Basic Punches & Strikes – Click on each punch or strike for instructions & videos

Back Fist- Back Fist – Martial Arts Striking Technique

This page provides details on how to do a martial arts back fist. A more advanced version of this
technique is the spinning back fist (where you use the momentum of the spin to generate more power).
With this technique, you hit the opponent with the back of your fist & knuckles. This punch can be used
as a finisher, to disorient an attacker or to strike the bridge of nose in order to make an escape.

The back fist often used to surprise an opponent after a martial artist has missed with a standard
straight punch. In Karate, a back fist strike is known as Uraken Uchi. This striking technique should not
be confused with a back hand strike.

For instructions on other striking techniques (i.e. knife hand strikes or haymaker punches) , please visit
the main Punches & Strikes section.

Elbow Strikes – This page reviews a wide variety of elbow strikes. An elbow strike is a powerful weapon
because the martial artists is hitting an attacker with the long distal bone of the forearm (ulna) and/or
the olecranon process (the “tip” of the elbow).

Martial artists are less likely to break a bone with an elbow strike. In contrast, martial artists are more
likely to break the smaller bones in the hand and fingers with a punch.

Elbow strikes can be used if an attacker is in close trying to grapple and the martial artist does not have
room for an effective punch (i.e. both of them are on the ground wrestling for position).

Martial Arts Elbow Strike – Negatives

Martial artists need to get close to attacker in order to throw an elbow strike. This puts the martial artist
in range for the opponent’s attacks or to be grabbed by an attacker.

The swing of a powerful elbow strike can shift the martial artist out of position. A martial artist is more
likely to stay stable and in a protective fighting stance with a straight punch, jab, etc.
Hammer Fist punch – Martial Arts Technique

This page provides information on the martial arts hammer fist (or hammer strike). In this martial arts
technique, martial arts students will swing their clenched fist downwards to the target (i.e. an attacker’s
nose). For information on other punches and hand/arm strikes (i.e. knife hand strikes & haymaker
punches), please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main Punches & Strikes section.

This strike can be safer for a martial arts student’s hand because they are hitting a target with the
“padded” bottom of a clenched fist. Thus there is a lower chance that a student will break their hand or
knuckles with this strike.

Martial arts punches & strikes and all other martial arts techniques should only be practiced under the
supervision of a trained martial arts instructor.
Haymaker Punch This
page will help you to learn about the “Haymaker Punch”. This punch is a wild but powerful looping swing
usually thrown by amateurs (i.e. in a bar fight). A haymaker punch is less effective punch than the similar
but more controlled hook punch because a haymaker is easier to block. For additional videos and
instructions on other punches (i.e. jab, hammer fist or straight punch), please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main
Punches & Strikes section.
Hook Punch

This page provides details on the martial arts “hook punch”. This martial arts technique is a more
controlled and effective punch than a traditional haymaker punch because a hook punch is harder to
block. For information on other punching techniques (i.e. straight punch, jab, back fist, etc.), please visit
Black Belt Wiki’s main Punches & Strikes section

Jab Punch – This punch by your

lead hand is done for speed (versus the power of a rear hand straight punch). . The jab is often a quick
but less powerful punch used to keep an opponent off-balance, at a distance and/or on the defensive. In
contrast, a straight punch or reverse punch takes more time to connect (as it has to travel a longer
distance) but it is a more powerful punch often used by martial artists for knockouts. For more punches
and hand/arm strikes (i.e. straight punch, hammer strike and spinning back fist), please visit Black Belt
Wiki’s main Punches & Strikes section.
Knife Hand Strike – The classic “Karate Chop”. This page provides
details on the martial arts knife hand strike (i.e. the famous Karate “chop”). This strike is common to
many martial arts such as Karate, Taekwondo and Kung Fu. For information on other punches and
striking techniques, please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main Punches & Strikes section.

In this strike, the martial artist hits a target with the side of their open hand (versus punch that utilizes a
clenched fist). The martial artist will hit with the “pinky side” of their hand (versus the thumb side
utilized in a ridge hand strike). This strike can be done with the palm up or palm down. This technique is
used to target areas such as an attacker’s neck, collar bone, wrist, etc. Moreover, this open hand
technique has an additional benefit because it can be turned into a grab if the strike is ineffective.

Palm Strike or Palm Heel Strike

Slap – Groin Slap, etc. Slaps are used during martial arts
training. They can either be used as blocks (i.e. open hand blocks) or as a strike. Most observers look at
slaps as ineffective because they lack the solid bone mass of a punch. Nevertheless, when used in the
appropriate situation, slaps can be effective for self-defense. For more martial arts hand techniques,
please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main Punches & Strikes section.
While a slap to the face or arm is unlikely to stop an attacker, a groin slap will temporarily incapacitate
or at least stun an attacker. The extended fingers of the slap allows for a greater reach versus a regular
punch. Moreover, the slap can be turned into a groin grab if necessary. In addition, a slap can be less
slightly accurate and still be effective because you can hit the target with the front, back or side of a
slap. A groin slap is also less likely to seriously injure an attacker (i.e. you want to escape from the grasp
from a supposed friend) versus a groin kick or punch to the groin.

Straight Punch or Cross Punch. This is the standard power punch. This page provides information on the
martial arts straight punch. This punch is also known as a cross (i.e. right cross), reverse punch or rear
hand punch. A straight punch is the standard power punch used in most martial arts. For information on
other punches and hand/arm strikes (i.e. knife hand strikes and haymaker punches), please visit Black
Belt Wiki’s main Punches & Strikes page.

For this punch, martial arts students are striking an opponent with their rear hand versus a jab where
they would strike an opponent with their forward fist. A straight punch is generally more powerful than
a jab because martial arts students rotate their body into the punch and thus generate more power.

Uppercut Punch
This page provides details on the martial arts uppercut punch. This is a powerful technique that is
utilized by martial artists to strike targets such as an opponent’s jaw or to deliver body blows. An
uppercut punch is often thrown vertically from in-close to strike the underside of an attacker’s chin
(especially if the chin has not been tucked in properly against the chest). For more punches and
hand/arm strikes (i.e. spinning back fist), please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main Punches & Strikes section.