Punching targets

[AngelaG]

When you punch what are you seeing as he most viable targets, face, thoat, chest or stomach/ribs? (or other)

The face runs the risk of hurting your own knuckles - hard weapon, hard target. Also you run the risk of cutting your hand on their teeth, and then maybe being infected with some horrible lurgy. If you hit the nose you are likely to cause a lot of blood, but they will probably be quite shocked.

The throat is very painful and indeed dangerous to strike. You run the risk of killing your attacker. Also it may not be as easy to get to as you think, especially if they dip their chin.

The chest... not too sure about this one. I've never been hit in the chest. I'm not sure if you can cause heart problems with a hard shot to the chest. I guess if your strong you run the risk of breaking their ribs which might puncture a vital organ. However again it's a hard target so palm heel might be a better shot.

Stomach. A lot of people are unfazed by a straight in shot to the stomach. you could try to directionalise it, or come to the side , even as far as a kidney shot.

[andym]

The sternum (sp?). It has an instant effect in the form of winding, and having been winded myself on many occasions, I can say it would disable your attacker long enough to either run away or knock them out cold.

[Aefibird]

I'd say the throat (if you can get to it), the sternum, the groin and the soft parts of the face. I'd say that a shot to the kidneys would probably be more effective than a straight attack to the stomach, but it just depends on your opponent.