The Hands-Body-Feet Fallacy
If you’ve spent much time in Krav Maga circles, you have likely heard this ad nauseum. The idea behind this concept is that when moving to defend or strike, the hands should move first, followed by the body and then the feet. As a principle, it may have some value in a narrow context, such as defending against a firearm threat; however, its usefulness mostly ends there.
When it comes to punching, the hands-body-feet axiom is antithetical to the tried and true punching standard of virtually all practical combat arts (and probably one or two of Newton’s Laws, but I’m not that smart.) It is the opposite of how to be most productive with punching.
A quick note: A training video compliments this post and is referenced throughout the document using timestamps that link to the specific concept. I recommend combining the YouTube training with this post.
Let’s take a look at each supposed “pros” of HBF:
- “it’s faster”: there might be some truth to this, though speed is subordinate to timing, which is often overlooked or misunderstood. Throwing the right thing at the right time is vastly more important than throwing it fast. (7:45) That said, at best we are talking fraction of a second, in exchange for a signficant decrease in power. Simply being fast without meaningful body engagement is ineffective. (5:44, 6:30, 7:37).
- “it’s less telegraphed“: (14:05) this one is just wrong. The idea that the body moving before the hands is somehow more telegraphic is irrational. If most people, trained or untrained, are inclined to watch the hands, then the hands moving first is more telegraphic. When the body moves, it is difficult, especially for the untrained person, to read what is happening. Is it a kick, punch, knee, elbow, takedown, feint, or something else? It’s not nearly as conspicuous. This supposed advantage also ignores the behavioral and psychological elements of conflict’s pre-contact and pre-emption phases, when words, tone, body language, and environmental variables play a significant role in disguising moves and movements.
- “speed is more important than power”: realistically, you cannot separate these two, as speed is a significant power component. Regardless, being first but ineffective removes any surprise element, wastes energy, maybe compromises position, and likely encourages and enhances the predator/prey paradigm instead of upending it, by encouraging the aggressor. (5:44, 6:30)
THE IDEA OF LEADING WITH THE HANDS TO PUNCH TENDS TO CREATE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS.
When the hips and legs are not engaged or are engaged late, power is significantly hampered, and so is reach, which often leads to missing the target or hip hinging in order to reach. This hip hinging causes the puncher to break posture, which tends to be the precursor to poor balance and dropping hands.
If we suspend rational thought for a moment and ignore all of this, there is an additional, maybe less obvious, and undoubtedly problematic issue: the follow-up strike. If, for example, the puncher throws a right straight, following the HBF concept, and they intend to follow with a left hook, it is virtually impossible to lead with the hand.
The hip and shoulder should be forward once the body and legs are finally engaged. The right hip and shoulder must pull or retract to throw the left hook. If not, the puncher will attempt to punch across the body in an unnatural and, realistically, impossible way.
Try this: extend your right straight with full body engagement and freeze on it. Now, send the left hook without pulling/retracting the hip and shoulder first. Get back to me… (4:53, 8:30)
LASTLY, LOOK AT THE VAST MAJORITY OF ATHLETIC ENDEAVORS THAT INVOLVE GENERATING POWER, QUICKLY. SOME EXAMPLES ARE:
- throwing a football
- swinging a bat
- pitching
- swinging a racket
- most olympic lifts
- shooting a double leg
The body leads these motions, even when hitting a ball traveling at 100+ MPH, for example. When speed and power are vital and timing is paramount, engaging the core, the hips, the shoulders, and the legs, before the hands, is the most effective approach. (9:05)
In conclusion, if you hope to have potent striking, consider exploring the techniques from the best striking arts on the planet, such as boxing, Muay Thai, Dutch kickboxing, and MMA. These arts offer proven insights and training methods to enhance your understanding and practice of effective striking.
About the Author
Ryan Hoover Ryan Hoover is the owner of Fit to Fight® Gastonia and Fit to Fight® Charlotte. He is also the founder of the Fit to Fight® affiliate organization. He holds a 2nd degree black belt in Krav Maga and is a black belt in BJJ. He has co-author of three books on Krav Maga and is recognized by the state of North Carolina as a Subject Matter Expert in addition to playing a critical role in developing defensive tactics and training curricula for law enforcement at the state level. Helping people healthier, safer lives is Ryan’s driving force. He has trained professional athletes, military and law enforcement officers, actors, stay-at-home moms and dads, and busy professionals all around the world. (including James Anderson (NFL) and Tracy Spiridakos (Actress)).