Kuta Hand

Fig. 1 Karate Fist		Fig. 2 Saito Fist		Fig. 3 Kuta Hand

1. In Fig. 1 the Karate strike hits with the first two knuckles and the bones of the back of the hand between the wrist and the knuckles are in line with the bones of the forearm. A Boxing fist is similar except that boxers strike with the last three knuckles, i.e. the ring finger, rather than the first two knuckles. Maintaining this alignment during a strike requires tightly contracted muscles in the forearm. To accomplish this a tight fist is made. If one strikes with more power than the wrist muscles can withstand, the wrist will bend causing injury to the wrist. If one accidentally strikes with the little finger knuckle it is easy to damage the knuckles. It takes considerable practice to use this strike without injury. It is also difficult to develop high speed because contracting the muscles slows down the strike.
2. Fig. 2 shows a fist frequently used by Saito, Sensei. The SCARS course teaches that this is an all-round better fist than the standard Karate fist. The alignment of the fist with the forearm is natural so that there is much less chance of damaging the wrist. The single knuckle sticking out gives a very concentrated striking surface that really influences people when it is poked in their ribs, even with a rip. It still requires a tight fist to maintain the unnatural finger position. When it is taught, exercises to develop strength for this position are recommended. The tight muscles in the forearm will tend to slow this strike as in the Karate fist.
3. Fig. 3 shows a Kuta hand. Notice that in this strike the angle between the arm and the hands is such that the strike is actually with the top section of the fingers and not the knuckles. The thumb is relaxed and not pressing into the target. It is not being used. The hand is completely relaxed letting the fingers close into the palm with a natural spring action that gives a soft strike. The ends of the fingers are slightly outside palm so that they slide past the palm rather than digging into it. This natural relaxed hand is the same as if you were walking like an ape on the back of your hands. The hand is highly immune to injury. No special strength training is required because we evolved to use this natural position. Because no tension is required in the forearm it is much easier to develop high speed.

Kuta Hand Detail

Movie showing Kuta Hand detail.

Fig. 4 Start		Fig. 5 Hand Closing		Fig. 6 Hit

1. Fig. 4 shows the start with the tips of the fingers touching the phone book. This is an excellent way to learn the proper use of the hand.
2. Fig. 5 shows the hand closing as it comes down. This is very relaxed and there is a nice open space in the palm of the hand.
3. Fig. 6 shows the hand at contact. Notice that the tips of the fingers are beside the hand and not in the palm. It feels like there is a big open space in the palm of the hand. The fingers should be able to slide past the hand. This is very relaxed. The backs of the fingers are striking and not the knuckles. The wrist is comfortably bent so that the backs of the fingers line up with the forearm. The wrist is not straight with the knuckles in line with the forearm like the Karate punch.

The above movie shows how the hand strikes in a normal Kuta strike. Notice that the hand stays relaxed. Because of the natural way the hand is being used no muscle tension is required to make a good strike. The strike can be with the center fingers, the first fingers or the last fingers. None of these will damage the hand. It you are accustomed to Karate strikes and align the bones of the hand with the forearm it will not work relaxed. That is not a Kuta strike.

The soft strike is easy on the hand and it is also highly effective. In Army training I was taught to half fill a sock to hit sentries and quietly put them to sleep. The Marine Combat Conditioning Manual discusses making a Blackjack with a sock. They say fill it with sand, tie a knot in it, and hit the guy on the side or back of the head. It is not usually fatal but it does put him to sleep. They discuss using a club but they do not suggest hitting someone over the head with it in this manner. Videos of police repeatedly striking someone on the head show splitting the skin, blood everywhere, very bad press, but little effect in stopping the person they are striking. For some reason a soft object with an inelastic collision striking the head is much more effective at knocking someone out than a hard object with an elastic collision. People who use the soft fist say that its efficacy in comparison to normal strikes is truly amazing. Fortunately I have not had occasion to test this. Kuta advocates say the strike can be easily fatal and recommend using it only in situations of mortal threat. This may or may not be hyperbole but as you will see the strike fits well with Aiki.

Different Striking Surfaces

Fig. 7 Kuta Hand		Fig. 8 C-Strike		Fig. 9 Paw

1. Fig. 7 is the basic Kuta hand discussed above. Jigoro Kano shows a strike using the back of the fingers in preference to the knuckles although he says that one can use the knuckles if one prefers.
2. Fig. 8 shows a C-Strike. It is what most people call a hammer fist. The angle of the hand does not matter.
3. Fig. 9 is a Paw strike. This is the way most people knock on doors. It is commonly used with a clawing like motion to the face with Kuta power and speed.

   Fig. 10 Back Hand		Fig. 11 Palm		Fig. 12 Tegatana

4. Fig. 10 is a backhand slap attack. This is very effective if it is directed through the center of mass of the head so that it does not rotate the head dissipating the force.
5. Fig. 11 is a palm strike. It can be used very effectively to slap the center of mass of the head around the ear. A slap to the face has little effect because the head rotates. A powerful slap to the center of the head can easily put a person to sleep. From a legal perspective this is probably safer because a jury will not consider a slap as deadly as a punch. It is a less lethal technique.
6. Fig. 12 is a knife hand strike. It is an Aiki strike and not a Kuta strike. It is included here because it can be used where a C-strike is used. Tegatana is very effective against the neck or face. It also concentrates force on the arms.

   Fig. 13 Outside Forearm		Fig. 14 Inside Forearm		Fig. 15 Upper Arm

7. Fig. 13 shows an outside forearm strike. It is frequently used to push a person away. It can be used for a low level of violence control or to clear innocent bystanders from the path of fire. Of course the forearm can also be used in the usual way as a devastating strike to the head. Many people do this as an elbow strike but Kuta considers the elbow too easy to break.
8. Fig. 14 shows an inside forearm strike. This is a Kuta strike but it is not frequently used. It is good to strike the neck from behind when coming in for a rear choke.
9. Fig. 15 is an Upper Arm strike. Kuta teaches that it is too easy to break the tip of the elbow striking with it. This is different from many martial arts that teach to strike with the tip of the elbow. Kuta was used by people deep behind enemy lines. An injury like that could have easily meant death. They could not go to the hospital or have time to recover.