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Karate Essence ‘Reality Check’ Ippon Ken/Single Knuckle Fist

Karate Essence

'Reality Check'

Ippon Ken/Single Knuckle Punch


Editing by Zoё Lake

I know that there are some less than complimentary opinions expressed concerning ‘Ippon Ken’; and, it seems, that those critical of the single knuckle techniques have, if anything, increased in recent times.  Personally, I would put that down to the increase in combat sports, in particular the Universal bloom of the Mixed Martial Arts gyms and of course the exponential growth of MMA sporting competition. 



Table of Contents


  •         The difference Between Fighting & self defence


  •         Funakoshi, Shotokan Origins, Ippon Ken


  •         Shito Ryu & Shuko Kai, Ippon Ken


  •         Wing Chun Kung Fu, Phoenix Eye fist


  •         Torakan Eye View (Torakan out of the box)


  •         Conclusion




Fighting or Self-defence


Along the way, there is intermittently a place in my ‘Reality Check’ articles where I feel the need to point out that there is a considerable difference between ‘Fighting’ and ‘Self-defence’.  So, if you are a long-term follower of the ‘Reality Check’, forgive me for repeating; although I do try to explain it a little differently each time.

 

In a fight situation (outside of sport) two or more parties agree to resolve a disagreement with physical conflict.  There is usually, all be it unspoken, an understanding, which is often vague, on what actions or conduct is permitted and what is not; the rules if you will, regardless of how generalised.


In a self-defence situation, an assailant has decided, for whatever reason, to inflict physical violence on another person. The recipient is then forced to defend themselves.  In that situation there is only one rule, which applies only to the person being attacked.  ‘Survive the attack by any means necessary!’


Combat sports, which include striking with the hands, usually involve a type of well-padded glove.  Some are extremely padded, not unlike the boxing glove, while others are much less cumbersome; however, regardless, they all pretty much negate the use of any ‘single knuckle techniques’.


Because of the necessity for the hands to be relatively free of coverings, ungloved so to speak, when delivering Ippon Ken in any of its forms, the technique is almost never used in any kind of combat sport fight.

 

As for an actual real combat situation; Ippon Ken, in any of its forms, is a close-combat weapon which could be utilised.  However, in my opinion, I would say that Ippon Ken’s forté would be in the area of self-defence.


Ippon Ken is a weapon that is practiced in many Kata and Forms throughout all of the martial arts, which backs up my theorem, that it is definitely a self-defence tool.



Shotokan Karate, Ippon Ken & Pressure Points


Born and bred in Shuri, Okinawa, Funakoshi Gichin Sensei studied both of the locality’s popular styles of Karate: Shōrei-Ryū and Shōrin-Ryū.


The following three paragraphs of this article is a condensed version of an article written by Chris Thomas and published in a 'Shotokan Karate Magazine' in July of 2004.


“There is a well-known photo of Gichin Funakoshi in his 80’s demonstrating his Karate (that photograph is the opening photograph of this, ‘Reality Check’, article).  In that photo, Funakoshi has grabbed the right wrist of the attacker with his left hand, and is delivering a Gyaku-Zuki Jodan, using a Nakadaka-Ken (middle-knuckle fist).  Practitioners with an intimate knowledge of the use of pressure points (Jintai no Kyusho) will tell you that Gichin Funakoshi understood and used pressure point fighting methods (Kyusho-Jitsu).

 

Funakoshi’s book ‘Karate-Do Kyohan’ has an extensive chapter devoted solely to ‘pressure points’.  These points are generally the same as those used in oriental medicine (Moxabustion is specifically named).  What is not stated is that these points are not used singly, but rather, are used in combinations.  And these combinations of points are selected in accordance with the rules of traditional Chinese medicine.


