lacing your fingers while clinching

[majapahit]

I have always been told not to lace your fingers when you're clinching . When I asked why , they told me you will break your fingers . My question is : how will they break those fingers ? Is it because you will be thrown to the ground and you're not able to release this grip ?
I do not know why I would lace my fingers but I see a lot of beginners doing this as a first rection .
Thanks

[Khun Kao]

*Most* Thai boxers that I talk to agree that you should NOT interlace your fingers in the clinch. But I have heard dissenting opinions from reliable sources.

As far as breaking your fingers, it is possible, but unlikely. More likely you would dislocate a finger first. Look at it this way, if you catch somone in the dominant clinch position, do you honestly think that they're just going to give up and let you knee them to death? No! They're going to be figthing back. Which means they are going to try to toss you around and wrestle back. If you interlace your fingers, they can be injured during all this wrestling and throwing around of each other.

*MY* main reason for training my students and fighters not to interlace their fingers is because it ties your hands up. It prevents you from being able to quickly react to your opponent. There are a wide variety of clinch techniques and hand positions that cannot be performed if your fingers are interlocked. You need to be able to use your arms independantly of one another for effective clinchwork.

Khun Kao

[skilzkid]

...not to mention the fact that if you're training for ring sport, you can't interlace your fingers with boxing gloves on.

[Khun Kao]

Oh yeah, that too!

[retired]

When your in a clinch with your arms out straight get your opponent to interlock his fingers & you just put 1 hand above his elbow & 1 hand below the other then pull down on the higher hand & up on the lower hand while dipping your body under his arms to get out & see if his fingers hurt!!!!
(Only joking don't actually try this as they may POP!!!)

Ha Ha LOL