| There are many offensive thrusts in karate. | | | | The joint at the back of wrist is the striking point |
| Some of them are outlined below. It always pays | | | | of this blow. With the palm facing you, curl your |
| to have some of these moves under your belt, | | | | hand into a fist and bend it inward. This is an |
| so that if you are surprised by an adversary, you | | | | effective defensive position and will thwart most |
| are able to quickly and easily defeat him. | | | | of your foe's attacks. |
| Back Hand Lash | | | | Bent Wrist |
| When someone gets fresh or tries to bully you | | | | A variation of the back wrist, except the fingers |
| and you give him the "back of your hand" in | | | | and thumb droop downward and away from you. |
| Karate, the poor guy might conceivably land on | | | | This is strictly a blocking position. Use it |
| his back! The Back Hand Lash is one of the | | | | accordingly. |
| earliest striking methods in the art of Karate, | | | | Chicken Head Wrist |
| dating back many centuries. In the Back Hand | | | | A good Karate man must know not only |
| Lash you keep the entire hand stiff as a board, | | | | offensive techniques but defensive or blocking |
| fingers extended straight out and close together. | | | | motions too. Often it is not necessary to repel a |
| Arm should remain stiff. Use this blow in attacking | | | | foe with a swift, painful blow. If a roughneck tries |
| the ribs or blocking an opponent's thrust. | | | | to push his blubbery weight around, smart |
| Side Hand Hammer Blow | | | | defensive tactics might make him look awfully silly. |
| This blow is facetiously called the "Hammer of | | | | By adroitly blocking his blows, you can deflate any |
| Thor" because it hits like thunder and can result in | | | | bag of wind. The Chicken Head Wrist is an |
| temporary sense loss and paralysis. You form a | | | | excellent blocking position and will make a "turkey" |
| clenched fist. Keep arm straight up and rigid. Then | | | | out of many an opponent. Use it often. |
| smash downward . . . and look out below! | | | | Outside Wrist |
| Bottom Fist | | | | Did you ever knock on the front door, and not |
| The Bottom Fist is employed when attacking hard | | | | get an immediate "who is it" from inside? Then |
| surfaces, like the head, elbow joint and also in | | | | you pound with the side of a clenched fist. If |
| blocking opponent's blows. This Karate striking | | | | somebody's home, you can rest assured that |
| point is very effective when you're faced with | | | | knocking will bring him a-running! In Karate the |
| two opponents, one on each side. Smash both in | | | | Outside Wrist blow brings results too. You strike |
| the ribs simultaneously. Before they can regain | | | | sharply with the outside edge of the wrist joint. |
| their composure, you're free ... to fight another | | | | Be sure to keep arm rigid when delivering the |
| day. | | | | blow. You can hit downward, sideways, upward or |
| Heel of Palm | | | | forward. The Outside Wrist motion can be used |
| Give the heel of your palm to any obnoxious heel | | | | defensively or offensively. |
| and listen to him howl . . . for mercy. The Heel of | | | | Shoulder Pinch |
| Palm is formed by arching the hand back, almost | | | | The purpose of the Shoulder Pinch is to immobilize |
| to a 90° angle. The fingers should be bent | | | | your opponent's arms and hands. And if you can |
| and slightly spread. Use this position when | | | | temporarily "paralyse" those vital organs, you're |
| attacking the face, nose, chin or jaw. | | | | the victor! You can apply the Shoulder Pinch two |
| The Choker | | | | ways: from the front and from behind. Just dig |
| Use the Choker on any smart-aleck joker. It is | | | | your thumb into the hollow under the collar bone; |
| one of the best karate techniques you can | | | | press your fingers into his back-and squeeze like |
| employ. It will make him think twice-and then turn | | | | an enthusiastic accordion player! You'll hear the |
| the other way. The striking point of this position is | | | | sweet music of "I surrender, dear" from your foe. |
| the area between the thumb and forefinger. | | | | You will be an opponent to reckon with once you |
| Back Wrist | | | | have learnt these karate techniques! |