In that old photograph, Funakoshi has grabbed in such a way that his left thumb is pressing on a point on the inside of the attacker’s wrist.  The point is known as Heart # 5 (Tongli).  The punch with the right middle-knuckle fist is aimed precisely to the hollow of the cheek, at a point called Small Intestine #18 (Quanliao). This is not accidental. The Heart and Small Intestine meridians are considered a Yin/Yang pair in acupuncture anatomy.  To attack both simultaneously is regarded as a way to short circuit the positive and negative lines of the body.  Furthermore, that particular wrist point is a “connecting point” between the Heart meridian and the Small Intestine meridian, and a point from which ‘Ki’ is understood to rise up to the eye. The cheek point is the location on the Small Intestine meridian which is closest to the eye.  So, as the energy entered into the wrist point rises to the eye, it is met at the cheek point by the punch.”


Thank you, Chris Thomas

 

Here’s the thing… I have been a student of Shotokan – studying, learning, and teaching – for fifty plus years; training under the most renowned and respected Shotokan masters of the 20th century.  I can tell you this; if Funakoshi Gichin Sensei, the Shotokan Founder, had ‘pressure point’ knowledge and understanding – and I believe he very well may have – it was certainly not passed along the traditional Shotokan lineage.  However, there is more than one group who claim the lineage of Funakoshi Gichin Sensei; Shōtō Kai being one of them, and they have a very different take on Funakoshi Sensei’s legacy.  So, who knows?





Shito Ryu/Shuko Kai, Ippon Ken


Shuko Kai comes from the same linage as Shito Ryu and they share most of the same basic techniques and Kata and, mostly, belong to the same worldwide organisations: ‘Osita-ha Shito Ryu Shuko Kai Karatedo International’ is one of the main ones.  The origins of these styles trace directly back to the Okinawan style of ‘Shuri–Te’, the same origins as Shotokan. 


Shuri and Naha were neighbouring townships, with only a couple of miles separating them.  ‘Shuri–Te’ and ‘Naha-Te’, for all the close proximity of their origins, and around the same time frame, developed very differently; with Shuko Kai, Shito Ryu and Shotokan coming from Shuri; and Goju Ryu coming from Naha.


Naha is currently the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture; and as of the 1st June 2019, the city had an estimated population of 317,405.  Shuri, formerly a separate city in and of itself, and once the royal capital of the Ryū Kyū Kingdom, is now a district of the city of Naha.


The following link will take you to an excellent tutorial on the three positions of Ippon Ken, their correct hand positioning and a demonstration of how to strike a makiwara with them.





Wing Chun, Phoenix-Eye/Hong Ngan


The Wing Chun Phoenix-Eye Fist involves using a single knuckle to hit small target areas like the temple, eye, or the throat; delivering a concentrated impact to a very definite point.  This technique requires precision and control, and an understanding of pressure points; and, due to the risk of injury if used improperly, is generally taught only to advanced students of Wing Chun.


I have commented before on Wing Chun and the fact that it is a straight forward, no flash Kung Fu style of self-defence that was originally founded during the Qing Dynasty by a Buddhist nun, Ng Mui, of the famed Shaolin Temple, some 300 years ago.  Wing Chun actually has only six forms or Taolu; and one of those Taolu looks suspiciously like Teki Shodan, a Shotokan Kata that turned up in Okinawa some 150 years later.  Wing Chun Kung Fu is a very functional, close range style that I have a lot of time for.


The Phoenix-Eye strike looks very similar to one of Masataka Ohshita of 'Osita-ha Shito Ryu Shuko Kai Karate-do International’s' Ippon Ken strikes, which is slightly different to the Shotokan version of that strike.  I will add here that I prefer the Shotokan version of that particular strike; although that may be simply because, after so many decades of training that way, that it automatically just happens for me.


When used correctly, because of the targets, the Phoenix-Eye strike has the potential to cause blindness, concussion or the collapse of the trachea.  This is not a technique to be used lightly!


Another version of a single knuckle technique is The Knocking Fist, which uses the middle finger knuckle, much in the same way as if you were knocking on a front door.  For a good effective outcome with this technique, target the area just under the nose.


The Wing Chun philosophy on self-defence, as I understand it, is very pragmatic:


“When it comes to self defense and the protection of one’s family, there is no room for wasted energy and movement. With training, time, and practice, the Wing Chun Phoenix Eye Fist can be an efficient addition to your arsenal.  In the event of an unprovoked attack… the ability to not only survive but to devastate your adversary as quickly as possible should be at the top of every martial artist’s priority list, and the Phoenix Eye strike can help you to do just that.”


