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Striking (attacking strikes)

A strike is an attack with an inanimate object, such as a weapon, or with a part of the human body intended to cause harm to an opponent. An attack with the hand closed into a fist is called a punch. A strike with the leg or foot is generally called a kick. An attack with the head is called a headbutt.

Most Chinese martial arts also use the fingertips, wrists, forearms, shoulders, back and hips to strike an opponent as well as the more conventional fists, palms, elbows, knees and feet.

Punches:

A palm is a surface.

Whether the hand is open or the fingertips are folded against the bottom knuckles, palm strikes hit with the bottom part of the palm, where the hand meets the wrist. The hand is held perpendicular to the wrist to avoid hitting the softer inner wrist tissue against the target.

Many Chinese martial arts teach the Iron Palm, which in the hands of a trained practitioner, can send a more penetrating shock into the body. This percussive shock can disrupt the nervous system and cause unconsciouness.^{[citation needed]}

The palm strike is useful as it is thrown in a very relaxed manner. The hand can then "adhere" to the opponent which can lead to a control with the hand.

Targets include the face, ears, back of the head, the groin, the kidneys and abdominal cavity.

Palm heel

This strike impacts with the mass of bone at the bottom of the palm. This is a very strong part of the hand, and there is no compression of the bones in the hand on impact.

The palm heel is faster because there is no need for any tension in the arm to keep the wrist in alignment. There is less antagonistic muscle contraction and so can be thrown faster. However, there is less range, albeit a few inches, than a punch, and overextension may throw the shoulder out of alignment, thus weakening the overall attack and throwing the practitioner off-balance.

While the palm heel appears innocuous, the average man can achieve a KO within 6-8 inches with it.^{[citation needed]}

The palm heel can be used with the exact same body mechanics as any fist strike. It is simply a matter of opening the hand to the palm heel position. However, because of the nature of the palm heel, it makes it difficult to perform more dexterous punching maneuvers with a palm heel such as an uppercut or a roundhouse punch. Because it is easiest to perform the palm heel as a "sun punch" (vertical punch), it is best suited for straight attacks.

Additionally, the palm strike can be a dangerous move if not hit correctly. If the attack misses, or if the attack is countered, the top part of the palm may be striken instead, resulting in the hand being bent backwards and potentially injuring the wrist. Therefore, the palm heel should only be applied in situations where there is a clear open target.

Targets for the palm heel are the temples, nose, jaw, chin, shoulder (to negate punches), solar plexus, floating ribs, back of the head and neck, spine, coccyx, kidneys, and bladder.

Knife hand

main article: knife hand

The classic "karate chop". This refers to strikes performed with the lower part of an open hand. Knife-hand strikes are mostly used to strike sensitive pressure points via sweeping techniques like the backhand or the hook.

Power comes from the extension of the arm and shoulder and hip rotation. Relaxation is essential.

Targets include the nose, throat, neck, and arms (to cause pain and numbness).

Ridge hand

By tucking the thumb into the palm, a striking surface called the ridge-hand, or reverse knife-hand is formed, extending a few inches along the inside of the hand below the first knuckle of the first finger. Ridge-hand strikes commonly are delivered with a hooking motion.

Targets include the neck, throat, nose, jaw, and groin.

Hammerfist

A strike with the bottom of the fist, using an action like swinging a hammer, but can also be used horizontally.

This strike will not damage the bones of the hands as there is no compression of the knuckles or metacarpals, and there is no leverage to bend the wrist.

All the knife hand targets can be struck with the hammerfist, but it is also good for striking the spine, coccyx, and kidneys of an opponent who is bent over.

Kicks

Kicks are covered by a separate article, see Kick

Knee

For knee strikes, see Knee.

Other strikes

The dangers of fist strikes

Knuckle and finger damage

The human hand is made up of several small bones which may be damaged by heavy impact. If a hard part of the opponent's body or other hard object is inadvertently struck, the metacarpals may splay on impact and break. Boxers tape their hands so as to hold the metacarpals together and keep them from splaying.

Wrist damage

The wrist must be kept in proper alignment during a fist strike. If the wrist bends on impact, it can easily be sprained, dislocated or broken. Boxers tape their wrists to reduce wrist flex.

Legal implications

Knuckle strikes often open up cuts on the opponent, which can appear very damaging even if it is only superficial

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