Ridge-hand strikes
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Standard Ridge Hand·Angelo Oliveira
Learn finer points of throwing a ridge hand.
Standard Ridge Hand
SubFamilyスタンダード背刀打ち(Sutandādo Haitō-uchi)
HybridTranslation: standard ridge hand
Overview
History & Origin
The standard ridge hand is the basic execution of the radial-edge hand strike, delivered in a horizontal or upward arc. [1] In karate competition, the ridge hand became a popular scoring technique in the 1960s-1970s as point-based kumite rules developed, because its circular trajectory made it difficult to block. [2] Nakayama documented the standard ridge hand as a technique requiring precise conditioning of the radial edge of the hand and careful thumb positioning to avoid injury. [2]
Effectiveness
Standard ridge hand. [1]
Lineage
From karate. [1]
Competition Record
Used in competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Driving the hardest part of the skull (frontal bone) into a vulnerable target
Joints Involved — Cervical spine (stabilised for impact), hips and legs (forward drive), core (body weight transfer)
Force Vector — Short, explosive forward or upward thrust — minimal windup maximises surprise
Impact Mechanic — The frontal bone is the thickest cranial bone — targeting soft tissue (nose, orbital) with the hardest bone creates asymmetric damage
Position & Entry
From fighting stance — Swing the hand in a circular arc, striking with the thumb-side ridge of the open hand
As hook-style strike — Same arc as a hook punch but using the inner edge of the hand — targets the temple or jaw
Videos
How To Use The Ridge Hand
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Standard Ridge Hand·Kevin W. Putala
How to properly use the Ridge Hand without injury. A traditional technique not covered often, and not really practical …
2 videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
Reverse knife hand; targets temple/jaw
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
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
✓From fighting guard, swing the open hand inward in a horizontal arc at head height
✓Contact the opponent's temple or jaw with the ridge of the hand along the base of the index finger
✓Keep the thumb tucked flat and the fingers pressed together for a rigid hand structure
✓Rotate the hips and shoulders through the arc to generate rotational power
✓The arm stays at approximately 90-110 degrees — not a wide straight-arm swing
✓Snap the hand back to guard after impact
✓Practise on focus mitts held at temple height, focusing on contacting with the ridge rather than the palm
Common Mistakes
!Thumb not tucked, risking hyperextension on contact
!Using the palm flat instead of presenting the bony ridge
!Swinging from the arm only without body rotation
!Over-extending and pulling the body off-balance
!Not retracting to guard after the strike
!Aiming at the forehead where the hard skull will damage the hand
!Using the ridge hand as a power technique when it is better suited as a speed and scoring tool
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
Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text (Gichin Funakoshi, 1935)
1BookBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)
Alias sources — [1] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [2] Kukkiwon Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
2BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
History sources — [1] The Art of Striking (Blauer, 2004) [2] Best Karate Vol. 3 (Nakayama, 1978)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Hybrid Terminology
Mixed Japanese-Western terminology — combines traditional Japanese terms with katakana loanwords
4CitationBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)
Alias sources — [1] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [2] Kukkiwon Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
5CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
History sources — [1] The Art of Striking (Blauer, 2004) [2] Best Karate Vol. 3 (Nakayama, 1978)
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
How should I position my hand and fingers when throwing a ridge hand strike?
According to Angelo Oliveira, tuck your thumb underneath the palm away from your fingers, and separate your fingers by angling them away from the striking surface. You should strike with the area where the crook of the wrist meets the base of the thumb, not with all fingers bunched together, as this can cause damage to the phalanges.
What's the safest way to throw a ridge hand in a practical fighting scenario?
Kevin W. Putala recommends throwing the ridge hand more like a hook with a bent elbow rather than with a straight, locked arm, keeping your elbows close to your body to protect your shoulders and joints. This approach is especially effective when fighting in close range and reduces the risk of injury to your elbow and shoulder.
What are common injuries that happen with ridge hand strikes?
Angelo Oliveira emphasizes that injuries most commonly occur to the thumb when the hand position is incorrect. Kevin W. Putala also warns that throwing the ridge hand with a straight, locked arm can cause elbow joint injuries, which is why keeping the elbow bent and close to the body is important.
What targets are appropriate for ridge hand strikes?
According to Angelo Oliveira, the rule for ridge hand strikes is 'bone on flesh or flesh on bone'—since you're using a bony part of the hand, you must strike appropriate targets. Kevin W. Putala notes that the ridge hand can be used to strike below the sight line when in close, and can also be used to strike the groin from underneath.
How does the Standard Ridge Hand work?
The fundamental ridge hand strike swinging the inner edge of the open hand in a wide horizontal arc, targeting the temple or side of the head with centrifugal force.
Where does the Standard Ridge Hand come from?
The standard ridge hand is the basic execution of the radial-edge hand strike, delivered in a horizontal or upward arc. In karate competition, the ridge hand became a popular scoring technique in the 1960s-1970s as point-based kumite rules developed, because its circular trajectory made it difficult to block.
Is the Standard Ridge Hand 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 Ridge Hand?
Danger rating 5/10. High — reverse knife hand; targets temple/jaw
How do I set up the Standard Ridge Hand?
The standard setup chain: Assume Fighting Stance → Generate Power → Execute Strike → Recover to Guard.
How do I defend against the Standard Ridge Hand?
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 Ridge Hand?
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 Ridge Hand in competition?
Used in competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Ridge Hand?
Top errors to watch for: Thumb not tucked, risking hyperextension on contact / Using the palm flat instead of presenting the bony ridge / Swinging from the arm only without body rotation / Over-extending and pulling the body off-balance.
What are other names for the Standard Ridge Hand?
The Standard Ridge Hand is also known as Sutandādo Haitō-uchi, Haito Uchi, Sonnal Deung Chigi, Inside Knife Hand.