Open Hands

Caveat: This post is mine and mine alone. I the author of this blog assure you, the reader, that any of the opinions expressed here are my own and are a result of the way in which my meandering mind interprets a particular situation and or concept. The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of other martial arts and/or conflict/violence professionals or authors of source materials. It should be quite obvious that the sources I used herein have not approved, endorsed, embraced, friended, liked, tweeted or authorized this post.

When today’s martial community speaks of Okinawan Ti they use the term, “Empty Hands.” Yet, how often do we actually train using those empty hands? What I mean is how often does karate utilize “Open Hands” in their applications. This may be more relevant when teaching, training and learning a self-defense oriented karate system. 

This post is about the maxim, teachings, of the hard-to-soft/soft-to-hard application of those empty or open/closed hands. When we talk about karate we tend to lean very heavily toward the striking aspect of karate, the fist. The fist has its uses but is it actually the best tool to use in self-defense?

When self-defense is involved in the teaching of karate, that system of karate “MUST” adhere to the “hard-to-soft/soft-to-hard” maxim, i.e. using the fist against softer targets while using the open hands on the harder targets. Effective techniques are based on targeting along with both the timing of that application toward that specific target and both targeting and timing as they apply to effective power generation. 

“Effective techniques are based on targeting, timing, and power generation.” - Rory Miller, Meditations on Violence. page 107-108, Chapter 5: Training, Section 5.1: the flaw in the drill

I was not consciously aware that the open-handed application of technique may actually be better suited to self-defense then the closed fist, a fist that dominated the practice of Isshinryu karate. I am not saying other Isshinryu practitioners didn’t teach and use open handed techniques but fists did and do tend to dominate the teachings. This comes from what I now believe is a misinformed karate community that “Empty Hand” means the fist. 

When a practitioner says they practice karate, most will automatically assume a striking art that depends on the fist. There are some that even take this a few steps further by adhering to just one type of fist application, the vertical and/or twisting horizontal type fist. Maybe the original creators of Ti and China Hand (toudi) and Karate (empty hand) actually meant the open empty hand. Example:

“An open-handed strike can do as much or more damage than a fist with less risk of injury to you.” Rory Miller, Meditations on Violence, page 108, Chapter 5: Training, Section 5.1: the flaw in the drill

There are other professionals with extensive experience in conflict and violence that will also agree that the open hand or the “hard-to-soft/soft-to-hard application” are at least very, very effective. I extrapolate also that the open hand applications in self-defense would, could and should be perceived less aggressive toward staying in the self-defense square (SD Square per INoSD by Marc MacYoung). The open hand in a physical conflict would, I feel, send the message that one is trying to resist the natural tendency to hit with the fist, an aggressive view, by using the open hands to deflect and apply less, perceived anyway, dangerous and aggressive application of techniques. 

In addition, if Rory Miller and others are correct and I don’t have any reasons to doubt their expertise, the open handed applications would better suit the self-defense model of martial arts. At least as perceived by the general public. 

This also gives credence and stronger validity to the original and indigenous system of Okinawa martial art, Ti (pronounced Tee).