Hammerfist to the Back

Hammerfist to the back is essentially the same as hammerfist to the side, but with a greater turn to meet an attack coming from behind. You should practice it to develop the concept that you can strike in a full circle around your body.

Starting Position: Passive stance.

Look over your right shoulder. Move your left hand sideways and upward, elbow slightly bent. As your hand moves toward its target, rotate your hip and shoulder. Tuck your chin. Your rising arm should cover you as well as strike. Pivot your outside foot and step in toward your target to make sure weight is being transferred into the punch.

On contact, your elbow should still be somewhat bent. The bent elbow should pass your target to help the punch penetrate; it also helps prevent hyperextension of the joint.

Tips: Add torque by rotating the fist: At the beginning of the punch, the back of the hand faces the target. Just before contact, rotate the meaty part of your hand out to make contact. As with all punches, you should recoil after striking.

Forward Hammerfist

A forward hammerfist is generally a strike to your opponent’s face.

Starting Position: Passive stance.

Raise your left hand in a small windup—roughly from chin height to about eyebrow height. Don’t throw your hand too high above your head—that motion would be too slow and detectable.

As your fist comes down, generate power by rotating your shoulder and hip inward and forward while driving with your legs.

Tips: Add torque by rotating your fist: As you begin the punch, your palm should face the target. Just before you connect, rotate the meaty part of your hand inward to make contact.

Downward Hammerfist

A downward hammerfist will generally be to the back of your opponent’s neck, at the base of the skull with your opponent doubled over (for example, after a groin kick). Other targets may be the kidneys (against a low bearhug) or face (during counterattacks against Headlock from the Side or Bearhug with Leverage on the Neck).

Starting Position: Passive stance.

Raise your left fist upward in a small windup.

As your punch descends, generate power by rotating your hip and shoulder inward and down, and by bending your knees. Do not bend at the waist.

Tips: Add torque by rotating your fist: As you begin the punch, your palm should face downward to the target. Just before you connect, rotate the meaty part of your hand inward to make contact.

Horizontal High Elbow Strike (Elbow #1)

For training purposes, we start in a modified passive stance. Of course, all elbows can be made from a fighting stance.

Starting Position: Modified passive stance, with your hands raised up to face height.

Bring your right hand (either in a fist, or open with slightly bent fingers) in to your shoulder, creating a firm bend in your elbow.

Sharply swing your elbow out horizontally in front of you to make contact with your target’s face or throat. Strike with the point just below the tip of your elbow, pivoting as you strike to generate more power.

Recoil and return to starting position.