The Upright Fist

The upright or standing fist (tate-ken of karate-do) is a tight fist flexed inward and upward so that the main surface of the fist contacts the target with the two knuckles of the little finger and the fourth finger (Fig. 5). Valuable in upward hooking, side hooking, and thrust punches this hand formation may be used with great effect against both midsection and groin (shown in Training Exercise 15).

The Arrowhead Fist

In general formation, this hand weapon resembles the "fore fist" (seiken of karate-do) but there are some distinctions worth noting. The tight fist is held so that it is flexed and locked at the wrist, with the mid-knuckles in line with the long axis of the forearm, to form a concave or saddle-back sway on the back surface of the hand. Occasionally a convex surface is formed by flexion in the inward direction so as to reach certain targets. Delivery of the arrowhead fist may be either by thrust or strike action. Favorite targets for the delivery of the arrowhead fist by either action include the face, throat, solar plexus, ribs, kidney areas, groin, the head, forearms, backs of hands, and shinbones. Delivery of the arrowhead fist as a thrust punch into the midsection, throat, or face is shown in Training Exercise 9.