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Like hitting with the hand, the ability to grip effectively has to deal with a lot of slippage, i.e., the flex found in the hand that affects our gripping ability and also the effectiveness of gripping in self-defense. The hand as readily discernible has to deal with a lot of bones, tendons, cartilage and ligaments, etc. The overall strength and weakness lies in these parts and depend heavily on their stability along with the strength or lack thereof in the wrist and forearm, i.e., as to direct strength and stability as dictated by those body parts. It is ancillary to these that the affects of the elbow, the upper arm and the shoulders/shoulder girdle also have an immense effect and overall strength and power as they too contribute to the application of gripping models of technique as can be seen readily in systems like, “Chin-na [擒拿].”
Since self-defense relies on a compilation of methodologies to get the job done, i.e., “actual tactics and attack methodologies of impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns/throws and compression, etc. are best for stopping a threat,” one can detect a need for strong hands and associated support strength and stability to achieve successes with pulls and twists, directly, and takedowns/throws and compressions, indirectly, to achieve a self-defense goal.
Because of its inherent weaknesses to bleed off power one needs to achieve stability and strength whereby the whole or holistic goal is achieved, i.e., a combined strength and application of techniques and principles with a strong strength of muscle enhanced by the structure and alignment of the shoulder girdle, the arm with elbow and wrist and finally the weakest link of that chain being the hand, i.e., the many complexities of hand structure with its hinge and gliding joints.
Consider that the hand strength is very limited therefore in conjunction with hand strength it must also be enhanced by the wrist, arm, shoulder and then body with the spine, hip girdle and legs achieve stability, balance and force by their structure and alignments and strengths as applied toward manipulation with hands against an adversary’s body.
Add in a solid knowledge of the principles of joint manipulations to disrupt structure and balance of an adversary to achieve the goals, the many goals of self-defense. In short, know the weaknesses of the body along with the strengths in applying such forces with strength of your body toward the weaknesses of an adversary’s body, etc.
Add in another aspect that to use and/or rely on hand strength alone or hand strength as supported and enhanced by other principles leaves out other methodologies necessary to achieve success in self-defense.
The truth is one who demonstrates incredible feats of strength using the hands is actually demonstrating an exemplary understanding and application of fundamental principles. Like generating power in a strike by the movement of our mass and enhanced by those bodily applications such as structure and alignment generates great power all things considered. Because the focus of attention is directed on handling an adversary with the hands while manipulating weaknesses of the body as well as the mind makes it appear that the hands are demonstrating incredible “Gripping skills.”
This is simply not accurate. Another point to grip or hand strength is that its development usually comes from the strengthening program used to build strength in the entire body. The hands therefore become a controller and stabilizer of an application such a those demonstrated in joint locks, manipulation and the art of Chin-na. It is like the hands representing the the ring spanner while the arm/shaft acts as the forearm, etc. so that when pressure and torque are applied the hand itself twists and rotates, etc. while holding tight to the target area. I can grab and twist just the hand with little or not impact to the adversary but when I add in the arm, shoulder, body and grounding, centeredness, structure, torque, etc. as a whole I am able to manipulate the adversary’s weakness, physical and mental, to my choosing - mostly.
Finally, having strong hands are a preventative against injuries, etc. when using them for self-defense. A strong hand clenched tightly leaves little room for an adversary to manipulate, twist or pull a finger and joint in a manner that causes you to lose balance, structure, etc. in fight for self-defense.
A good grip is a solid tool in martial arts and/or self-defense and it is good to know how it fits in that model but one shouldn’t spend any more time on its development as a singular unit over a combined one of whole body applications. Usually the hand and its strength, etc. will come from the hands use in training, practice and applications be it sport or self-defense.
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