Back Fist High Side Strike - Taekwon-Do Lesson #21
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Standard Standing Backfist·Donato Nardizzi·Added by Admin
This video shows you how to perform a Back Fist High Side Strike. Recommended for 8th kup grade students and above, the …
Standard Standing Backfist
Genus立ち裏拳（基本型）(Tachi Uraken (Kihon-gata))
TraditionalTranslation: standard standing backfist
Overview
History & Origin
The standard standing backfist is the basic execution of the stationary backfist, delivered with a quick arm extension and wrist snap from a fighting stance. [1] Nakayama described the proper execution as requiring the elbow to lead the motion, with the fist whipping outward at the end of the arm's arc to strike with the first two knuckles' dorsal surface. [2] This technique appears in multiple Shotokan kata, including Heian Nidan and Tekki Shodan, where it is used as a close-range counter-attack. [2]
Effectiveness
Standard standing backfist. [1]
Lineage
From karate. [1]
Competition Record
Used in competition. [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
Variants
Horizontal elbow — swinging the elbow horizontally at head level
Uppercut elbow — rising elbow from below targeting the chin
Downward elbow — chopping the elbow straight down (Muay Thai sok tat)
Spinning elbow — full rotation before driving the elbow into the target
Videos
How To Do Basic JKD Techniques
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Standard Standing Backfist·Close Combat Martial Arts Training·Added by Admin
To watch a better quality of this video you can click HD Bruce Lee's JKD - "Jeet Kune Do" or "The Way of the Intercepti…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The standard standing backfist is a versatile striking technique executed by making contact with the back two knuckles of a tightly squeezed fist. Donato Nardizzi emphasizes that the technique employs an outward swinging motion from the shoulder, with the forearm twisting minimally at the end—distinct from a full inner forearm block. The striking arm begins underneath with palm facing down, then swings across the body as the opposite fist retracts to the hip, creating crossing arm mechanics. Nardizzi details precise body alignment: the backfist should finish lined up with the shoulder center at eye level for high strikes, typically targeting the temple, with the body positioned half-facing the target. He stresses footwork mechanics, particularly pivoting the rear foot outward to generate power through abdominal jerking rather than relying solely on arm motion. Close Combat Martial Arts Training's Kim demonstrates the backfist within a JKD framework, emphasizing forward stepping to generate power and striking force, though offering less detail on stance mechanics and finishing position. Both instructors agree on the technique's fundamental mechanics—an outward swinging motion from the shoulder with contact via the back knuckles—but Nardizzi provides substantially more technical depth regarding stance variations, body rotation, footwork principles, and anatomical alignment.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Donato Nardizzi — Back Fist High Side Strike - Taekwon-Do Lesson #21: Comprehensive technical breakdown including outward swing mechanics, forearm twist minimization, arm crossing patterns, finishing position alignment with shoulder center and eye level, temple targeting, stance variations (walking stance, L-stance, parallel stance), footwork pivot mechanics for power generation, and body half-facing positioning.
- Close Combat Martial Arts Training — How To Do Basic JKD Techniques: JKD-context application emphasizing forward stepping to generate power and overcome distance, basic backfist execution with minimal technical elaboration on stance mechanics or finishing position.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
Spinning/standing backfist; metacarpal fracture risk to striker
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
Kyokushin — Body punches legal at full power, head punches banned {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— 1 point
WT Competition Rules 2024PDFLegal
— Unified MMA — Legal striking technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFWBC/Boxing — Legal — punches are the core technique of boxing {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
— ITF — Legal — hand techniques to head and body both permi...
