Open hand technique vs punching

Krav Maga is well known for open hand strikes. And people often ask: "Why do we strike with the open hand - isn't punching better"?

The answer is complex. In theory punching is indeed better. After all a good punch can knock out your enemy. 

But in practice punching is more dangerous, because even the best boxer tends to injure his hand when boxing without protective gear. Additionally punching is an art. And as beginner it is quite hard to learn how to punch. 

On the other hand - striking with open hand is really simple and easy to learn.

One of the mottos of Krav Maga is that it must be easy to learn for the beginner. And the open hand technique is easy to learn. Additionally it is an effective technique when used against the head or the genitals. Therefore many teachers prefer "Open Hand" over punching. But nothing is written in stone - if you are a good boxer and know how to punch - go for it!

Summary:

Open Hand

Pro:

• Easy to learn for beginner
• From the outside it does not look like an agressive behavior
• Bigger hitting surface
• Is effective when used against  head / genitals

Con:

• Cannot knock out the enemy

Punching

Pro:

• Can knock out the enemy

Con:

• Hard to learn for beginners
• Knowledge of lethal points must be there (more complex than just "head or genitals")
• Damage of hand in real life situations not uncommon - even for trained persons