The following link will take you to a short tutorial on the Phoenix Eye Punch.


While the true roots of the East Asian martial arts are somewhat nebulous; its early beginnings are believed to have started in India thousands of years ago.  It is then thought to have been brought to China by Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk, about 1500 years ago, who then founded that famous Shaolin Temple.  The following link will take you to a Shaolin Kung Fu class where students are learning and practicing the traditional form, ‘Hong Ngan’, or ‘Phoenix Eye’.  In this Taolu, this classical Shaolin fighting style focuses mainly on the Phoenix Eye fist formation: Shaolin Kung Fu, Phoenix Eye Taolu




Torakan Eye View

(Torakan out of the box)


There are quite a number of Karate and Kung Fu styles that have single knuckle strikes in their Kata/Taolu.  I have always thought that Ippon Ken, in its three main forms, is a natural self-defence weapon.  So, I have in fact taught the single knuckle techniques quite vociferously from my earliest days in Karate.  It is an excellent close combat tool to use on pressure points and vulnerable, soft targets.


I was about fourteen years of age when I was first introduced to a single knuckle fist, long before I began my classical martial arts study:

 


‘Robert Jones was a friend of mine.  Rob was always rather small for his age; consequently, he attracted those prevalent, insidious elements of high school life, the bullies.  I would often step in to fend them off, but this time the bully was not much bigger than Rob and he decided to fend for himself. 


I was giving Rob some last minute advice, while he was warming up, when I noticed he was making strange looking fists. “What are you doing, Rob?” I said, pointing at his fists.  Robert was poking the middle second knuckle of both fists out.


“It’s a Kung Fu fist,” said Rob, “I’ve been reading up on it!”


This was 1964, I had never heard of Kung Fu, and I was doubtful… “Just make a proper fist, Rob, and box his head off!”


But he was insistent… “Nah, nah… I know what I’m doing.”


When they finally squared off, the bully said, “What’s that you’re doing with your hands?”


“I’m gonna poke your f*^#ing eyes out!” said Rob, and I could see the bully blanch with fear!  The actual fisticuffs didn’t last long at all.  The bully was so frightened from the, “I’m gonna poke your f*^#ing eyes out!” remark, that when Rob started beating him up, the bully’s cronies stepped in… “OK, that’s it, you won!” they said to Rob.’

 


Many years later I would think about Rob’s Kung Fu fists.  We left school and I went off and became a Paratrooper; and later a karateka.  Unbeknownst to me, Rob became a Kung Fu devotee; and Rob is currently an 8th Level Shaolin ‘Ripping Tiger’ Kung Fu Master. Kismet or what?


I am actually not an advocate of showing what you’ve got… quite the reverse in fact.  Remember, we’re talking about self-defence now, and not fighting ‘per se’; and so the ability to make the Ippon Ken quickly, 'en route' to the target, is fundamental to a successful outcome.

 

You need very little power to execute an effective Ippon Ken… remembering that, you will begin to see the advantages of this technique in the hands of someone who might be considered not very big or strong.  An assailant or bully, doesn’t pick on someone they think is going to be dangerous.  They look for an easy target, and are more likely to attack what they consider to be a weaker individual?  Bullies are cowards; and men who assault women are cowards; but that doesn’t mean that they are not dangerous.  However, a woman can counter the weight and power advantage of an attacker by using her wits and her skills.  Ippon Ken can indeed blind an attacker, or shatter his trachea, they are easy targets; and if your assailant can’t see or breath, he can’t pursue you.


Sure, it takes practise to accurately pinpoint a vital or vulnerable target, but then again it takes practice to have any technique be ready and waiting, in your Mushin lock box, for you to deliver, when and where needed without thinking about it.


If you are one of my regular Blog-post readers you will probably know my background.  Briefly, my first martial art was boxing; beginning when I was just five years old I studied and trained in boxing periodically for about 15 years.

 

I have studied Shotokan Karate-Do for more than fifty years.  I registered my original dojo, ‘Torakan’, as a Shotokan Karate Dojo with the Karate Union of Scotland (KUS) in 1978.