ITF Competition RulesPDF— WAKO — Legal in Full Contact and Low Kick formats
WAKO Competition RulesPDFK-1/GLORY — Legal — full power punches to head and body {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
— IFMA — Legal
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓From fighting stance, keep the lead elbow at approximately chest height as the hinge point
✓Snap the forearm outward horizontally, striking the opponent's temple or cheek with the back of the first two knuckles
✓The wrist flicks at the end to add snap — think of cracking a whip
✓The non-striking hand stays at the chin in guard
✓This is the most common backfist in point karate (uraken) and is used as a fast, deceptive lead strike
✓Return the fist along the same path immediately after impact — do not let it drop
✓Practise on a speed bag or focus mitts held at temple height to develop the snapping motion and accuracy
Common Mistakes
!Extending the entire arm and turning it into a long, slow swing — the elbow must stay as the fixed pivot
!Not snapping the wrist at impact, reducing the whip-like force
!Aiming at the forehead or top of the head where the bone is thickest — target the temple or jaw
!Dropping the elbow during the snap so the backfist travels downward instead of horizontally
!Following through past the target instead of retracting — the snap-back is part of the technique
!Leaving the chin exposed by turning the head away from the strike direction
!Throwing the standing backfist with a loose fist — the knuckles must be tight at the moment of impact
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
Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Yod Ruerngsa, Khun Kao Charuad & James Cartmell, 2002)
1BookBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)
Alias sources — [1] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [2] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) [3] Kukkiwon Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006)
2BookThe Boxing Register (Roberts & Skutt, 2006)
History sources — [1] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [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] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) [3] Kukkiwon Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006)
6CitationThe Boxing Register (Roberts & Skutt, 2006)
History sources — [1] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [2] Best Karate Vol. 3 (Nakayama, 1978)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hand speed, hip rotation, wrist alignment on impact
Favours
proportional reach, strong wrists, fast-twitch shoulder muscles
Key muscles
deltoids, pectorals, triceps, core rotators, forearms
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I generate more power in a standing backfist?
Pull the opposite arm back while executing the technique, breathe out, and fix your gaze all at the same time to add power to the strike.
Can I practice the backfist while moving, or just from a static stance?
You can perform the backfist from walking stance to walking stance using the same fundamental principles as the stationary version.
How does the Standard Standing Backfist work?
A non-spinning backfist thrown by snapping the arm outward from a bent-elbow position, using the wrist as a pivot point to whip the back of the fist toward the target.
Where does the Standard Standing Backfist come from?
The standard standing backfist is the basic execution of the stationary backfist, delivered with a quick arm extension and wrist snap from a fighting stance. Nakayama described the proper execution as requiring the elbow to lead the motion, with the fist whipping outward at the end of the arm's arc to strike with the first two knuckles' dorsal surface.
Is the Standard Standing Backfist legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal striking technique; WBC/Boxing: legal — Legal — punches are the core technique of boxing; WKF: legal — Legal, jodan/chudan punch scores 1 point (yuko) — controlled contact required; Kyokushin: restricted — Body punches legal at full power, head punches banned; WT: restricted — Punches to trunk only (1 point), punches to head banned; ITF: legal — Legal — hand techniques to head and body both permitted; WAKO: legal — Legal in Full Contact and Low Kick formats; K: legal — 1/GLORY — Legal — full power punches to head and body; IFMA: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Standard Standing Backfist?
Danger rating 5/10. High — spinning/standing backfist; metacarpal fracture risk to striker
How do I set up the Standard Standing Backfist?
The standard setup chain: Assume Fighting Stance → Generate Power → Execute Strike → Recover to Guard.
How do I defend against the Standard Standing Backfist?
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 Standing Backfist?
Common variants: Horizontal elbow (swinging the elbow horizontally at head level); Uppercut elbow (rising elbow from below targeting the chin); Downward elbow (chopping the elbow straight down (Muay Thai sok tat)); Spinning elbow (full rotation before driving the elbow into the target).
How effective is the Standard Standing Backfist in competition?
Used in competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Standing Backfist?
Top errors to watch for: Extending the entire arm and turning it into a long, slow swing — the elbow must stay as the fixed pivot / Not snapping the wrist at impact, reducing the whip-like force / Aiming at the forehead or top of the head where the bone is thickest — target the temple or jaw / Dropping the elbow during the snap so the backfist travels downward instead of horizontally.
What are other names for the Standard Standing Backfist?
The Standard Standing Backfist is also known as Tachi Uraken (Kihon-gata), Standard Uraken, Standard Standing Back Fist, Deungjumeok Ap Chigi.