Spinning Back Fist Technique

Make or Break: How to Positively Utilize a Spinning Back Fist Technique
The spinning back fist is a perfect example of a technique that can devastate an opponent when successfully used, while inversely leading to some serious trouble when missed. Countless live-combat examples exist that demonstrate both of these extremes. Perhaps the most notable failure of the technique, Anderson Silva was able to finish Chael Sonnen with a flurry of strikes at UFC 148 when “The American Gangster” missed his target when throwing a spinning back fist. Although he dominated the first round of the fight, Sonnen was once again unable to make it out of the second stanza after he missed the technique—a testament to the riskiness of the move.

On the other side of the coin, former Bellator light heavyweight champion Emmanuel Newton has had enormous amounts of success with the spinning back fist technique. A perfect tool for his generally unorthodox style, Newton has finished both Joey Beltran and King Mo with the move via knockout. With proper timing and an intelligent set-up, as well as flawless technique, the spinning back fist can evidently be the move that opponents simply don’t see coming.

While the key to mastering the technique is practice—both in actual form and the timing when it is utilized—a solid foundation of knowledge about the technique is also very important to assuring that it is properly used and learned. A great video guide explaining the spinning back fist can be found at the bottom of this article. After you’ve watched this once again excellent guide, there are a couple of helpful bits of information that can supplement your understanding of the technique.

First, assure that the technique is thrown from a solid foundation. Not only will this guarantee that one maintains his or her balance while using the move, but this solid foundation will also assure that the hardest possible impact is being inflicted upon the opponent; a weak base eliminates all of the power in the spinning back fist. Moreover, one should not only practice throwing and landing the technique, but also throwing and missing it. The inherently difficult-to-land nature of the technique means that it will be missed more than it is landed in live combat, so it’s best that one be certain that he or she is able to maintain balance and recover to an impressive form when the shot doesn’t connect.

Next, a brief rundown of the technique behind the spinning back fist will be covered, to help one visualize and ultimately enhance his or her own form—not related to timing, but rather pure technique. Once the feet are planted solidly, one should extend the arm close to entirely straight, but not all of the way; doing so put’s one at a higher risk of injuring the elbow. Look at the intended target directly before spinning, raise the fist to this level, and let the technique go (it may seem overly simple, but as is the case with most high-level maneuvers, practice is once again key). Remember to practice the move with both “fists”, as it is never certain where an opening will present itself in live combat.

Between this article and the mentioned video guide, everyone interested in successfully using the spinning back fist has been provided with just about everything that they need—except the training! Frequent practice will assure that one truly masters the technique. Good luck training and using the spinning back fist!

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