open hand strikes Filipino martial arts
0
Fundamental Open Hand Strike·wmpyr
After putting in a couple of months worth of some hard testing on the punching bag.
Translation: fundamental open hand strike
Range & classification
Category
Strike & defenceLocksClose rangeFighting multiple people
Distance
CloseMiddleLong
Body target
Upper bodyMiddle bodyLower body
Overview
The Fundamental Open Hand Strike family covers striking techniques delivered with an open hand rather than a closed fist — including palm strikes, knife-hand strikes (shuto/chop), ridge-hand strikes, and hammer-edge strikes that appear across karate, kung fu, Krav Maga, and other martial arts. [1] Open-hand strikes offer several advantages over closed-fist punches: they significantly reduce the risk of hand injuries (broken metacarpals, boxer's fractures), they can effectively target soft tissue areas (throat, eyes, ears), and the palm heel provides a broad, hard striking surface backed by the wrist and forearm bones. [1],[2] In self-defence systems like Krav Maga, palm strikes are preferred over punches because they are effective without wrapping or gloves and can be delivered by untrained individuals with less risk of self-injury. [2],[3] The knife-hand strike (shuto uchi/karate chop) became one of the most iconic martial arts techniques in popular culture. [3]
Open Hand StrikePalm StrikeSlapOpen-Handed Technique
History & Origin
Open-hand striking techniques are among the oldest documented combat techniques, appearing in virtually every martial arts tradition worldwide. [1] Karate formalised knife-hand techniques (shuto/haito) as part of its core curriculum, with the 'karate chop' becoming one of the most recognised martial arts techniques in global popular culture. [1],[2] Chinese martial arts developed an extraordinarily diverse array of open-hand formations (tiger claw, crane beak, iron palm) across hundreds of styles. [2],[3] Modern self-defence systems like Krav Maga adopted the palm strike as their primary striking technique due to its safety and effectiveness for untrained practitioners. [3]
Country of origin· shown in random order
- JapanKarate, Aikido
- ChinaKung Fu
- IsraelKrav Maga
- KoreaTaekwondo
- BrazilMMA
- USAMMA
- IndonesiaPencak Silat
- MalaysiaPencak Silat
Effectiveness
Open-hand strikes are highly effective for self-defence and specific combat sport applications. [1] The palm strike is recommended by most self-defence experts over the punch because it generates comparable force with significantly less risk of hand injury. [2] In MMA, ground-and-pound palm strikes reduce the risk of broken hands that have derailed many fighters' careers. [3]
Lineage
Competition Record
Images
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Delivering impact through an open hand formation — palm heel, knife-edge, ridge hand, or fingertips — using hip rotation and arm extension
Joints Involved — Wrist (extended for palm strike to align the heel of the palm with the forearm bones; firm for knife-hand with fingers together), shoulder (drives the hand forward or in an arc), hips (rotation generates power like punching)
Force Vector — Palm strike: linear forward, same as a jab or cross but with heel of palm, Knife-hand: lateral diagonal arc targeting the neck, temple, or collarbone, Ridge hand: horizontal arc using the thumb-side edge
Strike Mechanic — Open-hand strikes distribute force differently than fist strikes — the palm heel concentrates force on the carpal bones (backed by the radius/ulna), making it extremely sturdy; the knife-hand uses the ulnar edge of the hand; the ridge hand uses the radial edge
Position & Entry
Palm strike (self-defence) — From a natural stance, drive the heel of the palm forward into the opponent's nose or chin, fingers pointing upward, wrist firm — the palm strike is the primary striking technique taught in Krav Maga and many self-defence systems [1]
Knife-hand strike (shuto uchi) — From a karate fighting stance, swing the hand in a downward diagonal arc with fingers pressed together and thumb tucked, striking with the muscle pad on the ulnar edge of the hand — targeting the side of the neck
Ridge hand — Swing the hand in a horizontal arc, thumb-side leading, targeting the temple — used in karate and kickboxing
Videos
1 video
Learn This Technique
No instructional courses yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest a course.
Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
Open-hand strikes carry less self-injury risk than closed-fist punches but can still cause significant damage to the target; knife-hand strikes to the throat are potentially lethal; palm strikes to the nose can cause concussions
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
WBC/Boxing — Only closed-fist punches permitted {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
Kyokushin — Only closed-fist strikes to body permitted {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— WT — Prohibited
WT Competition Rules 2024PDF— WAKO — Closed fist only
WAKO Competition RulesPDFK-1/GLORY — Closed fist only {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
Restricted
— WKF — Varies by technique — some open-hand strikes legal ...
WKF Competition Rules 2024PDF— ITF — Some knife hand techniques legal
ITF Competition RulesPDFLegal
— palm strikes, slaps permitted
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IFMA — Legal — palm strikes permitted in Muay Thai
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Palm strikes should be trained as the primary self-defence striking technique — they are effective without gloves or wraps, and the risk of hand injury is minimal compared to punching (Krav Maga self-defence curricula) [1]
✓Knife-hand conditioning — the edge of the hand should be gradually conditioned through striking progressively harder surfaces; makiwara training in karate serves this purpose
✓The palm heel must be firm — a soft, relaxed wrist collapses on impact and can cause wrist injury; the wrist must be locked in extension
✓In MMA, open-hand strikes are legal but rarely used because boxing punches are more versatile with gloves on; however, palm strikes are valuable in ground-and-pound where broken hands are a concern [2]
✓Target selection matters for open-hand strikes — palm strikes to hard surfaces (forehead) are effective; knife-hands to hard bone (skull) are not; choose targets that match the striking surface
✓Practice karate's shuto uchi in kata — the kata encodes proper angles, timing, and power generation for knife-hand strikes
✓Train the palm strike alongside the jab — the mechanics are nearly identical, and switching between palm and fist at will expands the striking repertoire
Common Mistakes
!Limp wrist on palm strikes — the wrist must be firmly extended; a relaxed wrist collapses on impact and injures the striker
!Spreading the fingers on knife-hand — the fingers must be pressed tightly together; spread fingers catch and bend on impact
!Targeting hard bone with knife-hand — shuto strikes are for soft tissue (neck, throat, floating ribs); striking the skull with a knife-hand hurts the hand more than the head
!Using open-hand strikes at long range — most open-hand strikes are close-to-medium range; attempting them from too far away results in weak slaps
!Neglecting hip rotation — like all strikes, open-hand strikes require hip rotation for power; arm-only strikes are weak
!Using spear hand (nukite) without conditioning — thrusting with fingers requires extensive hand conditioning; untrained fingers buckle on impact
!Slapping instead of striking — a slap is a loose, uncontrolled motion; a proper palm strike is a firm, structured technique with wrist alignment
Related Techniques
Boxing Punch — closed-fist striking that complements open-hand techniquesElbow Strike — close-range striking that works in conjunction with open-hand strikesDefence — blocking open-hand strikes uses similar mechanics to punch defenceKung Fu Strike (Open Hand) — Chinese martial arts open-hand formations
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Establish Range — close to striking distance
2Set Up — use feints, punches, or footwork to create an opening
3Select Strike — choose palm, knife-hand, or ridge hand based on target and angle
4Execute — deliver with proper hand formation, wrist alignment, and hip rotation
5Follow Up — chain with additional strikes or clinch entry
6Reset — return to fighting stance
Sources & References
Primary Source
Dynamic Karate (Masatoshi Nakayama, 1966)
1BookDynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
Description sources — [1] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) on shuto and haito [2] Krav Maga self-defence curricula [3] Popular culture impact of karate chop
2BookTao of Jeet Kune Do (Lee, 1975)
History sources — [1] Okinawan karate traditions [2] Chinese martial arts open-hand systems [3] Modern self-defence system development
3BookKrav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault (Lichtenfeld & Yanilov, 2001)
4CitationDynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
Description sources — [1] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) on shuto and haito [2] Krav Maga self-defence curricula [3] Popular culture impact of karate chop
5CitationTao of Jeet Kune Do (Lee, 1975)
History sources — [1] Okinawan karate traditions [2] Chinese martial arts open-hand systems [3] Modern self-defence system development
6CitationKrav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault (Lichtenfeld & Yanilov, 2001)
Community
Athletics
Requires
wrist strength and alignment, hand conditioning for knife-hand, hip rotation
Favours
strong wrists, conditioned hands (for edge-of-hand strikes), good aim (soft tissue targeting)
Key muscles
forearms (wrist stability), shoulders (driving the hand), hip rotators (power generation), finger flexors (maintaining finger formation)
Sub-techniques
Find by what a technique does — not its name
Every move, in any martial art, shares a few universal traits. Mix and match below to pinpoint the right tool — or compare equivalents across styles.
