Strong spear hand

[Master J]

i really like the spear hand move, but my fingers aren't strong enough to take the pressure.

any tips on how to strenghten my fingers?

[SoKKlab]

any tips on how to strenghten my fingers?
--------------------------------------------------------------

Try Typing Harder?

No, In all seriousness, unless you start doing some esoteric Iron Finger Hot coals routine, then look at it from a different perspective.

Instead of trying to 'strengthen' the fingertips, concentrate upon throwing the spear hand in a common sense manner.

When you see people doing Spear hand strikes, they usually have the hand tort and straight, this can only lead to pain and misery if you miss your soft target and hit something hard with your fingers dead straight.

That's how you break your fingers when they accidently hit something like a jawbone.

Instead always turn down the fingertips slightly, so that the hand is like a roof tile. This way your fingers can act as if they have Shock Absorbers. When they accidentally hit something hard like a jaw bone, they won't break they will bend slightly with the impact.

Do this regardless of what any Sensei or Master tells you, it'll save you from doing something nasty to your hands.

[Master J]

yea, i do my spear like that anyway, but it can still hurt.

I'm talkin about those Shaolin monks. They toughen up their hands and can put a spear hand through bricks.

Anyway i can toughen my hands like them?

[Knight_Errant]

I've heard of all sorts of esoteric exercises. For example:
driving your fingers into containers of raw beans
slapping water with your hands.
In all seriousness, I wouldn't bother.

[RedDragon]

Originally posted by Knight_errant
For example:driving your fingers into containers of raw beans


I have also heard and read that this can cause you to lose your fingernails and cause deformation of the hands.... better to stay away from it.

[SoKKlab]

yea, i do my spear like that anyway, but it can still hurt.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Then you'll just have to put up with the hurt then, otherwise go and do an art that doesn't use Spearhand strikes....

[Knight_Errant]

Red dragon, you will notice that I was being cynical and advising him not to bother. There is not honestly a whole load of point even if it didn't injure your fingers.