Ki Cho Woon Dong - Ridge Hand Tutorial
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Standard Ridge Hand Strike·Heads of the Valleys Tang Soo Do·Added by Admin
Here is a short tutorial for the Ridge Hand (Yuk Soo Do ) Technique
Standard Ridge Hand Strike
Genus背刀打ち（基本型）(Haitō-uchi (Kihon-gata))
TraditionalTranslation: standard ridge hand strike
Overview
History & Origin
The standard ridge hand strike is the basic technique using the inner edge of the hand to strike the opponent's temple or neck in a sweeping arc. [1] Nakayama described the correct execution as requiring the four fingers to be extended and pressed together with the thumb tightly folded, delivering power through a full hip rotation and arm extension. [2] In point karate competition, the ridge hand strike became a signature technique of fighters such as Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace, whose flexibility allowed him to deliver the technique to head height with devastating effect. [1]
Effectiveness
A standard ridge hand technique. [1]
Lineage
From karate. [1]
Competition Record
Used in competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Generating and transferring kinetic energy from the body into the target through a striking surface
Joints Involved — Varies by technique — typically hip rotation, shoulder or hip flexion, and distal limb extension
Force Vector — Direction determined by the specific technique — linear, circular, or diagonal trajectory
Kinetic Chain — Ground reaction force transfers through the body's kinetic chain — each segment accelerates the striking limb
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
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
Videos
1 video
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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 guard, rotate the lead hip and shoulder inward while swinging the open hand in a horizontal arc
✓The striking surface is the ridge along the base of the index finger and the inner edge of the hand
✓Contact the temple, jaw, or side of the neck at the peak of the inward arc
✓The thumb presses flat against the palm — check this positioning before every repetition in training
✓The mechanics are identical to a lead hook but with an open hand contacting on the inner edge
✓Return the hand to guard after impact — the open hand is easy to grab if left extended
✓In point-fighting, the ridge hand is valued for its speed — it arrives faster than a hook due to the lighter open hand
Common Mistakes
!Allowing the thumb to extend at any point during the strike — this is the single most common and painful mistake
!Hitting flat with the palm and not presenting the ridge
!Not rotating the body — the hip and shoulder must turn to generate force
!Reaching with a straight arm instead of maintaining the hooked arm position
!Using too much force before conditioning the hand — the inner ridge is sensitive and needs gradual toughening
!Dropping the other hand during the hooking motion
!Using the ridge hand strike against the skull top where it will injure the hand
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)
Official karate technique names (和語/漢語)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)
Alias sources — [1] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [2] Kukkiwon Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
6CitationMuay 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
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most common mistake beginners make with the ridge hand strike?
The most common mistake is leaving the thumb out instead of tucking it in. Heads of the Valleys Tang Soo Do emphasizes that junior belts consistently make this error, so ensuring the thumb is tucked is the main foundational correction.
How should my hand be positioned when executing a ridge hand strike?
The hand should be turned over with the thumb pointed slightly downward at approximately a 10-degree angle inward—not level. Make sure to tuck the thumb in and maintain a slight micro bend in the arm.
What role does body rotation play in the ridge hand strike?
Body rotation is essential; the arm should twist as it comes out, with a twist to the hip and a flick of the wrist rather than the arm moving like a plank of wood. Heads of the Valleys Tang Soo Do notes that many practitioners neglect this twist, which reduces power and effectiveness.
Should I practice the ridge hand strike on both sides?
Yes, you should practice on both sides since the form typically teaches the technique in only one direction, and consistent practice on both sides ensures balanced skill development.
How does the Standard Ridge Hand Strike work?
The basic ridge hand technique swinging the hand inward with the thumb tucked, striking with the inner edge of the hand between the base of the index finger and wrist.
Where does the Standard Ridge Hand Strike come from?
The standard ridge hand strike is the basic technique using the inner edge of the hand to strike the opponent's temple or neck in a sweeping arc. Nakayama described the correct execution as requiring the four fingers to be extended and pressed together with the thumb tightly folded, delivering power through a full hip rotation and arm extension.
Is the Standard Ridge 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 Standard Ridge Hand Strike?
Danger rating 5/10. High — reverse knife hand; targets temple/jaw
How do I set up the Standard Ridge Hand Strike?
The standard setup chain: Assume Fighting Stance → Generate Power → Execute Strike → Recover to Guard.
How do I defend against the Standard Ridge Hand 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 Ridge Hand 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 Ridge Hand Strike in competition?
Used in competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Ridge Hand Strike?
Top errors to watch for: Allowing the thumb to extend at any point during the strike — this is the single most common and painful mistake / Hitting flat with the palm and not presenting the ridge / Not rotating the body — the hip and shoulder must turn to generate force / Reaching with a straight arm instead of maintaining the hooked arm position.
What are other names for the Standard Ridge Hand Strike?
The Standard Ridge Hand Strike is also known as Haitō-uchi (Kihon-gata), Standard Haito Uchi, Standard Sonnal Deung, Standard Inside Knife Hand Strike.