The Slap

(thanks for the inspiration KJ)

Q: What did the five fingers say to the face?
A: SLAP!

Lately, as we explore the various expressions of Sinawali 6 using our empty hands - specifically outside, inside and split entries, the topic of different strikes comes up in class.  Is it better to hit using a closed fist or open hand?

Open hand hitting has a lot of advantages versus striking with a closed fist.
As I have suggested in my blog before, I think that using the open hand can be a very viable and effective self-defense option.  In fact, I think many martial artists do not fully appreciate the devastating power of this striking tool.

The "Iron Palm" Tradition
Various internal martial arts focus on the palm as a striking tool and involve specific training in breathing and conditioning together with chi kung to increase the striking power and effectiveness.  Notable practitioners of this "Iron Palm" training include Brian Gray. Body hardening is found in many martial arts dating back to Indian yoga traditions even older than Shao Lin Kung Fu, as well as Okinawan Karate's Sanchin, Silat's Tarikan Tenaga, Muay Thai conditioning and others.  Some employ lotions or creams to strengthen the body (dit da jow, etc.) and some FMA even use holy talismans or other animist/spiritual magics to toughen the body or avoid injury.  That said, good, strong slapping can be done by amost anyone without additional conditioning.

The Striking Surface
For me, open hand slapping is best done across the palm surface (NOT the fingers).  I do not advocate striking with the fingers themselves, since the knuckles can flex/bend and cause hyper extension injury to the striking hand.  Instead, I advocate hitting with the pad of the palm all the way down to the palm heel, where the hand joins the wrist.  This surface is padded and yields strong impact force on contact.  In karate, palm heel strikes are well-known as among the most devastating hits.  The slap presents a broad surface area which often hits with palm heel and palm pad at the same time to two different areas (mastoid process and ear canal, for example).  It is likewise easy to transition strikes from palm heel to tegatana (knife edge) which are also delivered with an open hand and are devastating in their own right.

Key Targets
Palm heel hits in karate are often done as an option to the straight punch, aimed vertically under the nose/chin or horizontally at the ear.  Contrary to urban myth, it does not seem possible to palm heel nose cartilage into the brain via the nasal canal, although Hollywood seems to love this one.

I suggest that the open hand slap works very well against the side of the head including the ear, the temple, the mastoid process/jawline or even the orbital cavity.  Palm strikes to other soft tissues like the neck or groin are also effective, especially when using the palm heel.  I also like the slap or palm on the low line, particularly to turn the knee or change the direction of the hip line as a setup for other hits.

Opinions are divided on the use of the slap or palm against the rest of the torso including liver/spleen, sternum, plexus and the like.  I have heard some masters describe dim mak strikes delivered with the palm strike to the chest and designed to stop the heart, much like using a defibrillator on someone NOT having a heart attack.

The closest realistic variant of this is usually delivered with the knife edge strike and known as the brachial stun, applied to the brachial nerve line/auricular nerve line between the neck and the shoulder.

Training and Practice
Like all techniques, good training is done in several different ways.  I like to explore options during class, looking for places where the technique can fit into my flow.  Separately it's good to practice striking with power and intent on the heavy bag or with the focus mitts.  Make sure to keep your arm in from of your body when hitting, in order to avoid possible damage to shoulder and chest.  Slaps can usually fit in anywhere a hook punch would be used.  Be creative.

See you at class.