The Leopards Paw

 

 

There was no Leopards Paw in the Isshinryu I learned. However, when I originally began visiting instructors about 1979 I was once shown several Leopards Paw techniques in that instructors ‘Aiki Jutsu”.

 

It was used for an effective strike into the armpit and another for a strike into the spine. Not a complete system but effective techniques.

 

A few years later Ernest Rothrock indulged my interest in learning ground sweeps by instructing me in a Chinese Leopard form. Alas the sweep movements were beyond my potential in the long run, but I learned a great deal about the way the Leopard Strikes were used.

 

I believe it is mandatory to look at anything beyond your system of study. If you can’t recognize the offensive potential of those movements, you are not going to think defensively about them either. The two studies go hand in hand.

 

 

The formation of the Leopards Paw involves bending the fingers back at the first knuckle joint of the hand, essentially using that ridge of knuckles as a striking area.  Of course there is much more there too. But the first impression is a good starting point.

 

This formation is a solid technique for striking specific targets.

 

For example it can be used to strike into the throat with great force.

 

 

However there are so many other places that it can strike:

 

 

Into an Eye Orbit

                    Into a Temple

                    Into an Ear

                    Below the Nose

                    Into the Jaw below the Mouth

                    A rising strike into the Jaw from underneath

 

                   Uppercuts into the Heart Area

                   Vertical strikes into the Heart Area

 

                   Vertical strikes into the Groin (Male or Female)

 

                   Strikes into the Ribs from the side

                   Strikes into the Armpit from many directions

 

                   Horizontal strikes into the Base of the Head.

                   Horizontal strikes into the Spine

 

This list of possibilities does not limit other areas that can be struck, just opening some potential areas to consider why the Leopard Paw should be defended against.

 

For example the Leopard Paw can be used to strike into the neck with the thumb of the fist formation, then to use the bent fingers to grasp the carotid artery  and then to pull it forward for control.

 

As this example shows there are many potential ways this hand position can be used.