There's just something primal and gratifying about the image of bare hands beating swords. However, it gets really, really ridiculous when the main character has to try and do that every episode. Solution? Weaponise the fist.
Brass knuckles, possibly spiked. Armored gauntlets, with or without taloned fingertips. A set of blades strapped to the back of the fist and used like claws, Wolverine-style. Some hardcore mix of the above.
Or perhaps a deeper affectation? Perhaps a giant bear paw, with claws like knives. Perhaps a petrified fist of granite. Maybe someone even grafted the devil's own unholy mitt onto your forearm to replace a lost hand - a literal Red Right Hand, maybe. A lot harder to hide without shapeshifting, and perhaps even despite shapeshifting, but hey, it probably represents the character's inner rage or something. The advent of high technology gives even more options. Going back to the gauntlet, you can add powerful servos to give you a crushing grip, field emitters or energy projectors for added offensive or defensive power. Or maybe you can just launch the whole thing at 'em. If you have a mechanical arm, these features may be built into it.
May enable such various powers and Limit Break super-attacks as: Megaton Punch, Rocket Punch, or Hand Blast. Occasionally, someone will use special combat footwear, either as a complement or alternative to this.
See also Tricked-Out Gloves for a non-offensive version, Handwraps of Awesome and Weighted Gloves for mundane versions, and Power Palms for a more open source.
