Hand and arm¶

Introduction¶

This section covers the striking surfaces of the hand and arm in Kyokushin karate.

Here, both fundamental striking surfaces and more specialized hand forms are gathered, as well as the contact and striking surfaces of the arm.

The section is based on Masutatsu Oyama’s systematic description of the body’s weapon forms, but is here organized as a technical reference for instruction and comparison.

Overview¶

The section comprises three main groups:

Fundamental hand striking surfaces¶

These constitute central forms in Kyokushin’s technical system.

seiken (正拳)
uraken (裏拳)
tettsui (鉄槌)
shutō (手刀)
haitō (背刀)
shōtei (掌底)
nukite (貫手)

Specialized hand forms¶

These are used as more specialized striking surfaces or knuckle forms.

keiko (鶏口)
koken (弧拳)
hitosashiyubi ipponken (人差し指一本拳)
nakayubi ipponken (中指一本拳)
nihonken (二本拳)
ryūtōken (龍頭拳)

The arm’s striking surfaces¶

These belong to the arm rather than the hand.

hiji (肘)
kote (小手)

Basic principles¶

All striking surfaces in the section are based on the same basic principles.

Structure¶

correct form
stable contact zone
clear alignment

Body connection¶

Power is transferred through the body to the striking surface.

English:
ground → leg → hip → torso → shoulder → arm → striking surface

Japanese / romaji:
jimen (地面) → ashi (足) → koshi (腰) → dōtai (胴体) → kata (肩) → ude (腕) → datotsu-bu (打突部)

Kime (決め)¶

short concentration of force
immediate relaxation after impact

Precision¶

correct striking surface
correct direction
correct distance

Overview of striking surfaces¶

Fundamental hand striking surfaces¶

Striking surface	Main contact	Basic form	Common use
Seiken	two front knuckles	clenched fist	thrusts
Uraken	upper side of the knuckles	clenched fist	short strikes
Tettsui	base of the little finger side	clenched fist	downward and lateral strikes
Shutō	outer edge of the hand	open hand	strikes and blocking
Haitō	inner edge of the hand at the base of the thumb	open hand	directed strikes
Shōtei	base of the palm	open hand	strikes, thrusts, blocking
Nukite	fingertips	open hand	directed thrusts

Specialized hand forms¶

Striking surface	Main contact	Basic form	Common use
Keiko	tip of the fingertips	pointed hand form	directed strikes
Koken	outer part of the wrist	bent wrist form	strikes, some blocks
Hitosashiyubi ipponken	second joint of the index finger	specialized knuckle form	point impact
Nakayubi ipponken	second joint of the middle finger	specialized knuckle form	point impact
Nihonken	second joints of the index and middle fingers	double knuckle form	point impact
Ryūtōken	triangular knuckle surface	specialized knuckle form	point impact

The arm’s striking surfaces¶

Striking surface	Main contact	Basic form	Common use
Hiji	elbow zone	bent arm	close range
Kote	lower part of the forearm	forearm in seiken position	blocking, contact

Comparison of structure¶

Striking surface	Hand/arm form	Contact zone	Distance
Seiken	compact clenched fist	two front knuckles	medium
Uraken	inverted clenched fist	upper side of the knuckles	short
Tettsui	compact clenched fist	base of the little finger side	short–medium
Shutō	open and gathered hand	outer hand edge	medium
Haitō	open hand with the inner edge directed	inner hand edge	short–medium
Shōtei	open hand with bent wrist	base of the palm	short–medium
Nukite	open hand with fingertips held together	fingertips	short
Keiko	bent fingertips in a point	fingertip tip	short
Koken	bent wrist form	outer part of the wrist	short
Ipponken forms	specialized knuckle form	one or more protruding joints	short
Hiji	bent arm close to the body	elbow	very short
Kote	forearm as a contact zone	lower part of the forearm	short

Functional use¶

Striking surface	Primary function
Seiken	fundamental linear transfer of force
Uraken	fast short-range contact
Tettsui	heavy contact from the side or from above
Shutō	edge impact in strikes and blocking
Haitō	directed inner edge impact
Shōtei	stable open hand for strike, thrust, and blocking
Nukite	pointed precision against a narrow target zone
Keiko	pointed fast contact
Koken	specialized wrist contact
Hitosashiyubi ipponken	concentrated point impact
Nakayubi ipponken	concentrated point impact
Nihonken	double point impact
Ryūtōken	triangular point impact
Hiji	close-range impact with a compact path
Kote	blocking and controlled contact with the forearm

System understanding¶

The striking surfaces of the hand and arm represent different ways of transferring contact and force.

Examples:

seiken – linear and fundamental fist impact
uraken – short and fast knuckle impact
tettsui – force through the outer fist edge
shutō – impact with the outer edge of the hand
haitō – impact with the inner edge of the hand
shōtei – force through the base of the palm
nukite – pointed precision
ipponken-former – concentrated point impact
hiji – close range with the elbow
kote – forearm as a contact and blocking surface

Together, they show how the hand and arm are used through different structures, not through a single standard form.

Use¶

In training, these striking surfaces are used in:

kihon
kata
kumite
technical application

The choice of striking surface depends, among other things, on:

distance
direction
target area
the structure of the technique

Delimitation¶

This section covers:

the striking surfaces of the hand and arm
their structure
their function in technique

It does not primarily cover:

complete techniques
kata as a complete form
kumite as a system
vital points

Summary¶

The Hand and arm section gathers Kyokushin’s central striking surfaces for the hand and arm.

It shows how different forms are used for different types of contact, force transfer, and technical function.