Palm Strike/Flesh Tearing Face Rake
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Standard Palm Strike·Papa Walsh
devastating palm strike with a flesh a flesh tearing face rake is devastating to an attacker.
Standard Palm Strike
SubFamilyスタンダード掌底打ち(Sutandādo Shōtei-uchi)
HybridTranslation: standard palm strike
Overview
History & Origin
The standard palm strike is the fundamental open-hand blow delivered with the heel of the palm, with fingers pulled back to expose the dense carpal bones as the impact surface. [1] Fairbairn codified this as one of the most effective blows for close-quarters combat in his 1942 manual, recommending it for strikes to the chin, nose, and jaw. [2] In karate, the equivalent teisho uchi (palm heel strike) was documented by Funakoshi and refined by Nakayama as a versatile close-range weapon. [3] The standard palm strike has persisted across martial arts traditions because it effectively transfers force while protecting the small bones of the hand. [1]
Effectiveness
Standard palm strike. [1]
Lineage
From traditional martial arts. [1]
Competition Record
Used in MMA. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Ballistic extension of the arm — kinetic chain transfers force from the ground through the hips to the fist
Joints Involved — Shoulder (flexion/rotation), elbow (rapid extension), wrist (stabilised on impact), hips (rotation)
Force Vector — Linear (jab, cross) or circular (hook, overhand) depending on the punch type
Kinetic Chain — Ground reaction force → hip rotation → torso rotation → shoulder extension → fist impact — each link amplifies velocity
Position & Entry
From fighting stance — Establish guard, generate force through hip rotation and weight transfer, extend the striking arm to the target
As combination (after setup) — Follow a jab or feint with the punch to exploit the opening created
As counter — Time the punch to land as the opponent commits to their own attack
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Palm strike reduces hand fracture risk; used in self-defense systems
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
✓The standard palm strike can be thrown from the chin using the same mechanics as a jab, cross, hook, or uppercut
✓Extend the hand with fingers pulled back and wrist locked, driving the heel of the palm into the target
✓For the straight palm strike: extend from the chin along the centre line, just like a jab or cross
✓The palm should land on the chin, nose, or jaw — the heel of the palm is hard enough to concuss through these targets
✓Return the hand to guard as fast as it goes out — the same retraction speed as a punch
✓In Pancrase rules (early Japanese MMA), palm strikes were required instead of closed-fist punches, and fighters developed significant power with the technique
✓Use the palm strike when your hands are unwrapped, injured, or when you want to reduce the risk of a hand break against a hard skull
Common Mistakes
!Not locking the wrist — a flexible wrist absorbs the impact instead of transmitting it
!Hitting with the base of the fingers instead of the heel of the palm
!Pushing instead of striking — the palm strike must have a snap, not a shove
!Under-powering the technique because you perceive it as weaker than a punch — it carries comparable force when thrown properly
!Not integrating the palm strike into combinations — it can replace any punch in a combination seamlessly
!Dropping the fingers into the opponent's eyes accidentally — keep the fingers pulled back
!Over-rotating on the palm cross and exposing the chin, just as with a punching cross
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Assume Fighting Stance — begin from a balanced position with guard up
2Generate Power — use hip rotation and weight transfer for maximum force
3Execute Strike — deliver the technique to the target with correct form
4Recover to Guard — return immediately to defensive position
Sources & References
Primary Source
The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do (Shoshin Nagamine, 1976)
1BookWing Chun Kung Fu (Yip Man lineage)
Alias sources — [1] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [2] Kukkiwon Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
2BookKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
History sources — [1] The Art of Striking (Blauer, 2004) [2] Get Tough! (Fairbairn, 1942) [3] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Hybrid Terminology
Mixed Japanese-Western terminology — combines traditional Japanese terms with katakana loanwords
4CitationWing Chun Kung Fu (Yip Man lineage)
Alias sources — [1] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [2] Kukkiwon Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
5CitationKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
History sources — [1] The Art of Striking (Blauer, 2004) [2] Get Tough! (Fairbairn, 1942) [3] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
Community
Athletics
Requires
speed, power generation through kinetic chain, striking surface conditioning
Favours
athletic build with fast-twitch muscle fibres
Key muscles
varies by strike — hip rotators, shoulders, core
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I target with a palm strike if I'm smaller or weaker than my attacker?
Target the head and vulnerable areas like the temple, eyes, nose, ears, and throat. Papa Walsh emphasizes that the throat is one of the best targets because it's larger than an eye or ear, and even 20% power can be effective.
How should I practice palm strikes to make them effective in a real situation?
Practice striking actual objects and train in full-attack scenarios rather than just drilling compliance-based partner drills. Papa Walsh notes that passivity-based training where partners take turns cooperating won't prepare you for real confrontation.
Where on the body should I strike with a palm strike?
Strike any exposed opening on the body, but prioritize vital areas like the head, throat, eyes, and temples depending on the situation and your physical size relative to your attacker.
How does the Standard Palm Strike work?
The fundamental palm strike driving the heel of the palm forward in a straight line, using hip rotation and arm extension to deliver force without clenching the fist.
Where does the Standard Palm Strike come from?
The standard palm strike is the fundamental open-hand blow delivered with the heel of the palm, with fingers pulled back to expose the dense carpal bones as the impact surface. Fairbairn codified this as one of the most effective blows for close-quarters combat in his 1942 manual, recommending it for strikes to the chin, nose, and jaw.
Is the Standard Palm 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 Standard Palm Strike?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — palm strike reduces hand fracture risk; used in self-defense systems
How do I set up the Standard Palm Strike?
The standard setup chain: Assume Fighting Stance → Generate Power → Execute Strike → Recover to Guard.
How do I defend against the Standard Palm Strike?
Standard counters include: Block — absorb the strike with a protective guard position / Evasion — move the target out of the strike's path / Counter-Attack — time an offensive response during the recovery phase of the strike.
What are the variants of the Standard Palm Strike?
Common variants: Standard variation (primary execution of the strike from the most common stance); Power variation (modified mechanics for maximum force generation); Speed variation (minimised telegraph for a faster, harder-to-read attack); Counter variation (timed to exploit the opponent's offensive commitment).
How effective is the Standard Palm Strike in competition?
Used in MMA.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Palm Strike?
Top errors to watch for: Not locking the wrist — a flexible wrist absorbs the impact instead of transmitting it / Hitting with the base of the fingers instead of the heel of the palm / Pushing instead of striking — the palm strike must have a snap, not a shove / Under-powering the technique because you perceive it as weaker than a punch — it carries comparable force when thrown….
What are other names for the Standard Palm Strike?
The Standard Palm Strike is also known as Sutandādo Shōtei-uchi, Shotei Uchi, Batangson Chigi, Palm Heel Strike.