Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu

                    Hand Forms
          Closed Fist
Fore Knuckle:
Place the fingertips in the crease of your palm. Fold your bent thumb over the 2^nd and 3^rd middle phalanges. Only the thumb and little finger are tight. The distal heads of the metacarpals are what you strike with. Preferably, the 2^nd and 3^rd, the 2^nd before the 3^rd.
Back Knuckle:
With your hand closed as above, you strike with the posterior aspect of the metacarpal heads. The Back Knuckle Twist strikes with the 5^th through 2^nd fore-knuckles by rotating the fist 180° posterior to anterior.
Hammer:
Place the fingertips in the crease of your palm. Place your bent thumb on the 2^nd proximal phalanx head. The medial aspect of the 5^th metacarpal is the striking side for defining the Hammer Fist. The thumb is the striking side for the Reverse Hammer Fist. The Fore Knuckles are used for the so called “Thumbless Fist”. And, the heads of the proximal phalanges are, also, used in striking in a hooking, or ‘knocking’ manner.
Tiger:
Sometimes referred to as the ‘Half Fist’. The fingers are bent so the tips are on, or near to, the anterior aspect of the metacarpal heads; the thumb straight, against the 2^nd metacarpal. The strike is delivered with the heads of the proximal phalanges; primarily, the 3^rd and 4^th
First Knuckle:
The hand is clenched as in the Fore Knuckle except the 2^nd finger is extended and the distal phalanx of the thumb is pressing on the joint of the proximal and middle phalanges of the 2^nd finger for striking in a thrusting manner.
Middle Knuckle:
The same as the First Knuckle except; the thumb is held as in the Fore Knuckle and the 3^rd finger is extended for striking in a hooking manner, only.
          Open Hand
Knife Hand:
The hand, and all of the fingers, is held straight. The striking surface is the pisiform bone of the wrist. The Reverse Knife Hand has the thumb folded in toward the palm, and the striking surface is the 2^nd metacarpal proximal phalanx joint and 2^nd proximal phalanx bone. The Knife Hand Thrust is delivered with the 2^nd through 5^th fingertips.
Finger Thrust:
Using the pads of the fingertips. One Finger refers to the 2^nd digit extended and pressed against the middle phalanx of the 3^rd digit; the other digits held as in the Tiger Fist. Supported One Finger has the 3^rd digit posterior to and pressing on the 2^nd digit to support it; the thumb on the middle phalanx of the 4^th digit. Two Finger is like the Supported One Finger except; the 2^nd and 3^rd digits are separated and strike independent targets. The Four Finger, also known as ‘Four Finger Eye Shot’, is formed like the Knife Hand except, the fingers are separated. It is usually used palm down.
Tiger Claw:
Hand is cupped, fingers outspread, strike with Palm Heel first, then fingertips. When grabbing with the Tiger Claw the tips of the fingers dig in to grip; not wrap around. This is very painful when properly done.
Crane Claw:
Fingers bent and outspread thumb straight alongside 2^nd digit. Rake with fingertips.
Palm:
Hand held like Knife Hand except; palm is cupped. Strike is delivered in an inward motion with the whole area. The exact reverse of the Palm is the Back Hand.
Palm Heel:
The hand is flexed upward, the fingers together and slightly bent; the base of the Capitate carpal bone, or the Pisiform, forms the striking surface.
Crane:
The fingers are straight and bent 90° at the metacarpal heads, the thumb is on the joint of the proximal and middle phalanges of the 2^nd finger. The wrist is bent, elbow down. The bent wrist forms the striking surface of the Crane Wrist. When the tips of all the digits are pressed together this forms the striking surface of the Crane Beak.
Tiger Mouth:
The fingers are tensed, together and slightly bent ; the thumb is opposed, tensed and, also, slightly bent. The strike is delivered with the web of the hand.
Thumb:
Usually used with the hand in the Knife Hand position. Used in a thrusting manner, the striking surface is the tip of the thumb. Placing the distal phalanx of the thumb on the joint of the proximal and middle phalanges of the 2^nd finger, creates the Supported Thumb giving more versatility in striking. The Gouging Thumb is used when gripping. The thumb tip is pressed into the target and manipulated while the fingers anchor the hands to the target area.

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