While the execution of the Knife Hand and Ridge Hand Strikes is not terribly common outside of the realm of traditional martial arts, the conditioning for those strikes to a breaking-caliber level is what’s important for all fighters, as the collateral parts of the hand will often find themselves engaged, in both offensive and defensive postures, during the heat of battle.
The Knife Hand Strike is most easily recognized by martial artist and layperson alike as the “karate chop,” but is known as well by its name in Japanese, the Shuto. The part of the outer ridge of the hand that extends from the base of the little finger down to the wrist is the primary striking area for the chop, and particularly the area that begins about halfway between the base of the little finger and wrist, on down to the wrist. Many view this area of the hand as the best strike point because it is so fleshy, and therefore both pain and the opportunity for bone damage are minimized. The only exception to the latter concerns the pisiform bone, which is located on the outside of the undersurface of the wrist, and is in the vicinity of the ulnar artery and nerve. Because of its sensitive location, it is important that this bone remains intact, which means that this area must be developed to a level so that protective calluses are formed between the contact point and the pisiform bone.
The best way to train this area is with a disciplined regimen of repeatedly striking the makiwara. As with fist conditioning, there is nothing slick about how this is done. Once you have properly identified the correct striking area for the chop, the key from that point forward is simply engaging in a disciplined regimen of makiwara training. A good rule of thumb is to try to get to a point where you are striking the makiwara with this area for about 1,000 repetitions. As mentioned previously, if you do not have easy access to a makiwara, a canvas heavy bag will serve as a suitable substitute; just remember that in order for this to be a satisfactory alternative surface, you must seek out the hardest part of the bag against which to place your strikes. Without the proper surface hardness, your hand conditioning will progress between “little” and “not at all.”
As with the Knife Hand Strike, the specific point of contact of the Ridge Hand Strike is more precise and limited than it appears to be at first glance. The strike point of the ridge hand is not the entire inside ridge of the hand, from the top of the forefinger down past the tucked thumb and ending at the point where the heel of the palm meets the wrist; rather, it is the area of the “ridge” that begins between the knuckles of the index finger and extends back to the fleshy bulge that is formed when you tuck the thumb under the hand to form the strike position. As with the training required for the Knife Hand Strike, the training for the Ridge Hand Strike is simple in its mechanics, but rigorous in its effection: Constant striking of the makiwara. As with all makiwara training, you should set a goal of completing 1,000 strikes each daily session with the ridge hand. Once again, if you do not have regular accessibility to a makiwara, you would do well to invest in a canvas heavy-bag, ensuring to place your strikes at the hardest point you can locate on the bag.
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