Karate Essence ‘Reality Check’ Haito Uchi/Uke or Ridge Hand Strike/Block
Karate Essence
‘Reality Check’
by T.D. McKinnon Shihan
Photographs and editing by Zoё Lake
Haito Uchi & Uke
Haito Uchi/Uke or Ridge Hand Strike/Block is the subject of this month’s ‘Reality Check’. During my research for this month’s technique, and indeed during all my years in the various martial arts from the numerous national origins, I have only encountered the Ridge Hand Strike (a striking technique which uses the knuckle ridge on the thumb side of the open hand), in the Japanese and Korean arts. I might also add here that, I believe, the Ridge Hand technique entered the Korean arts via the Japanese influences when Won Kuk Lee, a student of Funakoshi Gichin Sensei, began teaching in Korea, what would eventually become known as Tae Kwon Do, in around 1945.
Table of Contents
A Self-defence or a Fighting Technique
Tae Kwon Do Ridge Hand Strike
Goju Ryu Haito Uchi
Kenpo Haito Uchi & Uke
Haito Uchi Tiger Sun Martial Arts Academy
Kyokushin Haito Uchi
Karate Combat Haito Uchi
Haito Uchi Shotokan
Torakan Eye view
Conclusion
A Self-defence or a Fighting Technique?
I have previously, on more than one occasion, outlined the difference between fighting and self-defence, but I’ll run through it quickly again here for those of you who have not been following the ‘Karate Essence’ Blog post for very long; and as a refresher for those with short memories of course.
Fighting – whether it is for combat, sporting competition, or whether the conflict has more serious motivations – is when adversaries, usually two, agree to take part in a combative confrontation.
In the case of a sporting competition, depending on the nature of the sport, there will usually be ‘out of bounds’ targets (such as eyes or groin et cetera) and or ‘out of bounds’ techniques (like the use of head butting or the likes); and in any combat sport there are usually rules, referees and judges.
If the combat is for some other reason than martial sport, the terms of a fight are usually such that all parties involved are aware of and accept the conditions. There may be some kind of understood, agreed upon endgame; a winner and a loser, or perhaps an agreed upon drawn situation. In extreme cases, there have of course been known fights to the death; in which usually there are no rules whatsoever.
Self-defence, on the other hand, is when one or more antagonists, for whatever reason, attack someone who has no desire for physical conflict but who is then forced to defend themselves. With this kind of conflict there are no rules of engagement. In fact, the only rule that the defender should be bound by is that they survive, at all costs. In other words, nothing is off the table or ‘out of bounds’.
Some techniques lend themselves to a rule-bound combat situation, like kicks or punches to non-lethal targets. Whereas, some techniques are definitely for self-defence only, like finger strikes to the eyes, or knife hand and ridge hand strikes to the throat.
Then again, some self-defence techniques, with a little adjustment and a change of target, can be used in some forms of martial competition too.
This month’s ‘Reality Check’ technique, ‘Haito’ can be used as an ‘Uchi’ (a strike) in several types of sport combat, with the target area or the impact modified. Haito can also be used as an Uke (a block) in almost every martial combat competition.
Tae Kwon Do Ridge Hand Strike
The Tae Kwon Do ‘Sonnaldeung Bakkat Chigi’ or, more widely known as ‘Ridge Hand Strike’, has slightly different modus operandi from dojang to dojang, as is apparent by the following two links. That is not unusual with any technique by the way; and as you will see from the entirety of this article, with this particular technique there are certainly more than two ways of performing the Ridge Hand Strike.
As I stated in the opening paragraph, as far as I can ascertain, the Ridge Hand Strike appears only in the Japanese arts, except for the Korean arts which adopted the Ridge Hand technique when Won Kuk Lee, a student of Funakoshi Gichin Sensei, began teaching in Korea. The following two links will take you to two completely different dojangs:
Goju Ryu Haito Uchi/Uke
Goju Ryu is a practical, traditional art that stays close to its self-defence roots, and Haito Uchi and Uke are used and practiced in their Kata, Kumite and Kihon practice. As such, with the discipline associated with this art, Haito Uchi becomes a deceptive, effective weapon; while Haito Uke is a quick, reactive and also a very effective block/receiving technique.
