The Sword Hand

In martial arts training, there are many myths.  Most of what one sees in films and on the TV, both in use of weapons and in the use of bare-handed techniques, is total nonsense as it's totally lacking in real commonsense principles.  This is why when one enters into the military, one is taught to discard whatever one has previously learned in the usage of firearms and to begin training anew from scratch; as combat is so very different from recreational use of weapons.  The same applies to all of martial training.  What one sees in sport fencing isn't how swords are actually used and what one sees in the mixed martial arts type competitions isn't how one actually fights.  Combat is very different from any sport.  Let's take a small example and see how this all works.  Bare-handed techniques come from using a sword.  Sword thrusts are considered to be finishing moves and are always proceeded by cutting applications to the tendons and arteries; so that the enemy is rendered weak and vulnerable, before the final actual thrust is made.  A sword thrust is made with the sword blade horizontal and never vertical.  Why?  Because, in order to get power for the thrust, the shoulder and elbow (thrusts are made through the elbow joint and not through the wrist joint as in sport fencing), the elbow and shoulder must be descended and not be raised.  If the thrust is delivered with an elbow turned outward (as it would be if the thrust were made with the sword in a vertical position), the tendons and the arteries on the inside of the arm would be exposed to a parry by the opponent.  So, a thrust is made with the elbow turned downward and with the sword horizontal.  This position then allows the body to descend under the opponent and also gives a much greater reach to the lunge for the thrust.  The strike that's delivered by the fingertips in bare-handed fighting follows the principle of the sword thrust.  Fingertip strikes are usually delivered to the bladder, kidneys and throat.  Regardless of the target, the strike ought to be delivered with the palm up and in a horizontal position.  Just like the sword!  Let's perform an experiment.  Try striking with your fingertips at some imaginary opponent.  Do it with your palm turned in many different positions.  You'll find the only position causing your whole body to slide forward while you're performing the strike is with your palm facing up and horizontal to the ground and with your elbow descended.   As the sword is used, so shall the limbs be used.