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Nukite (貫手)

Introduction

Nukite (貫手) is a striking surface where contact occurs with the fingertips.

The hand is kept open and the fingers are brought forward as a gathered point. Nukite is used mainly in thrusts (tsuki, 突き).

Definition

Nukite (貫手)
A striking surface where contact occurs with the fingertips in an open hand.

The standard form uses several gathered fingertips as the striking surface.

Terminology

Japanese: 貫手
Romaji: nukite
English: fingertip thrust / spear hand

Structure / Form

Basic position

  • the hand is open
  • the fingers are brought forward
  • the fingertips are held together

Fingers

  • the fingers are held together
  • they are brought straight forward or slightly bent at the first knuckle depending on the variation
  • they must not be bent backward

Thumb

  • the thumb is kept in toward the hand
  • it must not stick out as a separate striking surface

Wrist

  • the wrist is kept straight
  • the hand and forearm are kept in line

Striking surface

Primary contact

  • the fingertips

Secondary contact (should be avoided)

  • the sides of the fingers
  • the palm
  • the thumb

Variations

Nukite

Standard form where several fingertips are held together as the striking surface.

Bent variation

  • the fingers are bent slightly at the first knuckle
  • the variation is used with a more rounding impact path
  • it provides greater strength and reduces the risk of finger injury

Ippon nukite (一本貫手)

  • the striking surface is formed by one finger

Nihon nukite (二本貫手)

  • the striking surface is formed by two fingers

Basic principles

Structure

The fingers are held together and stable so that the point becomes clear as a striking surface.

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)

Power is concentrated at the moment of impact.

Execution

Movement

  • the technique starts without unnecessary tension
  • the movement is driven by the coordination of the body
  • the hand follows a directed path toward the target

Impact

  • contact occurs with the fingertips
  • the impact is carried in in a controlled manner along a straight or slightly rounding path depending on the variation

Retraction

  • the other hand is pulled back in hikite (引き手)
  • the working arm is pulled back directly after impact

Use

Nukite is used, among other things, against:

  • stomach
  • solar plexus
  • throat
  • lower rib area

Training

Nukite is trained through:

  • kihon
  • controlled repetitions
  • careful precision training

Focus:

  • correct hand form
  • gathered fingertips
  • correct thumb position
  • safe impact line

Common errors

Incorrect thumb position

  • the hand form breaks
  • the thumb becomes exposed

Backward-bent fingers

  • the structure breaks
  • the risk of finger injury increases clearly

Incorrect striking surface

  • contact occurs with the side of the fingers or the palm
  • the impact becomes unstable

Bent wrist

  • breaks the alignment
  • weakens the thrust

Summary

Nukite (貫手) is a striking surface where the fingertips are used in an open hand.

It is defined by:

  • gathered fingertips
  • thumb held in toward the hand
  • straight wrist
  • impact with the fingertips