Click to see next image.
	Uppercut: Fumio Demura (right) and his partner square off (1). As the partner punches, Demura alters his stance (2) and swats the attacking arm downward with a palm heel (3). The karate master then blasts his uppercut into the partners chin (4).
	Click to see next image.
	Knifehand: The opponent (left) begins his punch, and Fumio Demura readies his defense (1). As the opponent thrusts his fist forward, Demura shifts his body and blocks it with his left hand (2). He maintains his grip on the other mans wrist (3) as he chops into his neck (4).
	Elbow smash: The power of the technique can be enhanced by holding the opponent to prevent him from moving with the force of the blow.
	Click to see next image.
	Fingertip jab: In response to a two-handed grab, Fumio Demura (left) raises his hands in apparent submission (1). He then thrusts them downward to buckle the opponents arms (2). While holding the other mans left arm (3), Demura jabs his fingertips into his eyes (4).
	Click to see next image.
	Inside ridgehand: The assailant (left) initiates his front kick (1), and Fumio Demura deflects the leg to the outside (2). The karate instructor traps the limb as he moves forward and readies his counterattack (3). Demura finishes the sequence by slamming his open hand into the assailants throat (4).
	Palm heel: The opponent (left) grabs Fumio Demuras lapels (1). In response, Demura grabs his belt with his left hand and lifts his arm with his right (2). The karate master then extends his right arm, slamming his palm heel into the opponents chin (3). If necessary, Demura can transition into an eye gouge or face rake (4).
	Click to see next image.
	Straight Punch: Fumio Demura(right) faces his opponent (1). The opponent advances and punches(2), and Demura steps back and uses the preliminary motion of his arm to execute a halfway block(3). He finishes the technique by druving his fist into the other man’s chin.

In these days of eclectic martial arts mixtures that are born in the crucible of no-holds-barred combat, traditional defensive arts are often viewed as roadkill on the highway to the top. With few exceptions, virtually no holders of Ultimate Fighting Championship or Pride titles boast of having black belts in karate, kung fu or taekwondo. As a result, a significant portion of the martial arts community now overlooks those self-defense staples in their search for ultimate fighting skill.

But how can arts that proved themselves combat-capable for hundreds of years suddenly become impotent? Have the targets become hardened? No. The human body is just as vulnerable as it has always been. Have the weapons become weakened? No. A reverse punch is still a reverse punch, and a front kick is still a front kick.

Have the teaching methods somehow become less effective? Possibly. Fumio Demura is one instructor who insists that traditional martial arts like shito-ryu karate are every bit as effective as theyve always beenprovided theyre taught properly. For the benefit of those students who have not trained under a master from the old school, the Black Belt Hall of Fame member, who was a kumite (sparring) champion in Japan from 1961 to 1964, offers the following guidelines on how and when to use karates six most effective hand techniques.

STRAIGHT PUNCH

Called tsuki in Japanese, the straight punch is the mainstay of karate. Contact is made with the first two knuckles of the fist. The technique can be used in a variety of self-defense situations and on a variety of targets.

One of the more interested applications of the straight punch involves using the motion of your striking arm to deflect an incoming attack, says Demura. Halfway into the punch, your forearm is used to block. His punch goes by the side of your face as you strike his chin with your fist. The block and the punch happen at the same time. In case it doesnt work, your other hand can punch straight into his body.î

Since you risk being counterattacked whenever you are within arms reach of your opponent and your hands are occupied, you must pay attention to the angle and distance so you can stay away from his free hand, Demura says. ìThen if it gets messy, you can punch a second time, a third time or a fourth time until you knock him outas long as you are protecting yourself.î

The key to making the straight punch work is practice, Demura says. If you simply throw the technique a few times in the dojo and then expect it to save your skin on the street, youre bound to get into trouble. ìEspecially for beginners, knowing the technique is not enough,î he says. ìYou must have experience, and once you get some, youll be able to punch even harder.î

UPPERCUT

Although the uppercut is one of the ìbig fourî weapons of Western boxing, it has a slightly less prominent but no less effective role in the karate dojo. Called age tsuki, the technique is aimed at the underside of your opponents chin or nose and launched as soon as he gets within range and drops his guarding hands.

