Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)
There is the big hoopla about the use of the vertical fist and it does have its purpose but as to a sole exclusive and righteous fist to use in self-protection, not so much. Why? Because like almost everything fundamental about karate to focus on one such singular way is not the true way of the empty hand applied effectively in self-protection for self-defense.
Here is what I would say about the vertical fist or punch or strike, it is a tool to teach us several fundamental principles that speak to things like structure, stability and how to achieve maximum power and force in applying hand methods to self-protection.
The vertical fist teaches about structure in that holding the fist with thumb on top is a solid way to show and demonstrate how the structure of the forearm, wrist and hands to minimize possible injuries when applying a fist strike or punch. Never in true chaotic predatory violence will one want to or even use that type of fist especially as an exclusive one to stop an attack/attacker. In the chaos of an adrenal charged mind-state surprise attack you really don't want to use your fist, it will get injured even if you spend hours and hours on the bag and makiwara. You don't want to have an injury that will hinder your methodologies in self-preservation.
It also is used to show how to perform a rising punch or strike that is also never found in self-protection for self-defense simply because to retract it to the hips then to strike out takes way too much time and telegraphs what you are doing as well as being useless in the adrenal charged mind-state of a surprise attack or one hell-bent on doing you damage.
To use the vertical fist is to use that structure from the elbow to the knuckles no matter what position it takes be it literally vertical to a point on the body or to have a vertical fist rotate to its horizontal, or any degree in between, fist to apply a strike to a softer vulnerable part of an attackers body. If your elbow is lined up properly to the forearm, to the wrist, to the fist itself even with the thumb in its proper stabilization position will benefit its application ... mostly.
You see, to truly find power and force with stopping capabilities you must achieve mastery of the physiokinetic principles like structure, alignment, balance and movement, etc., or regardless that vertical fist is not going to get the job done.
Teaching and practicing the use of the rising punch/strike with elbow in and alinged arm to fist for the vertical fist is a teaching tool and occasionally useful but is exclusively about learning, applying and encoding principles into your karate, not some singular technique not applicable to self-protection in self-defense as it is too limited. Relying on it will probably get one stuck in a loop because when the first strike/punch fails to drop the guy you may try it again, again and again continuing the failure while your attacker smokes your ass.
The upper and lower basics, the drills, the kumite and other tools are about principles and strategies and tactics taught and trained so that one can apply those principles using multiple methodologies to get-r-done. It is just that simple.
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