| While the execution of the Knife Hand and Ridge | | | | point forward is simply engaging in a disciplined |
| Hand Strikes is not terribly common outside of the | | | | regimen of makiwara training. A good rule of thumb is |
| realm of traditional martial arts, the conditioning for | | | | to try to get to a point where you are striking the |
| those strikes to a breaking-caliber level is what's | | | | makiwara with this area for about 1,000 repetitions. |
| important for all fighters, as the collateral parts of the | | | | As mentioned previously, if you do not have easy |
| hand will often find themselves engaged, in both | | | | access to a makiwara, a canvas heavy bag will serve |
| offensive and defensive postures, during the heat of | | | | as a suitable substitute; just remember that in order |
| battle. | | | | for this to be a satisfactory alternative surface, you |
| The Knife Hand Strike is most easily recognized by | | | | must seek out the hardest part of the bag against |
| martial artist and layperson alike as the "karate chop," | | | | which to place your strikes. Without the proper |
| but is known as well by its name in Japanese, the | | | | surface hardness, your hand conditioning will progress |
| Shuto. The part of the outer ridge of the hand that | | | | between "little" and "not at all." |
| extends from the base of the little finger down to | | | | As with the Knife Hand Strike, the specific point of |
| the wrist is the primary striking area for the chop, | | | | contact of the Ridge Hand Strike is more precise and |
| and particularly the area that begins about halfway | | | | limited than it appears to be at first glance. The strike |
| between the base of the little finger and wrist, on | | | | point of the ridge hand is not the entire inside ridge |
| down to the wrist. Many view this area of the hand | | | | of the hand, from the top of the forefinger down |
| as the best strike point because it is so fleshy, and | | | | past the tucked thumb and ending at the point |
| therefore both pain and the opportunity for bone | | | | where the heel of the palm meets the wrist; rather, |
| damage are minimized. The only exception to the | | | | it is the area of the "ridge" that begins between the |
| latter concerns the pisiform bone, which is located on | | | | knuckles of the index finger and extends back to the |
| the outside of the undersurface of the wrist, and is | | | | fleshy bulge that is formed when you tuck the |
| in the vicinity of the ulnar artery and nerve. Because | | | | thumb under the hand to form the strike position. As |
| of its sensitive location, it is important that this bone | | | | with the training required for the Knife Hand Strike, |
| remains intact, which means that this area must be | | | | the training for the Ridge Hand Strike is simple in its |
| developed to a level so that protective calluses are | | | | mechanics, but rigorous in its effection: Constant |
| formed between the contact point and the pisiform | | | | striking of the makiwara. As with all makiwara |
| bone. | | | | training, you should set a goal of completing 1,000 |
| The best way to train this area is with a disciplined | | | | strikes each daily session with the ridge hand. Once |
| regimen of repeatedly striking the makiwara. As with | | | | again, if you do not have regular accessibility to a |
| fist conditioning, there is nothing slick about how this | | | | makiwara, you would do well to invest in a canvas |
| is done. Once you have properly identified the | | | | heavy-bag, ensuring to place your strikes at the |
| correct striking area for the chop, the key from that | | | | hardest point you can locate on the bag. |