Category
Distance
Body target
Shotei Chudan Uchi
SubFamilyShotei Chudan Uchi (Palm Heel Middle Strike) is a Kyokushin Karate palm heel strike to the midsection, using the base of the palm to deliver impact to the solar plexus or ribs. [1] Mas Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate, demonstrated this as a fundamental combat technique requiring proper body mechanics and spirit. [1] The technique emphasises full-body power generation through hip rotation and proper weight transfer. [1]
Explore
Shuto Hizo Uchi
SubFamilyShuto Hizo Uchi (Knife-Hand Spleen Strike) is a Kyokushin Karate knife-hand strike to the spleen/liver area, using the blade of the hand horizontally. [1] Mas Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate, demonstrated this as a fundamental combat technique requiring proper body mechanics and spirit. [1] The technique emphasises full-body power generation through hip rotation and proper weight transfer. [1]
Explore
Shuto Jodan Uchi Uchi
SubFamilyShuto Jodan Uchi Uchi (High Inside Knife-Hand Strike) is a Kyokushin Karate high-level inside knife-hand strike targeting the temple or side of the neck. [1] Mas Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate, demonstrated this as a fundamental combat technique requiring proper body mechanics and spirit. [1] The technique emphasises full-body power generation through hip rotation and proper weight transfer. [1]
Explore
Shuto Sakotsu Uchi
SubFamilyShuto Sakotsu Uchi (Knife-Hand Collarbone Strike) is a Kyokushin Karate knife-hand strike targeting the collarbone (sakotsu), using the outer edge of the hand to strike downward. [1] Mas Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate, demonstrated this as a fundamental combat technique requiring proper body mechanics and spirit. [1] The technique emphasises full-body power generation through hip rotation and proper weight transfer. [1]
Explore
Shuto Sakotsu Uchikomi
SubFamilyShuto Sakotsu Uchikomi (Knife-Hand Collarbone Driving Strike) is a Kyokushin Karate driving knife-hand strike to the collarbone with forward body momentum, penetrating deeper than the standard version. [1] Mas Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate, demonstrated this as a fundamental combat technique requiring proper body mechanics and spirit. [1] The technique emphasises full-body power generation through hip rotation and proper weight transfer. [1]
Explore
Shuto Uchi Uchi
SubFamilyShuto Uchi Uchi (Inside Knife-Hand Strike) is a Kyokushin Karate knife-hand strike delivered inward from the outside, targeting the neck or temple. [1] Mas Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate, demonstrated this as a fundamental combat technique requiring proper body mechanics and spirit. [1] The technique emphasises full-body power generation through hip rotation and proper weight transfer. [1]
Explore
Tettsui Hizo Uchi
SubFamilyTettsui Hizo Uchi (Hammer Fist Spleen Strike) is a Kyokushin Karate hammer fist strike targeting the spleen/liver area. [1] Mas Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate, demonstrated this as a fundamental combat technique requiring proper body mechanics and spirit. [1] The technique emphasises full-body power generation through hip rotation and proper weight transfer. [1]
Explore
Tettsui Komekami Uchi
SubFamilyTettsui Komekami Uchi (Hammer Fist Temple Strike) is a Kyokushin Karate hammer fist strike targeting the temple (komekami). [1] Mas Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate, demonstrated this as a fundamental combat technique requiring proper body mechanics and spirit. [1] The technique emphasises full-body power generation through hip rotation and proper weight transfer. [1]
Explore
Tettsui Oroshi Uchi
SubFamilyTettsui Oroshi Uchi (Descending Hammer Fist Strike) is a Kyokushin Karate downward hammer fist strike using the bottom of the fist, targeting the crown of the head, collarbone, or bridge of the nose. [1] Mas Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate, demonstrated this as a fundamental combat technique requiring proper body mechanics and spirit. [1] The technique emphasises full-body power generation through hip rotation and proper weight transfer. [1]
