The Backfist (Uraken)

The back fist is one of the most fastest hand techniques available. As it uses a snapping motion rather than a thrusting one, (like most other strikes), it can be whipped out in a flash. So why is it not used more frequently by martial artists.

Well it is a technique that relies heavily on the striking point to achieve the best results. You must use the actual back part of the knuckles to strike. Seldom people strike with the padded hammer fist or the back of the hand, which will not do much damage at all, but a strike with the knuckles to targets such as the eyebrow or upper lip can be very painful.

Also when wearing gloves, it is impossible to strike with the boney knuckles, and many fighters tend to disregard the technique because of this. Kyokushinkai fighters although, (who fight without gloves) should use the technique more often. A hard strike in between the ribs can be very painful indeed.

One of the best ways to use the backfist is with a lop sao. Used highly in Wing Chun the lop sao involves grabbing your opponents guarding hand, pulling it down and towards you while simultaneously executing a technique (in this case the front hand backfist). By pulling your opponent vigorously into the backfist strike, it can be made twice as powerful. This is a technique that could be adapted into MMA training and fights as it softens the opponent up while pulling into a range for a take down or further clinch striking.

Occasionally a spinning backfist is seen in kickboxing and MMA fights, but that is all and this is a shame, because it is a very useful strike for softening opponents, like the jab, and for closing the distance for further strikes or grappling. It should be studied more.

Marks

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