It is especially effective when someone tries to punch you in the stomach,î Demura says. ìYou block his arm downward using your palm heel. At the same time, your body drops down and your right hand rises up to his face to strike. If for some reason the uppercut doesnt work or you miss your target, youve already got your hand in position to continue into an upward el- bow strike. You can aim for the nose or the chest.

The goal of the uppercut is not necessarily to KO an assailant or break a bone with a single shot, Demura says. If one strike does not accomplish the goal, you have to continue without wasting any time. Dont stop after just one technique.î

KNIFEHAND

The knifehand is called shuto uchi in Japanese. Your striking hand must be rigid and tense for it to impart maximum damage when you chop it into a vulnerable part of your opponents body. It traces a circular path to its target, which is frequently the throat area.

ìIf the attacker tries to punch you, you can grab his punching hand and then strike his throat, Demura says. The knifehand is the perfect weapon for this type of situation, he adds, because its horizontal orientation allows it to be readily inserted into the narrow opening that leads to the neck. In contrast, it would be difficult to successfully throw a punch into the same space because of the presence of the chin.

The effect on the assailant is nothing short of devastating, Demura says. Because the throat is one area you cannot make stronger, the knifehand can crush the windpipe. Sometimes the throat swells, and breathing becomes difficult. If something goes wrongif the attacker raises his arm to stop your knifehand, for exampleyou have many options, Demura says. One is to open your fingers and go for his eyes. Another is to grab his hair and hold him while you deliver a follow-up strike or take him down.

INSIDE RIDGEHAND

Called herabasami in Japanese, the inside ridgehand employs the portion of your hand that lies between your thumb and index finger to strike and grab the assailants throat.

One of the best times to use the inside ridgehand, which is also called the ìtigers mouth,î is in response to a front kick, Demura says. ìAs soon as the attacker kicks, you step back and block his foot. If you can, you should hold his leg as you slam your other hand into his throat in one continuous movement.

Then, as you squeeze, he wont be able to breathe. If the assailant manages to survive the strike or escape from its grasp, you can simply raise his trapped leg. ìWhen you go higher, his weight moves backward and he loses his footing,î Demura says. ìIt is easy to knock him down.î

FINGERTIP JAB

Japanese martial artists have named it nukite, while in the West it is referred to as simply the fingertip jab. No matter what you call it, it is a devastating self-defense technique that belongs in the arsenal of every martial artist. Just make certain you never use it when circumstances are anything less than dire, Demura says.

A type of two-finger spearhand strike, the nukite targets the soft areas of the bodysuch as the eyes and throat. As a close-range technique, it can be used to force an assailant to release you. For example, if he grabs your lapels with both hands, you can raise your hands as though you are giving up, then chop downward to buckle his arms and bring him in close. While one hand controls his forearm, you simply thrust the first two fingers of your free hand into his eyes.

ìThe nukite is great for the little guy,î Demura says. ìIf your attacker is a big man and you punch him in the stomach, it might not work. But if you strike his eyes or throat using your fingertips, it is very effective. Your fist wont work to go to his eyes because its too big, but the fingertips are perfect. When you hit his eyes, he wont be able to see for a while. You will have a moment to get out of the situation.î

PALM HEEL

The palm heel teisho in Japanese is particularly appropriate for use by martial artists who are not accustomed to the stresses that punching inevitably places on the wrist. Best of all, it packs the same wallop as a punch while sacrificing only a few inches of range.

ìFor sensitive areas like the chin and nose, the palm heel works better than other techniques,î Demura says. ìIts hard to miss with it, and theres a lower risk of injuring yourself. If you punch an attackers face, you might miss and hit his teeth, and that will probably cut your knuckles.î

In a frontal attack, your opponent may grab your jacket with both hands, Demura says. ìYou should grab him, toohis belt, his shirt, his pants or whateverwith your left hand. As your right hand comes up between his arms, it pushes one arm higher and out of the way. At the same time, you pull him closer until he is almost touching your body. Then your right hand goes up to his nose or chin and pushes his head back. It is more painful because you are preventing him from moving backward with the force of the palm heel.î

If you need to administer a bit of extra punishment, you can use your fingers to gouge his eyes and scratch his face, he adds. ìAnd if you need even more, you can always continue with other strikes. If the fight goes one way, you have to be ready to do this. If it goes another way and you fall to the ground, you have to be ready to do a different technique. Thats why you have to know so many techniquesso you are always able to protect yourself.