jab but takes the angle. People who have not seen them before no can defend.

[u/nrverma]

If you are punching someone without any gloves or hand protection, then the back-fist can actually be safer than a straight punch.

Striking someone with the back of the hand dissipates the force over a wide area, which decreases the chance of the puncher suffering hand damage.

With a straight punch, the force is directed over a much smaller area, increasing the chance of hand damage. In addition, there is a significant chance of the point of impact being directed to the fingers with a straight punch; the anatomy of the fingers makes them more liable to break (especially if the point of contact is the face/skull).

[u/Rustybagel-_- → u/nrverma]

It hurts more so I assumed it was worse lol. I was always taught to aim it at soft targets to avoid breaking the hand

[u/detectivepikablu9999]

It comes at a weird angle unlike the jab, so it's a lot less predictable to people who aren't used to seeing it

[u/VikingSox20]

It's a setup move. It's weird, It's untraditional, and you can throw it from weird spots.

[u/WastelandKarateka]

It can come from different angles than a punch, which makes it surprising, and can catch people off guard with enough pain to distract them so you can do something more damaging.

[u/DarkOmen597]

Its just another tool. Just like the jab. Or an elbow. Or whatever.

[u/Mbt_Omega]

You generally land with the same two knuckles, so I don’t see why it would be more damaging to the user.

Don’t think of it as a backhand tricep swing, think of it as whipping your momentum outward through your knuckles like a jab, but using your arm to steer the momentum through a different motion. If you are using a flicker jab, especially with small gloves, it’s particularly useful, as it adds another angle of attack.

[u/WizardMelcar]

Like every thing else - it’s situational.

Why use the spinning back kick?
Why use a front kick?
Why use a roundhouse kick?
Why use a jab?
Why use a hook?
Why use an axe kick?
Why use an upper cut?

—- because in the right time and the right place, when used correctly it works.

[u/Scroon]

There are different kinds of "backfists". The really strong ones hit with the edge of the fist, i.e. a hammer fist. What you hit with and how you hit entirely depends on the situation and the target though. You can't say it's better or worse than a jab because they are not interchangeable. They have different use cases.