fbpx

The clenched fist palm heel strike and clenched fist hand edge strike.

Military CQC provides primary execution options in unarmed offensive assault skills combinations as well as secondary alternative or emergency options for specific situational employments.

The primary variation of the palm heel strike and chin jab palm heel strike is executed with a flat hand configurations to protect delicate small fingers joints over having the fingers extended and more exposed to injury.

The same flat hand configuration applies to the hand edge strike once again reducing the risk to the delicate digits if fully extended.

Two such situational requirements for rugged variations of palm heel and hand edge strikes are in the case of using such skills with weak or injured wrist joints or in gross motor skills requirements in close quarters combat encounters where multiple strikes against a well guarded foe may be required.

Also, in practice on training equipment where impact compression can raise injury risk levels clenched fist variations increase safety.

In the three previous situations clenching your first and positioning your thumb on top of your clenched fist index finger will reduce the length of hand configuration extension above the wrist joint making it shorter more rigid and less prone to causing wrist spraining.

Important considerations are that in the execution of the Palm heel strikes straight and chin jab variations the contact is made still with the palm heel.

The clenched fist hand edge strike contact point is still the side edge of the heel of the palm and not the bones of the little finger. This is achieved in the same manner as with the primary flat hand configuration option of the hand edge strike by angling the hand to ensure accurate correct target contact is achieved. These are still sharp hand edge strikes produced by angling the previously described clenched fist variation and are not hammer fists.

In rugged close quarters encounters, clenched fist palm heel strikes and clenched fist hand edge strikes will increase safety and provide increased gross motor skills striking capabilities.

For lethal military battlefield, hand edge strikes employments the narrower flat hand configuration of the hand edge strikes are more applicable to narrow straight line destruction of delicate life-support targets, especially in relation to accurate target contact requirements. This is especially applicable to narrow target exposure and access like to get under, above, or between helmets, battledress, and body armour.

Article written by Tank Todd

Special Operations CQB Master Chief Instructor. Over 30 years experience. The only instructor qualified descendent of Baldock, Nelson, and Applegate. Former instructors include Harry Baldock (unarmed combat instructor NZ Army WWII), Colonel Rex Applegate OSS WWII and Charles Nelson, US Marine Corps. Tank has passed his Special Forces combative instructor qualification course in Southeast Asia and is certified to instruct the Applegate, Baldock and Nelson systems. His school has been operating for over eighty years and he is currently an Army Special Operations Group CQB Master Chief Instructor. His lineage and qualifications from the evolutionary pioneers are equalled by no other military close combat instructor. His operation includes his New Zealand headquarters, and 30 depots worldwide as well as contracts to train the military elite, security forces, and close protection specialists. Annually he trains thousands of exponents and serious operators that travel down-under to learn from the direct descendant of the experts and pioneers of military close combat. Following in the footsteps of his former seniors, he has developed weapons, and training equipment exclusive to close combat and tactical applications. He has published military manuals and several civilian manuals and produced DVDs on urban self protection, tactical control and restraint, and close combat. He has racked up an impressive 100,000+ hours in close combat.