Ti techniques

[MatsuShinshii]

This is targeted more so at instructors/practitioners of traditional Okinawan Karate rather than Japanese or Modern Karate.

The question is how many of you learn or incorporate/teach the Ti (Original Okinawan combative art) methods along with the Toudi (Chinese Quan Fa) methods?

I will give an example;

How many teach the natural/diagonal punch? If you do not know what this strike is, it is similar in some respects to the Isshin ryu vertical punch but instead of vertical the fist ends up diagonal.

The more widely utilized method of striking is the reverse punch. The fist starts out above the hip with the palm facing up and ends with the arm straight out and the palm facing down and parallel to the ground. The thumb is tucked under the fingers. This is believed to have been incorporated thru the teaching of the Chinese Quan Fa instructors when passing on thier arts to our founders.

The natural or diagonal punch is executed much the same way with some fundamental differences. It starts much in the same way with the fist held above the hip but it ends with the palm diagonal to the ground versus parallel. The thunb is tucked to the side of the fist along the pointer finger much like a boxers fist when wearing a glove.

The reason for this is it is thought to be more natural and in perfect body alignment and the thumb supports the wrist.

To illustrate; stand with your arms hanging at your side and relax. The palm is not parallel to the side of your leg when in it's relaxed state. It is slightly diagonal to the leg. In this position the arm is in perfect alignment and all of the bones are lined up within the arm (or at least this is the belief).

Now make a fist and tuck your thumb under the fingers as we are all taught when starting our training. Now with your other hand grab your fist and try to bend your wrist while resisting with your fist hand. The wrist bends.

Now tuck your thumb along side of your pointer finger (side of the fist) and do the same experiment. The wrist is harder to bend. It is believed that by tucking the thumb along the side it puts the wrist in better alignment and engages the tendons and muscles that support the wrist. Essentially making it easier for you to strike with full power without the risk of spraining or hyper extending the wrist. This is the benefit but without much practice the down fall is the thumb can be injured if the target is missed and the thumb contacts the target instead of the knuckles.

Isshin Ryu practitioners utilize this method but instead of allowing the fist to turn completely over as in the reverse punch or diagonal their punch is vertical.

This is just one example. Utilizing the Toe kick or the bear hand or the single finger strike are a few others but the list goes on and on.

I have dabbled in a few other arts and some still utilize these methods and some do not. I wonder if any of you practice these methods and if so what are they? Do they replace an accepted method (example: we replaced the reverse punch with the natural punch) or are they added to your curriculum?

[Wastelander]

While we do end our punches at an angle, as you describe, it isn't standard to use the fist formation you describe. That said, we do occasionally teach alternative first formations and striking methods, and allow students to use them as they prefer in their training.

[sensei8]

In Shindokan we do train in those traditional ways, however, we don't use the Toe Kick at all. I've never asked as to why we don't, I just accepted what we do and not what we don't do.