Ken
by yonezato goyo
In Karate, Ken, the fist, is one of the most important parts of the human body. Its primary function is for striking your opponent with enough power to at least knock him down. It is also a useful aid in training the mind (more about this later). While this concept may seem elementary, I have seen many karate students training with a relaxed fist.
Most of us have been influenced to relax our fists while training. We have seen the boxer on TV shadowboxing with open fists. Their fists are open because the materials in boxing gloves prohibit the fist from closing completely, so they shadowbox with open hands. This has had a great influence on our subconscious. We subconsciously think we can train with our fists relaxed just like the boxer.
The forming of a karate fist is one of the “secrets” of karate that the average man-on-the-street doesn’t know. What is the “secret” karate fist? How is the karate fist formed to obtain the most compact, solid object possible? This is accomplished very simply. First, you “bend” the ends of your fingers down so the tips are at the top of the palm. The bend occurs at the first finger joint above the palm.
Most of us have been influenced to relax our fists while training. We have seen the boxer on TV shadowboxing with open fists. Their fists are open because the materials in boxing gloves prohibit the fist from closing completely, so they shadowbox with open hands. This has had a great influence on our subconscious. We subconsciously think we can train with our fists relaxed just like the boxer.
The forming of a karate fist is one of the “secrets” of karate that the average man-on-the-street doesn’t know. What is the “secret” karate fist? How is the karate fist formed to obtain the most compact, solid object possible? This is accomplished very simply. First, you “bend” the ends of your fingers down so the tips are at the top of the palm. The bend occurs at the first finger joint above the palm.
Then, you “roll” your palm together to form a compact “ball” of skin and bones. The finger tips, braced against the top of the palm adds stability for hard impact. It also eliminates any air pockets that may be present so the fist is more compact and solid. If done properly, over time, you will get calluses at the base of your fingers.
I have had some students ask why the lower set of knuckles protrude further than the upper set of knuckles which would appear to indicate a possible injury. I explain that the fist needs to be trained too. It takes conscious effort to continuously keep the fist tightly clenched while training until the knuckles eventually form the correct alignment.
In some Okinawan styles, the end joint of the forefinger is not tucked in and lies upon the base of the thumb. This was a “correction” for those who made a fist but the forefinger (lower) knuckle stuck out further than the rest of the knuckles. In Genwakai, we don’t do this. We tuck the tip of the forefinger in just like the rest of the fingers.
The next issue is what to do with the thumb. Isshin Ryu Karate puts the tip of the thumb against the forefinger. I’m sure there are many reasons for doing so. But I’ve never studied Isshin Ryu enough to know the answer. I have always been concerned the Isshin Ryu thumb could possibly get in the way and get injured.
In Genwakai, we place the thumb under the closed fist one and one-half fingers over. This allows the thumb to act as a support for the pressure against the fist during impact.
Now that you know how to make a proper “secret” karate fist, how can you use it to train your mind? The answer, again, is simple. To attain the highest possible level of karate, one must constantly train and consciously try to improve. This conscious effort also trains the mind. The goal of training the mind in this instance is for the mind to overcome the subconscious habit of training with relaxed fists.
Improving the basics is one of the cornerstones of Genwakai. The fist is one of the basics and must be properly trained. Work to form the calluses on your palms. Consciously keep your fists as tight as possible throughout your practice, and relax them only when you are given a break. This type of effort, starting small with the clenching of the fists, can carry over into all of your training. You are training your body to do something that seems small and insignificant, but in the end is vital.
Improving the basics is one of the cornerstones of Genwakai. The fist is one of the basics and must be properly trained. Work to form the calluses on your palms. Consciously keep your fists as tight as possible throughout your practice, and relax them only when you are given a break. This type of effort, starting small with the clenching of the fists, can carry over into all of your training. You are training your body to do something that seems small and insignificant, but in the end is vital.
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