I suggest you try boshi-ken on your own body and palm before moving on to focus pads, a punching bag or live opponent(s). вЂњtori-teвЂќ), where you apply pressure with the knuckle of your thumb to manipulate vital areas of your opponents anatomy in a grappling situation. Isshin-ryu Karate is a style that still frequently utilizes this fist formation.ДЄdditionally, the second version can be used as a вЂњtui-diвЂќ technique (Jap.

For instance, this strike was originally what we today perform as three high blocks in kata Jion, where you actually aim at the back of your opponents neck with this exact boshi-ken strike. The right, closed fist version (sometimes known in Japanese as oya-yubi-ippon-ken), was designed to be used in a circular or sideways fashion, aiming at vital points located in the soft tissue of your opponentвЂ™s side or back/neck.Today this strike is primarily seen in Uechi-ryu Karate, where itвЂ™s still practiced as a fundamental self-defense technique. In reality, however, itвЂ™s a vicious straight thumb strike in disguise aimed at vital points ( kyusho-jutsu) located on the torso, throat or face. The left, open hand version, was specifically designed to look like a harmless slap to the face for potential onlookers.Their practical application will vary depending on the circumstances (target, location, angle etc.) as well as your skill level: There are two basic ways of doing boshi-ken. Hence, boshi-ken is a strike where you actually hit with the knuckle of your thumb. The first Okinawan Karate technique you should know is called boshi-ken. Stuff that I think every Karate Nerdв„ў should know today.Д¬heck it out: #1: Boshi-ken вЂ“ The Thumb Strike Stuff that was secret, deadly, and often pretty weird. ThereвЂ™s a LOT of modern sport Karate in Okinawa too nowadays, and I actually competed myself when I lived there.Д«ut once I opened my arms to embrace the historical awesomeness inherited in the technical registry of ancient Okinawan Karate, I gradually uncovered nuggets of old-school wisdom hidden in narrow alleys, inside secret dojos, run by unassuming masters who couldnвЂ™t care less about trophies, belts or accolades. These techniques are rarely seen in вЂњmodernвЂќ Karate today. Today IвЂ™ve decided to share two of my favorite traditional, and pretty deadly, techniques of classical Okinawan Karate with you вЂ“ straight from the birthplace of our beloved art. Techniques that seemed too dangerous, unorthodox or difficult during the historical transition of Karate from Okinawa to Japan and subsequently the rest of the world, were either changed or removed from modern Karate.ДЄnd if you ask me, itвЂ™s time we revive them. If you are NOT a McDojoв„ў zombie, my guess isвЂ¦ Funakoshi Gichin (1868-1957) You know, the disturbing feeling that maybe these moves were not really designed to kick anybodyвЂ™s a** in a real fight? How many times have you found yourself thinking, вЂњManвЂ¦ this stuff would probably never work on the streetвЂќ while learning a new kata? The above statement was written in 1956 (!) by master Gichin Funakoshi.ДЄs you probably know, Funakoshi was the founder of Shotokan Karate and widely regarded as one of the most influential pioneers of modern Karate. The Karate that high school students practice today is not the same Karate that was practiced even as recently as ten years ago, and it is a long way indeed from the Karate I learned when I was a child in Okinawa.вЂќ Times change, the world changes, and obviously the martial arts must change too. вЂњHoping to see Karate included in the physical education taught in our public schools, I revised the kata to make them as simple as possible.

Uechi ryu karate do japanese