Hand and arm

This section covers the striking surfaces of the hand and arm in Kyokushin karate. It brings together fundamental striking surfaces, specialized hand forms, and the arm's contact and striking surfaces.

The section is based on Masutatsu Oyama's systematic description of the body's weapon forms, but is organized here as a technical reference for instruction and comparison.

Classification

Fundamental hand striking surfaces

Specialized hand forms

Arm striking surfaces

Shared principles

Structure

correct form
stable contact zone
clear alignment

Body connection

Force is transferred through the body to the striking surface.

English:
ground → legs → hips → torso → shoulder → arm → striking surface

Japanese / romaji:
jimen (地面) → ashi (足) → koshi (腰) → dōtai (胴体) → kata (肩) → ude (腕) → datotsu-bu (打突部)

Kime (決め)

brief concentration of force
immediate relaxation after contact

Precision

correct striking surface
correct direction
correct distance

Reference overview

Striking surface	Contact zone	Basic form	Distance	Use / function
Seiken	two front knuckles	compact closed fist	medium	punches; fundamental linear force transfer
Uraken	back of the knuckles	inverted closed fist	short	short strikes; fast close-range contact
Tettsui	base on the little-finger side	compact closed fist	short–medium	downward and lateral strikes; heavy contact from the side or above
Shutō	outer hand edge	open, gathered hand	medium	strikes and blocks; edge contact
Haitō	inner edge near the base of the thumb	open hand with the inner edge directed	short–medium	directed strikes with the inner hand edge
Shōtei	heel of the palm	open hand with bent wrist	short–medium	strikes, thrusts and blocks; stable open-hand contact
Nukite	fingertips	open hand with fingertips held together	short	directed thrusts; pointed precision toward a narrow target zone
Tohō	area between thumb and index finger	open hand with thumb extended outward	short	directed thrusts with the area between thumb and index finger
Keiko	fingertip point	bent fingertips forming a point	short	directed strikes; pointed, fast contact
Koken	outer part of the wrist	bent-wrist form	short	strikes and some blocks; specialized wrist contact
Hitosashiyubi ipponken	second joint of the index finger	specialized knuckle form	short	concentrated point contact
Nakayubi ipponken	second joint of the middle finger	specialized knuckle form	short	concentrated point contact
Nihonken	second joints of the index and middle fingers	double-knuckle form	short	double point contact
Ryūtōken	triangular knuckle surface	specialized knuckle form	short	triangular point contact
Hiji	elbow	bent arm close to the body	very short	close-range strike with a compact path
Kote	lower forearm	forearm as contact zone	short	blocking and controlled forearm contact

Scope

This part documents the striking surfaces of the hand and arm, their form, contact zone and technical function. Complete techniques, kata as complete forms, kumite as a system and vital points are treated elsewhere.