Explore
Uraken Hizo Uchi
SubFamilyUraken Hizo Uchi (Spleen Backfist Strike) is a Kyokushin Karate backfist strike directed to the spleen/liver area on the side of the body. [1] Mas Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate, demonstrated this as a fundamental combat technique requiring proper body mechanics and spirit. [1] The technique emphasises full-body power generation through hip rotation and proper weight transfer. [1]
Explore
Uraken Oroshi Uchi
SubFamilyUraken Oroshi Uchi (Descending Backfist Strike) is a Kyokushin Karate downward backfist strike delivered from overhead, targeting the bridge of the nose or top of the head. [1] Mas Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate, demonstrated this as a fundamental combat technique requiring proper body mechanics and spirit. [1] The technique emphasises full-body power generation through hip rotation and proper weight transfer. [1]
Explore
Uraken Sayu Uchi
SubFamilyUraken Sayu Uchi (Lateral Backfist Strike) is a Kyokushin Karate backfist strike delivered laterally to the side, targeting the temple. [1] Mas Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate, demonstrated this as a fundamental combat technique requiring proper body mechanics and spirit. [1] The technique emphasises full-body power generation through hip rotation and proper weight transfer. [1]
Explore
Uraken Shomen Uchi
SubFamilyUraken Shomen Uchi is a snapping backfist strike delivered to the front (shomen) of the opponent, using the back of the first two knuckles (the dorsal surface of the index and middle finger knuckles) as the striking surface, driven by a rapid wrist snap that produces a fast, cutting impact to the face, nose, or temple. [1] The technique is one of the most distinctive weapons in karate's striking arsenal: while punches drive forward using the front of the knuckles (seiken), the uraken strikes using the BACK of the knuckles, leveraging a whipping wrist snap rather than a thrusting arm extension for power generation. [1,2] The mechanical execution involves extending the arm toward the target in a horizontal arc, then sharply snapping the wrist to whip the back of the fist into the target — the speed comes from the wrist snap (which occurs over approximately 2-3 inches of travel) rather than the arm extension (which provides direction but not the primary impact force). [1] This wrist-snap mechanism makes the uraken one of the fastest striking techniques in karate — the wrist snap can be executed in under 0.1 seconds, and the back of the knuckles reaches velocities exceeding standard straight punches because the fist is at the end of a two-segment whip (forearm + hand). [1,2] Oyama demonstrated the Uraken Shomen Uchi as a fundamental Kyokushin technique for targeting the face from angles that straight punches cannot reach — the horizontal arc approaches the face from the side or from above, bypassing the frontal guard. [1] In Kyokushin competition, although punches to the face are prohibited, the uraken is classified as an uchi (strike) rather than a tsuki (thrust/punch), and is LEGAL to the face under Kyokushin rules — making it one of the only hand techniques that can legally target the head in Kyokushin tournament fighting. [1] This regulatory distinction has made the uraken one of the most important competition weapons in Kyokushin karate, with fighters developing sophisticated backfist attacks that exploit the ruleset's unique allowance. [1]
Explore
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a common way to practice open hand strikes on equipment?
When working on the punching bag with open hand strikes, wrap your hands first, then put on gloves before striking, similar to how you would prepare for boxing practice.
