Nukite

A Classic Pose of Kata

But what does it really mean?

The Thrusting Nukite (spear hand strike), seen in so many Kata from the beginner Heians to the more advanced Kata like Kusanku, has far more possibility than most Instructors teach. The use of Kyusho again expands your instructional abilities with infinite possibility as it simultaneously give you more realistic combative potential.

Typically the concept is to slap a punch down with the underlying "support hand"under the elbow, as the other hand thrusts out the length of the arm to stab the throat or eye. Realistically this is flawed as the distance the arm takes to thrust give the opponent a longtime period to see it, parry, trap or guard against it. Also targeting accurately from that distance has such a high difficulty (luck) factor that depending on it is risky.

By utilizing it from the Clinch Position (where most fights start), is fast, difficult if even possible, to guard against and of course has more devastating results. Along with that we have a wide array of attack targets and tools beyond the Nukite that is more visible and therefore so named. But just because the fingers are more noticeable, does not mean it is the only tool in use. As example the knuckles, the forearm, the palm and even the elbow are all present and in the attacking action.

That "support hand" can also be used for pulling, pressing or targeting as opposed to only blocking an incoming punch. As you utilize the support hand for pulling, as just one example, you will double the power and energetic transfer of the thrusting hand or arm. It also serves to monitor as well as offset any actions of the opponent by feel not sight (which is a vital attribute to develop in combative action).

Guillotine

In Kata there are also the following moves, positions or transitions that we must also account for as well as develop. One example in Kata is after the initial Nukite thrust, the hand drops behind the practitioners back with an accompanying body rotation. If the Nukite is used as a back hand strike, or outer forearm strike we can then use that dropping hand as a guillotine type control of the opponents neck, with the turn as a more powerful or finishing follow-up.

Neck Choke

If we use the trusting palm to the outer side of the opponents head, the rising hand can then be used as a neck choke. The subsequent turn will add more constriction, power and potential damage on the opponent. The hand clasping the practitioners own neck to apply the choke, then involved not only the practitioners arm strength on the opponent's neck, but adds their full body weight, action and energetic transfer into that opponent.

Elbow Thrust

Another tool in the arsenal for this particular move or set of postures is the elbow. As we strike with the back of the palm to the side of the opponents head, this will arch their body up and back. As the practitioners hand then transitions behind their head, the elbow can easily be stabbed into vital targets on the opponent as a following additional felling action. On the chest the target could be nerve or muscle spindle cells to create a reflexive body dysfunction... no extra risky leg positioning is needed to take the opponent down.