Conditioning for knife hand and ridge hand strikes
While the execution of Knife Hand and Ridge Hand Strikes is not very common outside of the realm of traditional martial arts, what is important to all fighters is the conditioning of those strikes at a break-gauge level, as the parts Hand collaterals often find themselves engaged, in both offensive and defensive stances, during the heat of battle.
The Knife Hand Strike is most easily recognized by martial artists and laymen alike as the “karate chop”, but it is also known by its Japanese name, Shuto. The part of the outer ridge of the hand that extends from the base of the little finger to the wrist is the primary striking area for the cut, and particularly the area that begins about halfway between the base of the little finger and the wrist. wrist, on up to the wrist. Many see this area of the hand as the best hitting point because it is very fleshy and therefore both pain and the possibility of bone damage are minimized. The only exception to the latter concerns the pisiform bone, which lies on the outside of the lower surface of the wrist, and is close to the ulnar artery and nerve. Due to its sensitive location, it is important that this bone remains intact, which means that this area must be developed to such a level that protective calluses form between the contact point and the pisiform bone.
The best way to train this area is with a disciplined regimen of repeatedly hitting the makiwara. As with fist conditioning, there is nothing clever about how this is done. Once you have correctly identified the correct striking area for the cut, the key from then on is simply to engage in a disciplined regimen of makiwara training. A good rule of thumb is to try to get to a point where you hit the makiwara with this area for about 1,000 repetitions. As mentioned above, if you don’t have easy access to a makiwara, a heavy canvas bag will serve as a suitable substitute; just remember that for this to be a satisfying alternate surface, you need to find the hardest part of the bag to place your shots against. Without proper surface hardness, your hand conditioning will progress between “little” and “not at all.”
As with Knife Hand Strike, Ridge Hand Strike’s specific point of contact is more precise and limited than it appears at first glance. The striking point of the edge hand is not the entire inside edge of the hand, from the top of the index finger down past the tucked thumb and ending at the point where the palm of the hand meets the wrist; rather, it is the “ridge” area that begins between the knuckles of the index finger and extends to the fleshy bulge that forms when you tuck your thumb under your hand to form the striking position. As with the training required for Knife Hand Strike, the training for Ridge Hand Strike is simple in its mechanics, but rigorous in its effect: Steady strike of the makiwara. As with all makiwara training, you should set yourself the goal of completing 1000 strokes in each daily session with the ridge hand. Again, if you don’t have regular access to a makiwara, you’d do well to invest in a heavy canvas bag, making sure to place your punches in the most difficult spot you can find on the bag.