After serving five years in the British Parachute Regiment, I began my time in the ‘high-risk’ security industry, where, for thirty years, I was a CPPO (Bodyguard) and Crowd Controller (Bouncer); and where I also taught close quarter combat to the security industry.

 

While traveling my martial path, I have also studied, trained and graded in various other martial arts, including but not limited to, Bushido (Jujutsu and weaponry), Muay Thai, and Kung Fu.  Until I recently tendered my resignation, I was the Chief Instructor and Technical Director to the Karate Union of Australia (KUA), a Shotokan organisation.


I currently teach ‘Torakan Karate-Do’ a self-defence art unto itself.  Torakan, with its Shotokan roots, contains all of my martial knowledge and understanding but – more than that and in fact more to the point – it also embodies all of my thirty years’ experience in ‘professional, practical self-defence’.

 

You may or may not be aware that working in that specialist field of conflict (physical protection), where you are responsible for the safety of others, you tread a very fine line.  You are not employed to fight… but to stop those who might want to injure you or someone to whose safety you are entrusted.  You are, in essence, a professional ‘Self-Defence Operative.’


Being in that line of work for thirty years, and capitalising on all of my martial arts training; with hundreds of conflict scenarios, and constantly reliving those scenarios – for the purpose of teaching operatives the best and safest ways to survive similar situations – I have become an expert in the art of ‘close quarter self-defence’.  I can read situations, and I know what works and what doesn’t work. 


Over the years, as I have matured as a Budōka, so too has Torakan developed into a martial art unto itself.  Torakan is not a sport Karate, and I wouldn’t claim that it is a fighting art of any special merit; however, it is a ‘self-defence’ art of some distinction.  Torakan is an ‘art apart’, a ‘self-defence art’ that has stood the test of time; having brought me, ‘its Founder’, through the trials and tribulations of living the very full life of a Budōka.


The following eleven short film clips demonstrate just a few of the Torakan self-defence adaptations of the various presentations of Ippon Ken:




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




Conclusion



I understand why most people shy away from using Ippon Ken.  Most of those people being male, and most of those males being sport combat focussed.  I understand why they would sooner stick to what they know; and what they know is that a standard clenched fist is powerful enough to get them out of most situations.  They practise what they know so that, from their Mushin, that is what naturally happens in an adverse scenario… and they punch and kick, or grapple their way out of it.  That’s fair enough.  If it works for them in their world view why change it?  I know lots of people like that; even if they get a warning buzz… a bad feeling about a situation, they just face off and fight.


However, from my point of view… I don’t fight, even more so now, at 75 years of age; I also have students who do not fight.  So, we do not engage in fighting.  If we have to defend ourselves we subdue the assailant quickly, mercilessly, doing whatever we have to, to bring the matter to a speedy conclusion.  The Ippon Ken happens to be one of those techniques that work for everyone, female or male, no matter the size or structure.  All you have to do is practise it until it will work without thinking about it when you really need it most; until it is in the reactive ‘lock box’ of your Mushin.


So, we are back to the conclusion being, ‘it is a matter of choice’.  To choose or not to choose, that is your choice.  If you are a big strong, strapping man, who probably doesn’t get picked on or attacked in his life?  Perhaps just stick to what works for you.  However, if you are a slight female who knows the fear of wondering whether your martial arts training will stand the test?  Or you are a small to average sized guy who has doubts about the effectiveness of your Karate in an adverse situation?  Perhaps you should learn the proper application of Ippon Ken, and practise, practise, practise.






Thank You


A big thank you to our demonstrators from the Devonport Torakan Dojo; without whose assistance of course the ‘Reality Check’ Blog would be sadly lacking.  Assisting me this month were Alan, Anthony, Tyler, Rahul, and Zeke.  Also, a special thank you to Kelly, our in-house technology wiz. 




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 my latest book, ‘A Budōka Odyssey’.  The reviews continue to be excellent!





Top reviews from Australia

 

Reviewed in Australia on 8 April 2025

Verified Purchase


This book is easy to read in short or long sessions - such an inspirational life story of an amazing guy. Well worth the read.

 

 

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 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 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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