The following single link will take you to a couple of short clips demonstrating the ‘Goju use of Haito’.
Kenpo/Kempo Ridge Hand Strike
We have gone into the Kenpo versus Kempo debate before and have come to the conclusion that some call it Kenpo while others call their style Kempo; however, they have generally come from the same or similar roots.
I have used both names here because the two clips I have chosen to give you links to are labelled Kenpo Ridge Hand and Kempo Ridge Hand.
Tiger Sun Martial Arts Academy
This is a martial arts academy that has a number of origin sources, with Tae Kwon Do, Shotokan and Western Boxing in the mix. I haven’t seen enough of this art to give my thoughts on a general evaluation. However, this link will take you to a demonstration of the academy’s version of ‘Haito Uchi’ which, in my opinion, is strong, technically very good, and with excellent Kime. This is another link for this academy’s demonstration of ‘Haito Uchi’.
Kyokushin Haito Uchi
The Kyokushin Haito Uchi is not used in their competition fighting. Kyokushin practitioners do not punch to the head in their competition kumite, and so they do not execute Haito Uchi jodan either; and, as with any martial sport, Haito Uchi gedan (groin strike) is out of bounds anyway. However, it is practiced in their Kata and self-defence training; and as per usual, with Kyokushin, everything is delivered for maximum effect.
The following link will take you to some Kyokushin Haito basic practice.
Karate Combat Haito Uchi
Billing itself as ‘The First Full-Contact Karate League’; this organisation was founded by Robert Bryan, former UFC heavyweight champion.
This full-contact Karate competition features karateka from various styles of traditional karate like Kyokushin, Shotokan, Shito Ryu, Wado Ryu, and Kempo Karate. Contestants from other martial arts disciplines like Taekwondo, Kung Fu, and Tang Soo Do have also participated; however, all contestants are expected to abide by karate-do etiquette and the specific Karate Combat tournament rules.
This is a sport, with all the kind of rules you would expect in a combat sport, such as targeting (legal and illegal targets), referees and judges et cetera; and as such there is no debate about intent. The following link will take you to a clip which is labelled ‘Rare Ridge-hand Knockout’. However, this is another clip, ‘Karate Combat Haito Uchi’, showing us that it is not so rare.
Shotokan Haito Uchi
Haito Uchi is practiced in Shotokan dojos for Kata, Kihon and Kumite; and it is practiced for the type of point scoring competition Kumite that Shotokan karateka generally take part in. I believe, however, because of the type of controlled contact or – as in the WKF tournament system – touch contact type competition they are involved in, that the kind of repetitious practice, with very little actual strike training, tends to impede the full potential of any technique. Remember… you react the way you, repetitively, train.
The following links will take you to various Shotokan groups’ methods of practicing Haito Uchi. 3 & 4 are seminars where Kase Sensei (R.I.P.) demonstrates various Haito implementations. At fifteen years of age, Kase Sensei was a student of Funakoshi Gichin and his son Funakoshi Yoshitaka.
Many years ago, back in the 1970s, I had the good fortune and the honour of attending several of Kase Sensei’s seminars. Some of the lessons I learned on those seminars were to later save my life; lessons I still teach to this day.
Torakan Eye View
At the Torakan Dojo, Haito is practiced for Kata, Kumite and Kihon; however, and much more seriously, the main focus of this technique is for Self-defence. It is, for several reasons I feel, much more conducive to Self-defence.
Depending of course on the target; speed and accuracy, rather than power, is the main drive of this underappreciated technique.
At very short range, Haito Uke is a quick, reactional block or receiver for a sudden attack, particularly a Jodan attack; and which can rotate instinctually to become a grabbing, pulling Hikite.
Used in Self-defence, where the only rule is to survive, Haito Uchi can be a game changer. Remember… an action is always quicker than a reaction and, at short range with no preparation needed, Haito can be almost impossible to stop.
I’ll mention briefly here, for the benefit of those coming to the ‘Karate Essence’ Blog for the first time, that I have a unique background in the practical use of martial arts training through 30 years in the ‘High Risk Security’ industry, after five years in the British Parachute Regiment.
