Why Are My Knuckles Bleeding?

Every new Krav Maga student experiences the joy of bleeding and scabbed knuckles when they start training, usually after their first class. This damage doesn’t necessarily mean that you are punching wrong, or that you have the wrong gloves, although those can be factors; it’s just the side effect of the skin on that part of your hand enduring impact for the first time. 

People typically get this bleeding on the knuckles of that hand and the knuckles of the fingers. Even with gloves on, your knuckles behind the glove are taking impact and getting friction from the glove. And even though we aim to impact with the knuckles of the hand, your fingers will make contact with the pad as you punch hard and sink your fist into it. In fact, if you’re NOT getting this scraping when you start training, you might need to punch harder! 

When you get these scrapes for the first time, you’ll need to tape over them until they heal. So you often spend the first week or two of your training with tape over your knuckles, but once they heal the skin will be a little thicker and it typically doesn’t happen again if you train regularly. 

All that being said, it could be an indicator that there are problems with your technique, which you’d expect as a new student. If you are losing skin on the ring and pinky knuckles, but not the middle and index, you might be hitting with the wrong part of your hand. It’s likely that your elbow is coming up and your punches are winging in from the side a bit. If you are losing skin on your fingers but not your hand - or if after a while you’re still losing it on your fingers even when they should have healed up - then you might be pushing your finger knuckles towards the pad instead of your hand.

To work on the accuracy of your straight punches, find a very flat, hard surface, and slowly punch into it, making sure to hit flush with the index and middle knuckles. Go very lightly! When your knuckles make contact with the wall, press them in to test the alignment of your hand and arm. You should feel only the index and middle knuckles against the wall. While you’re pressing, take the time to check that your other hand is up, you have rotated your hips and shoulders, and your chin is tucked. 

Some daily practice of that exercise, attention to your technique, and regular training, and once those knuckles heal up you won’t see that damage again!