Hand strikes in Taekwondo

Here we go again!

I have studied a few arts in depth the major one being the ITF Choi syllabus- senior grade (hapkido, muay tai, kickboxing etc etc). As I have stated before, infact there are more hand techniques in ITF tkd than foot if you run the rule over the patterns. Another area which many have not looked at is alternative application, many books say a tkd a block is a block, a kick is a kick, a punch is a punch etc etc! If you study hard (which i have and continue to) there are many alternative uses to the techs contained in the patterns laid out! It is up to the individual to find them or find an instructor who can teach them.
I agree that TKD has limitations as does any art! BUT in no way is traditional TKD a sport! olympic style tkd is sport tkd and there should not be any confusion between the two.
Coming back to the subject, study your patterns and self defence and all the hand techs are there!

Open fist (Pyon joomuk)
Mid knuckle fist (joongi joomuk)
Fore Knuckle fist (inji joomuk)
Thumb knuckle fist (umji joomuk)
Fore finger (han songarak)
Double finger- eye gouge (doo songarak)
Back hand- Slap (son dung)
Bow wrist (sonmok dung)
Angle finger tip (homi sonkut)
Finger belly- another slap (songarak badak)

these are just some of the ones not mentioned in earlier posts! there are many more.

Respect to all!

To my knowledge the arm striking points are:

Fist
Backfist
Base of fist
Knife hand (inner and outer sides)
Single finger extended
Double finger extended
Eye jab (like the peace sign)
Spear hand (Like knife hand only striking with the ring middle and index fingers aligned)
Fist with middle finger extended slightly
Fist with index and middle finger extended slightly
Elbow (inner and outer parts)
Palm strike (generally to the nose)
Bear paw (Similar to the fist made in Isshin Ryu Karate only striking with your fist slightly open in a slicing fashion with the second row of knuckles (hard to explain))

That's WTF TKD, I assume there are more in ITF but since I don't study it I wouldn't know.

Basically the arm techniques in TKD are identical to Karate but just not taught to junior students.

[This message has been edited by Leo_E_49 (edited 02-27-2005).]

[This message has been edited by Leo_E_49 (edited 02-27-2005).]

The reverse punch was my TKD master's number 1 scoring technique, and it's quickly becoming mine, too. Lead in with a front leg front kick or fake with a jab to the face and as they move to defend their face you drop your shoulder and let 'em have it. Then follow up with a rear leg push kick to reestablish your distance, or a spin hook if they back up.

In my opinion open hand strikes are more effective than closed fists and there is also less chance of injury to the hand.

Having more techniques doesn't make a system better. If you can master 10 techniques in your life. In which you can perform in front of a mirror without being able to see yourself do the technique how will your opponent see it coming? They won't!!! You will hit them everytime with it. However timing is just as important as speed. I have seen fighters who actually looked slow easily defeat the faster opponent with great timing. Controlling the situation is in my opinion the most important thing. There are specific counters to every technique learning what counters work will greatly help you in your pursuit of excellence

Just my 2 cents

During the time I practiced TKD (a branch of the International Taekwondo Association) I swear I learnt just as many hand strikes as legs strikes. I personally prefer them (jab-reverse, hook/uppercut and backfist being my favorites).
I don't know where everyone gets this idea that TKD people can't punch, a TKD punch is as at least as effective as a karate punch (as they're mostly the same) or for that matter any other art. I saw my old TKD instrutor in an open kickboxing tournament, his hand stikes seemed to work fine, almost KOed a couple of Mauy Thai guys. Where do all these myths about TKD come from?

[This message has been edited by JayJay (edited 02-28-2005).]

The myths come from McDoujangs all around the world. They give TKD a bad name.

I hope we can make up for it by remembering that TKD is supposed to be a well rounded MA (not just kicking for the sake of kicking) when we teach our students.

Yeah, this "no punching in TKD" thing is rediculous. The other day our master class did nothing but open hand strikes for an hour and a half. Slaps to the ear, palms to the nose and ribs, eye gouges, stuff like that. And another class we focused on low kicks to the goin and knee. People just seem to ignor all the heritage TKD has from the Korean arts it was developed from, as well as it's heavy Karate influence and Chinese influence in it's more traditional forms.