Are there different ways to execute open hand strikes besides the standard method?
Yes—instead of the normal traditional way, you can vary your open hand strikes by incorporating palm heel strikes, chops, and wedge techniques, which can be very effective in Filipino martial arts applications.
How does the Fundamental Open Hand Strike work?
The Fundamental Open Hand Strike family covers striking techniques delivered with an open hand rather than a closed fist — including palm strikes, knife-hand strikes (shuto/chop), ridge-hand strikes, and hammer-edge strikes that appear across karate, kung fu, Krav Maga, and other martial arts. Open-hand strikes offer several advantages over closed-fist punches: they significantly reduce the risk of hand injuries (broken metacarpals, boxer's fractures), they can effectively target soft tissue areas (throat, eyes, ears), and the palm heel provides a broad, hard striking surface backed by the wrist and forearm bones.
Where does the Fundamental Open Hand Strike come from?
Open-hand striking techniques are among the oldest documented combat techniques, appearing in virtually every martial arts tradition worldwide. Karate formalised knife-hand techniques (shuto/haito) as part of its core curriculum, with the 'karate chop' becoming one of the most recognised martial arts techniques in global popular culture.
Is the Fundamental Open Hand Strike legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal (palm strikes, slaps permitted); WBC/Boxing: banned — Only closed-fist punches permitted; WKF: restricted — Varies by technique — some open-hand strikes legal in kata, generally restric…; Kyokushin: banned — Only closed-fist strikes to body permitted; WT: banned — Prohibited; ITF: restricted — Some knife hand techniques legal; WAKO: banned — Closed fist only; K: banned — 1/GLORY — Closed fist only; IFMA: legal — Legal — palm strikes permitted in Muay Thai
How dangerous is the Fundamental Open Hand Strike?
Danger rating 5/10. Moderate — open-hand strikes carry less self-injury risk than closed-fist punches but can still cause significant damage to the target; knife-hand strikes to the throat are potentially lethal; palm strikes to the nose can cause concussions
How do I set up the Fundamental Open Hand Strike?
The standard setup chain: Establish Range → Set Up → Select Strike → Execute → Follow Up → Reset.
How do I defend against the Fundamental Open Hand Strike?
Standard counters include: Same as punch defence — slip, block, parry, footwork / Cover the Throat — protecting the neck/throat area against knife-hand strikes / Lean Back — pulling back from close range makes open-hand strikes fall short / Distance — stepping out of range.
What are the variants of the Fundamental Open Hand Strike?
Common variants: Palm strike (shotei) (striking with the heel of the palm; the primary self-defe…); Knife-hand strike (shuto uchi) (striking with the ulnar edge of the hand; karate's signat…); Ridge hand (haito uchi) (striking with the radial edge (thumb side) in a horizonta…); Hammer fist (tetsui uchi) (technically a closed fist but using the bottom edge; some…); Palm-up strike (shotei chudan) (upward palm strike targeting the chin from below); Back-hand slap (open-hand strike using the back of the hand in a whipping…); Spear hand (nukite) (thrusting with extended fingers; targets soft tissue (thr…).
How effective is the Fundamental Open Hand Strike in competition?
Knife-hand strikes score in WKF karate competition. Palm strikes are legal in MMA but less commonly used than punches at the professional level.
What are common mistakes when doing the Fundamental Open Hand Strike?
Top errors to watch for: Limp wrist on palm strikes — the wrist must be firmly extended; a relaxed wrist collapses on impact and injures the s… / Spreading the fingers on knife-hand — the fingers must be pressed tightly together; spread fingers catch and bend on … / Targeting hard bone with knife-hand — shuto strikes are for soft tissue (neck, throat, floating ribs); striking the s… / Using open-hand strikes at long range — most open-hand strikes are close-to-medium range; attempting them from too fa….
What are other names for the Fundamental Open Hand Strike?
The Fundamental Open Hand Strike is also known as Fandamentaru Shōda, Open Hand Strike, Palm Strike, Slap, Open-Handed Technique.