The Silk Thread of Gorindo - Ottawa - Canada
Issue 17
- Knife Hand Strike / Palm Down - Shuto-Uchi
Photo cover "Claudio Iedwab's Winter hands" by ©2012 Roxanne Standefer
Knife hand Strike / Palm Down - Shuto-Uchi
The side muscles of the hand in shuto position are used to strike, as well as block during defenses that we will detail in later lessons. Put your four fingers together and straight, then bend the center one slightly so the tips of the index, center and ring fingers are in a line. The thumb is flexed by itself and its side touches the side of the hand. The wrist is kept in a straight line between the back of the hand and the forearm. You will feel a gentle tension in the hand muscles while assuming this position until you are accustomed to it.
The following description applies to a basic shuto that will strike with the palm facing to the floor and in a circular motion. Perform the exercises in parallel stance.
Bring the left shuto hand toward the side of the right jaw, 10 cm distance off the face. The left elbow is flexed in front of the left chest. Initially, the right fist with the back of the hand facing downward is beside the right hip. The left shuto will draw an outside horizontal curve, while the hand turns palm down, until the elbow is fully extended (without hyperextension) and the hand strikes an imaginary target at the base of the neck. Exhale the air while executing the movement.
The next steps will help us to practice action/reaction, adding more power to the technique. The left hand will execute the same action but during the preparation stage, the right fist, (with the back of the hand upward and the elbow straight without locking) is raised out in front of the body in line with the solar plexus. While the left shuto initiates its action the right fist rotates back to the right hip in a pulling action, hikite. Exhale the air while extending the left arm and tense the abdomen muscles.
Common Corrections
• Keep the spine vertical and look where you direct the strike.
• Use the muscle area of the hand, shuto, for contact, avoiding the wrist bones or the baby finger or its metacarpi.
• Don’t raise the shoulder, neither tense them, it will reduce the speed.
• During the hikite, position the back elbow as if you will like to strike behind you with it.
• Be sure that the striking hand turns during the execution, from the start position to the end.
• Don’t bend the wrist, it will lack power.
During further articles we will study different trajectories of this strikes and its variations, but this initial technique will be the base to build the others in a progressive manner.
by Claudio Iedwab & Roxanne Standefer
Originallly published in the Gorindo Student Manual by Claudio Iedwab & Roxanne Standefer
©2012 Illustrations by Claudio Iedwab
- Knife Hand Strike / Palm Down - Shuto-Uchi
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