Vertical vs. Horizontal Fist in Karate

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

In a recent posting from the Karate Nerd, he wrote of his perspective on how we, in karate, hold our fist to strike, punch or whatever. It was a very good article. Read it here: https://www.karatebyjesse.com/horizontal-vs-vertical/

Let me say right off, this exorbitant focus on the fist is just plain ludicrous except when someone wants to convey the principles of physiokinetic's to striking and punching. (Yes, there is a difference) If you focus too much on either vertical or horizontal you tend to lose site of all the graduations/variances involved in using the fist in fighting, combatives or self-protection for self-defense. 

The one true thing he expresses is the last sentence that I show first in the below notes from his article. All methods and methodologies, there is a difference here too, using the hands in self-protection, the concept of karate I tend to focus on, tend to rely on one answer and one answer alone. "What you use depends!"

It is not about the vertical being superior or inferior to its brother the yoko-ken but rather the dynamics and governing rules, written and unwritten, of their applications in often a chaotic violent situation. It all depends. 

If you remain solely focused on karate, empty hand, and the use of the hands as a primary, along with the feet, you will lower the methods and tools you may need to apply to stop an attack thus stopping the damage or death that such encounters bring to the table if you are attacked. 

Please note, I focus on self-protection but as to sport there are a whole nother concepts and aspect to how, when, where and why it is taught and applied and THAT IS A MAJOR DISTINCTION AND DIFFERENCE. 

The true, relevant and appropriate application of methods and methodologies are about applying things according to proper principled based multiple methodologies and NOT about which fist formation is better. 

Please note that a tate-ken is superior AND the yoko-ken is superior! How can two different but related methods be superior to one another? The answer if you re-read above all, "depends." It depends on a whole slew of chaotic stuff that not one of us can place one answer too because each individual situation is going to be different and how you handle that will always, "depend on circumstances that are fluid in nature and all depend on what is best or superior to the other." That is the real challenge not just in teaching self-protection but applying it in the real world of conflict and violence. 

Let me add another crucial concept, it also depends on what is termed, "the aftermath." You see, what effects this chaotic dangerous use of one's skills in karate are the predatory use of the legal system and its minefield of traps, obstacles and pitfalls because this is there waiting for you to use your skills just so they can attack you again and the repercussions of this secondary predatory situation will often rise up like a tidal wave, a tsunami in Japan and Okinawa, that will swamp over you like noting you have ever experienced before. 

Read more here:

https://isshindo.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-isshinryu-vertical-fist.html

https://isshindo.blogspot.com/2020/04/tate-ken-or-vertical-fist.html

https://mymartialselfdefensephilosophy.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-vertical-fist-is-it-superior.html

https://mymartialselfdefensephilosophy.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-focus-on-fists.html

For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)

Notes:

I put this first although in his article is is last, "The tool depends on the target."

Tate-ken vs. Yoko-ken

Both are good he says but the yoko-ken is better assuming you don't misunderstand it. 

Comparison example uses pushups assuming a pushup is not that different from a punch. 

Tate-ken: elbows are effectively kept tucked in when you strike.

Yoko-ken: people doing Yoko-ken, the elbow points out.

Here lies the problem: when the elbow points out… you loose energy. The energy splits. Some goes into your enemy, and some goes out to the side, through your elbow. Punching somebody like this is not optimal. The corkscrew punch, Yoko-ken, makes your two forearm bones, radius and ulna, twist gradually around each other, making the whole structure of the forearm stronger, and able to withstand more force.

What I’m trying to say is that the Yoko-ken can be better, but… only if you can do it with the body mechanics of a Tate-ken! And that’s where many fail. This requires good muscular control.