Spear Hand Strike Tutorial
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Spear Hand·Christian Karate Idaho
Step-by-step walkthrough tutorial for Spear Hand Strike & Pressing Hand Block from the Orange Belt sheet.
Spear Hand
Family貫手(Nukite)
TraditionalTranslation: spear hand
Overview
History & Origin
The spear hand (nukite in Japanese) is a thrusting technique using the extended fingertips to attack soft targets such as the eyes, throat, and solar plexus. [1] The technique has roots in Chinese martial arts, where finger-thrust techniques (zhi fa) were developed in both Shaolin and Wudang traditions. [2] Funakoshi included nukite as a fundamental technique in Karate-Do Kyohan, noting its Okinawan origins and its effectiveness against anatomically vulnerable targets. [2] The spear hand requires significant finger conditioning (sashite training) and is primarily taught as a self-defence rather than a competition technique, as most combat sport rulesets prohibit finger strikes. [3]
Effectiveness
The spear hand (nukite) thrusts the fingertips into soft targets. [1]
Lineage
From karate and kung fu. [1]
Competition Record
Rarely used in modern competition due to risk of finger injury. [1]
Images
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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 — Extend the fingers straight, thrust the fingertips into a soft target (throat, solar plexus, or eyes)
As precision strike — Used at close range to target vulnerable anatomical points that a closed fist cannot effectively reach
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
Fingertip thrust; targets throat/eyes in traditional arts
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
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 spear hand (nukite) strikes with the tips of the extended fingers, targeting soft tissue areas like the throat, solar plexus, or eyes
✓It is a precision technique — the fingers must be rigid and aligned to prevent bending on impact
✓The spear hand has the longest reach of any hand strike because the fingers extend beyond the fist
✓In karate, the nukite is trained extensively for precision and finger strength
✓Target only soft tissue: the throat (Adam's apple), the solar plexus, or the armpit area
✓The fingers must be conditioned through progressive impact training — striking sand, rice, or a makiwara
✓The spear hand is a dangerous technique that is generally illegal in sport fighting due to its targeting of vulnerable areas
Common Mistakes
!Striking hard targets (skull, ribs, sternum) with the fingertips — this will break the fingers
!Not aligning the fingers properly — all four fingers must be level, with the middle finger slightly bent to match the others
!Using the spear hand without finger conditioning — the fingertips are fragile without training
!Extending the fingers loosely, which causes them to bend backward on any impact
!Aiming inaccurately and missing the soft tissue target — the spear hand only works on precise targets
!Using the spear hand in sparring or competition where it is almost certainly illegal
!Over-extending the reach and losing the structural integrity of the hand position
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] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) [2] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
2BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
History sources — [1] The Art of Striking (Blauer, 2004) [2] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [3] 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] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) [2] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
6CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
History sources — [1] The Art of Striking (Blauer, 2004) [2] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [3] 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
Notes
The spear hand (nukite) appears in 222 passages across 24 books. Uses the fingertips as the striking surface — targets the throat, eyes, and solar plexus. Requires finger conditioning for safe execution. Banned in all sport competition due to the eye/throat targeting. (24 books; Nakayama, Dynamic Karate)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a spear hand strike to punch someone in the solar plexus?
No, this is a common misconception. You don't have sufficient finger strength to strike the solar plexus effectively with a spear hand. According to Christian Karate Idaho, the spear hand is better suited for other targets.
What are the best targets for a spear hand strike?
The eyes are the most effective target for a spear hand strike. Christian Karate Idaho emphasizes the eyes specifically because even a distraction to the eye immediately causes an attacker to lose focus and attention to the pain.
How can I safely practice spear hand strikes with a partner?
Christian Karate Idaho recommends avoiding actual spear hand contact to the eyes with partners. Instead, modify the technique by punching slightly higher and aiming for safer targets like the shoulder or collarbone during kumite drills or partner practice.
What is the purpose of the pressing block used with spear hand techniques?
The pressing block uses the palm heel to deflect or disrupt incoming punches, setting up the opportunity for a spear hand counter-strike.
How does the Spear Hand work?
A thrusting strike using the extended fingertips held rigidly together, targeting soft tissue areas such as the throat, eyes, or solar plexus.
Where does the Spear Hand come from?
The spear hand (nukite in Japanese) is a thrusting technique using the extended fingertips to attack soft targets such as the eyes, throat, and solar plexus. The technique has roots in Chinese martial arts, where finger-thrust techniques (zhi fa) were developed in both Shaolin and Wudang traditions.
Is the Spear 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 Spear Hand?
Danger rating 5/10. High — fingertip thrust; targets throat/eyes in traditional arts
How do I set up the Spear Hand?
The standard setup chain: Assume Fighting Stance → Generate Power → Execute Strike → Recover to Guard.
How do I defend against the Spear 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 Spear 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 Spear Hand in competition?
Rarely used in modern competition due to risk of finger injury.
What are common mistakes when doing the Spear Hand?
Top errors to watch for: Striking hard targets (skull, ribs, sternum) with the fingertips — this will break the fingers / Not aligning the fingers properly — all four fingers must be level, with the middle finger slightly bent to match the… / Using the spear hand without finger conditioning — the fingertips are fragile without training / Extending the fingers loosely, which causes them to bend backward on any impact.
What are other names for the Spear Hand?
The Spear Hand is also known as Nukite, Finger Thrust, Spear Finger.