Difference between revisions of "Tiger claw strike"

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[[File:Toraken.png|frame|Toraken uchi impacts its targets with the fingertips.]]
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'''Toraken-uchi''' (literally: “tiger-fist strike”), the '''tiger claw strike''' emulates having a tiger's paw for a hand, allowing you to claw your opponent’s [[Kyūsho#Eyes|eyes]] out.  
 
'''Toraken-uchi''' (literally: “tiger-fist strike”), the '''tiger claw strike''' emulates having a tiger's paw for a hand, allowing you to claw your opponent’s [[Kyūsho#Eyes|eyes]] out.  
  
 
To perform a tiger claw strike, splay your fingers out, bending them at the second and third knuckles, such that they resemble a tiger’s claws, like in the picture below:
 
To perform a tiger claw strike, splay your fingers out, bending them at the second and third knuckles, such that they resemble a tiger’s claws, like in the picture below:
  
[photos of a hand in a tiger claw from the front and the side]
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Place the tips of your index and ring fingers on the center of the opponent’s eyebrows, then [[Snap|snap]] your elbow into your chest, and [[Snap|snap]] your wrist forward. The end result is somewhere between an effeminate hand gesture and a downward [[Backfist strike|backfist strike]], which will rake and pierce the opponent’s eyes with your fingertips. The index and ring fingers do the majority of the damage; the other fingers serve as redundant backups if the opponent turns their head to avoid the strike.
 
 
Place the tips of your index and ring fingers on the center of the opponent’s eyebrows, then [[Snap|snap]] your elbow into your chest, and [[Snap|snap]] your wrist forward. The end result is somewhere between an effeminate hand gesture and a downward [[Backfist strike|backfist strike]], which will rake and pierce the opponent’s eyes with your fingertips. The index and ring fingers will do the majority of the damage; the other fingers serve as a backup if the opponent turns to avoid the strike.
 
 
 
[video of haishu uchi from the front and side]
 
 
 
Tiger claw strikes are often setup with [[Palmheel_strike#Rising_palmheel_strike|rising palmheel strikes]]; the tiger claw is a “bonus technique” which is spontaneously included to enhance and augment a [[Waza|waza]], just like how a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_note grace notes] are used in jazz performances. Tiger claw strikes from the side are uncommon, but [https://youtu.be/FcxsgZxqnEg?t=1m5s cromulent].
 
  
Because the tiger claw strike targets the [[Kyūsho#Eyes|eyes]], they are forbidden in [[Kumite|kumite]]. The tiger claw strike is typically reserved for [[Advanced students|advanced students]], not because it is difficult, but because there are more important things that up-and-coming karateka should be worried about.
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[video of tiger claws from the front and side]
  
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Tiger claw strikes often follow [[Palmheel_strike#Rising_palmheel_strike|rising palmheel strikes]] as a “bonus technique” which is spontaneously included to enhance and augment a [[Waza|waza]], just like how [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_note grace notes] are used in jazz performances. Tiger claw strikes from the side are uncommon, but [https://youtu.be/FcxsgZxqnEg?t=1m5s cromulent].
  
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Tiger claw strikes are forbidden in [[Kumite|kumite]], because they target the [[Kyūsho#Eyes|eyes]]. Tiger claw strikes are typically reserved for [[Advanced students|advanced students]], not because they are difficult, but because up-and-coming karateka should concentrate on more important things.
 
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Latest revision as of 16:36, 19 April 2020

Toraken uchi impacts its targets with the fingertips.

Toraken-uchi (literally: “tiger-fist strike”), the tiger claw strike emulates having a tiger's paw for a hand, allowing you to claw your opponent’s eyes out.

To perform a tiger claw strike, splay your fingers out, bending them at the second and third knuckles, such that they resemble a tiger’s claws, like in the picture below:

Place the tips of your index and ring fingers on the center of the opponent’s eyebrows, then snap your elbow into your chest, and snap your wrist forward. The end result is somewhere between an effeminate hand gesture and a downward backfist strike, which will rake and pierce the opponent’s eyes with your fingertips. The index and ring fingers do the majority of the damage; the other fingers serve as redundant backups if the opponent turns their head to avoid the strike.

[video of tiger claws from the front and side]

Tiger claw strikes often follow rising palmheel strikes as a “bonus technique” which is spontaneously included to enhance and augment a waza, just like how grace notes are used in jazz performances. Tiger claw strikes from the side are uncommon, but cromulent.

Tiger claw strikes are forbidden in kumite, because they target the eyes. Tiger claw strikes are typically reserved for advanced students, not because they are difficult, but because up-and-coming karateka should concentrate on more important things.