We have seen, in the Karate Combat clips, all be it a ‘sport’, that Haito can be useful in a fight as a practical, ‘legal technique’. Now observe how devastating Haito can be if used in a slightly different manner, and applied to targets that would definitely be considered out of bounds in any kind of martial sport. The following links will give you quick demonstrations of how we at the Torakan Dojo apply Haito as a Self-defence application.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I believe that Haito, where appropriate, proves itself to be an incredibly useful Self-defence tool to have in your arsenal. In my opinion, Haito, which is basically Japanese in origin, is an underrated technique that every martial artist, regardless of cultural ethnicity, should have, honed and maintained. Your Mushin will thank you for it.
I will add a word of caution here; and that is that Haito Uchi – targeting the throat in particular in a self-defence scenario – can do tremendous damage. I would in fact go as far as to advise against such action unless you are in extreme and immediate danger. However, I would also advise that you prepare your Mushin with the appropriate, lifesaving response – when necessary – of using Haito Uchi on the applicable target.
Thank You
A big thank you to our demonstrators from the Torakan Dojo – without whose assistance of course the ‘Reality Check’ Blog would be sadly lacking. Assisting me this month were Alan, Tyler, Rahul and Anthony.
Thank You to the Readers
As always, thank you for following the Karate Essence 'Reality Check' Blog post.
Thank you also for continuing to support the launch of my latest book, ‘A Budōka Odyssey’. The reviews continue to be excellent!
Top reviews from the United Kingdom
Carl Slee
5.0 out of 5 stars
‘A Fascinating Book’
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 October 2024
Verified Purchase
A fascinating book, and not just for those interested in martial arts. Although if you are, this is one of those rare books that will help in not just the development of karate skills but in the facilitation of those psychological states (rarely discussed) of the true karateka.
From early childhood to the present day, Shihan McKinnon shares his adventures as, Truant, Soldier, Nightclub bouncer and Bodyguard as well as Business man but always as a fighter. And in this book he shares with us the ‘gifts’ and ‘Lessons’ that come from such a ‘life worth lived’.
A rare book, in that I found myself re-reading pages, chapters or passages over and over to further understand how such insights related to my own life. And this is the ‘gift’ of this book, I think that each person, whatever gender, age or interest will find something at some point within it, that is very personal and that will reverberate for them, long after reading.
Thank you Shihan
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 July 2024
I have to say that I found this book to be compulsive reading. For someone who was born and raised in the West of Scotland I was immediately drawn to T.D. McKinnon’s Scottish roots. He writes in such a concise and realistic manner. As someone with no knowledge of karate and martial arts, I have nevertheless found the main themes of the book easy to follow and this has made me review experiences drawn from my own life. The concept of ‘gifts and lessons’ applies to all life, not just karate. I would recommend this book to anyone, particularly those who are deeply involved in a sport of any kind, and who is striving to be the best person they can be. Read, learn and enjoy.
Thank you for this book, T.D. McKinnon.
Top review from Australia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in Australia on 28 May 2024
Written by a man who has lived the life of a modern warrior. His ability to recognise the lessons and gifts in any situation and the having the humility to seek out those who can help you better yourself are important traits we should all endeavour to achieve not just in our own martial arts’ odyssey but in life.
Top review from the United States
Minimal shopper
5.1 out of 5 stars
‘A Fine Man Shares a Life of Budō’
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2024
Verified Purchase
At over 500 pages there is a lot of content in this autobiographical journey. A quick overview is as follows:
Author Shihan TD McKinnon has had ALOT of fights in his life; starting under the age of 6! He tells the narrative of his life through all those fights and what he learned about himself and life along the way. I appreciate that he doesn’t make self-defense fighting seem glamorous and one sided. He talks about injuries, dangers, and making alternate choices to physical violence as a reality.
This book emphasizes lessons like ‘never quit’, ‘move on to the next venture’, ‘stay in the moment and learn what you can along the way’. I recommend it for young and old, karate people and non-karate folks. He carries the journey into today with a very relevant subject - training and aging. Take it on your next plane trip, or beach vacation. And if you’re a karate instructor, you can work it into your teaching. This book does not disappoint!
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