566 - Hammerfist! Two Standing skillsets

Online training: 29_7_25 Workshop notes, tactics and home training method with solo padwork

Jul 31, 2025

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This workshop featured the use of the hammerfist in a standing situation against an aggressor as well as several other ideas that link to it for various standing self defence situations as part of a wider range of applications this strike can be used for.

Here are some background notes for trainees along with complete methodology for the workshop content for your own home training along with footwork (including a separate article link), different situations for using the same idea and dynamic solo pad drills for practice.

Basics

Make a fist.

That fleshy part of tensed muscle between the pinkie knuckle and your wrist is the striking area of the traditional hammerfist.

Background

Humans have, no doubt, used their hands in this way to beat stuff as well the snot out of each other since the dawn of time shone its first tentative rays of light over the horizon.

Fast forward somewhat and the hammerfist was used in old bareknuckle boxing bouts in Western boxing, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries when the sport was less regulated and fought under rules like the London Prize Ring Rules.

Unlike modern boxing, which emphasises jabs, crosses, and hooks with padded gloves, bareknuckle boxing allowed a broader range of strikes due to the lack of gloves.

James Figg (before 1700 – 8 December 1734)

Historical accounts, such as those from fighters like James Figg (see below link) or Jack Broughton, and records of bouts suggest that hammerfist strikes were employed, especially in close-quarters or clinch situations.

551 - (FREE TO READ) "Fists Of Scorpio": Jack Johnson vs James Figg

Jeth

May 14

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Fighters used the bottom of the fist to target areas like the head, neck, or ribs, as the hammerfist could deliver concussive force without risking hand injuries on unpadded knuckles. These strikes were practical in the environment of bareknuckle bouts, where grappling, throws, and a range of striking techniques were often permitted.

Name a martial art or fighting style from anywhere on the globe and it will be a safe bet that there is a hammerfist lurking in their curriculum, it’s a core move:

Martial Arts: A few examples - any traditional Karate styles (e.g., Shotokan, Kyokushin) use the hammerfist (tetsui-uchi) for strikes to the head, collarbone, or body. Silat, Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun (some lineages use hammerfist strikes in close-range trapping or as a follow-up to disrupt an opponent’s structure), Filipino Martial Arts or FMA (often in conjunction with stick or knife techniques, to enhance close-range combatives).

(On the subject - If you’ve ever been instructed to use backfists in a style and risk smashing the carpal bones of your hands, switch this for a hammerfist and use it with a greater level of safety)

Military inspired “Combatives” styles like Krav Maga and Urban Combatives heavily use hammerfists in a limited curriculum of strikes where it’s argued they are “gross motor” movements and easily remembered (remember this is also good for marketing to new people too though… there’s a range of ways that a hammerfist can be used not just one and a whole world of striking out there too, and as with any technique, it’s what works for you NOT someone else. Train yourself, experiment and find out, I’ll return to this later with a question that was asked at the workshop).

Combat sports: Muay Thai, primarily known for kicks and elbows, sometimes incorporates hammerfist strikes in clinch situations, MMA fighters use hammerfists extensively, especially in ground-and-pound scenarios, where they deliver downward strikes to an opponent’s head or body generally from a mounted/dominant position (see videos), Combat Sambo, even Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ): Though focused almost exclusively on grappling, some self defence-oriented schools sometimes teach hammerfist strikes as a way to create space or defend while transitioning from ground positions.

So everyone and their mum who teaches fight training has some variation on this idea.

Generally it is classed as a “soft weapon” as unlike a knuckle punch, this fleshy striking area allows you to target harder targets such as the skull with a greater degree of safety (for YOU - not your attacker!).

It’s a simple to learn (most people instinctively know how to do it with no training whatsoever) and intuitive to use. Usually used against the head in some way to stun or render unconscious, it can be thrown in chaos, pretty much anywhere that hurts them, I’ll get on to the specifics of targeting for the workshop idea later.

Hammerfist performance

The examples from the illustration videos show a ground grappling context, and this is it’s common occurrence in combat sports as a dropping motion can be generated to add weight as clearly shown in this second video.

Use from standing

For self defence use, the weapon is used in the same way as these videos if one happens to be grounded, however the use of it while standing and against an aggressor in front of you has added nuances that we will cover here.