Strike (attack)

A strike is a directed and forceful physical attack. It can involve a part of the human body. It can also involve a handheld object, like a melee weapon. The goal of a strike is to cause blunt or penetrating trauma to an opponent. There are many different varieties of strikes used in various contexts. Some people use strikes in combat sports. Others use them in martial arts. Some sports, such as wrestling, do not use strikes at all. Instead, they focus on grappling techniques to control an opponent.

Hand strikes are a major category of physical attacks. A punch is a common strike using a closed fist. Within punching, there are different methods like the jab, the straight lead, or the backfist. A palm strike uses the bottom part of the hand. This area is where the hand meets the wrist. Some studies show a palm strike can produce more energy than a punch. It also carries less risk of injury to the striker's own hand. This is because a relaxed palm is easier to throw than a clenched fist.

Other hand strikes require specific techniques and high levels of conditioning. A knife hand, or Shuto, uses the side of the hand near the little finger. This is often known as a karate chop. A ridge hand, or reverse knife-hand, uses the area below the first finger knuckle. This technique is considered highly circumstantial and is often seen as obsolete in some martial arts. A spear hand uses the very tips of the fingers. This can increase a person's reach by 3 to 4 inches. However, it carries a high risk of breaking the fingers.

Advanced students often learn specialized hand techniques. An extended knuckle strike, or Ippon ken, moves one finger forward. This concentrates force onto a very small area to hit pressure points. This technique comes from traditional Kung Fu. Another option is the hammerfist. This strike uses the bottom of a clenched fist. It works like a swinging hammer. It is useful because it does not compress the knuckles or metacarpals. This helps avoid breaking the bones in the hand during a fight.

Strikes can also involve the arms and shoulders. An elbow strike uses the bones of the forearm and the humerus. These can be linear or circular movements. Elbow and knee strikes are often seen in Southeast Asian boxing styles like Muay Lao. A shoulder strike, or shoulder butt, uses the front part of the shoulder. This is a common move in the martial art Bajiquan. While it may not have knockout power, it can be used to help break a joint. It can act as a fulcrum for joint hyperextension in jujitsu.

Legs and feet provide significant power in many combat systems. A kick is a strike using the foot, shin, knee, or thigh. Many martial arts rely heavily on kicks. These include Taekwondo, Karate, and Muay Thai. A front kick is often delivered using the ball of the foot. Practitioners may thrust their hips to increase reach and power. A side kick is delivered sideways to the body. The heel or the outer edge of the foot is used for impact.

The roundhouse kick is perhaps the most common kick in combat sports. It is also called a turning kick. In traditional arts, the instep is often the striking surface. In Muay Thai and mixed martial arts, the shin is used instead. This variety of movement shows how strikes are integrated into different systems. Whether through a simple punch or a complex leg technique, strikes are defined by their direction and force. They remain a central element of many human physical disciplines.