Hikite (引手) is Japanese for ‘the pulling hand’.
What is Hikite?
Hikite is a
technique utilized in most Japanese forms of martial arts, i.e. Karate, Judo
and Jujitsu. The name refers to the hand, which is pulled back, for instance,
to the hip during a strike, while the other front-hand strikes, blocks or
throws. Both hands travel in opposite directions during the execution of a
technique. Therefore, it is not a waza in itself. It is, however, a
constitutive and signature basic element of the Shotokan Karate Do style that can be found throughout the whole
spectrum of techniques.
In this picture Miki Suetsugu shows an Choku-Zuki using the “pulling hand”.
While the hitting hand moves to the front the
passive hand move to the hip.
Two Schools of
Hikite
Two main schools
of thought regarding the hikite exist. One stresses the role of the “puling
hand” for destabilizing an opponent through grabbing and pulling him. Another
school supposes a vital role of the back-hand in generating power.
Hikite for
Destabilizing Opponents
The
“destabilizing” school claims that hikite is meant for destabilizing opponents
by pulling, for instance, limbs, clothing or hair, to assist in a capture,
throw or take down. Proponents of this position usually offer two arguments to
legitimize their conviction:
Gichin
Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan Karate Do, wrote in his book Rentan Goshin Karate Jutsu:
“The meaning of the hikite is to grab the enemy’s arm and twist and pull as
much as possible in order to break the enemy’s posture”. Therefore, their
argument focuses on the purpose Gichin Funakoshi assigned it to the motion in
this specific publication.
Hikite poses a
disadvantage during a real fight,
if it is not used for the destabilizing of the opponent. This argument is,
therefore, a definition ex negativo. The prerequisite for the arguments lies in the
refusal of the idea of “power generation” through pulling the hand. If power
generation is not possible and thus cannot be the purpose of hikite (negative)
then the destabilization of opponents is the only valid application. Because a
passive pulled back hand could serve a better purpose as a cover for the face,
for instance.
This position is
especially prominent among practical oriented karateka. They refuse classical conceptions of the power
generation approach and stress instead the direct functional relevance of the
motion for self-defense. Thus, they also refuse the pulling of the hand with
the argument that it creates “bad habit”. Karate students should learn straight
from the beginning a defense-oriented way of punching. To teach them a
disadvantageous before first and then to teach them how to behave in real fight
situations deem some commentators as inefficient.
Opponents of
this position argue that the once assigned purpose or function of a technique
can evolve. Over time more aspects become visible. To rely only on Gichin
Funakoshis intention for the pulling hand blocks out other possible functions
and applications.
They also criticize
the misinterpretation of power generation by this group. In their opinion the
pulling of the hand does not serve to generate additional power beyond the
actual capacity of the karateka. Its major function lies in its power saving
and speed generating aspect (see below).
Hikite for Power
Generation
Another school,
however, focuses on the technical aspect of hikite related to power generation.
It argues that the body works around an imagined central pivot. When arms and
hands work in unison together the pulling hand serves as counterbalance. From
here proponents of this position have developed two physical concepts to
describe how the pulling of the hand generates power:
“Slingshot-effect“:
This concepts assumes that the hikite-hand becomes loaded due to muscular and
fascia tension when it is pulled back. Like a slingshot the hand can be
released and the pre-loaded energy creates a forward momentum of the arm. This
effects, therefore, focuses on the pretension of muscles through pulling the
hand. The front hand, which pulls back, supports the forward motion of the
pulling-hand by transmitting rotational energy over the center axes.
“Whip-lash-effect”:
In a slightly different direction argues the concept of the “whip-lash-effect”.
Here hikite generates the effect of a stabilizing anchor for the forward moving
hand. When both hands come to a hold the backhand serves to tension-up the
upper body. So, the forward energy can be fully transmitted by the front fist.
However, the punching arm stays relaxed and works like a “whip”, while the
hikite hand works like the anchor of the whip. Similar concepts are known in
other martial arts like Kung Fu and Wing Tsung.
This position
has the highest prominence among orthodox “traditional” karateka. Proponents of
this position often argue that utilizing one of the two above mentioned effects
makes it possible to punch with less energy but creating the same power and
even more speed. Because the pretension within the muscles can be set free
fully relaxed. Thus, karateka can solely focus on quickness. The
whip-lash-effect makes it possible to transmit power without spending much
forward energy.
In the recent years,
this concept has caused some critic. Practical karateka doubt that the pulling
hand generates the supposed physical effects. Some see in a counter motion a
hindering factor for the transmission of energy. A backwards motion blocks, in
this understanding, the free flow of energy to the front. They also refer to
examinations with other martial artist like boxers who do not apply hikite.
Their punching power is allegedly equal or higher as the one of karateka. Thus,
hikite can be spared and the backhand used for defense purposes.
Conclusion and
Research Questions
Both concepts
have proponents and opponents today. However, both position define the extreme
polls of a spectrum. Especially when it come to kumite many karateka make
flexible use of hikite. In kihon and kata most karateka deem the pulling of the
hand as mandatory.
Further research
should illuminate the physical effects of the pulling hand.
Does it generate
or safe energy?
Is it an
effective means for pre-loading of muscles?
Which effects
does it have on speed?
Does it support
kime?
Another research
direction, which appears to be necessary to tackles, refers to the educational
effects of kime. While some critics deem it as counterproductive to teach
students hikite, others stress its relevance for the development of kime.
Students only learn kime through the execution of “exaggerated” motions. Later,
when they have a better control over their body and know to manage tension and
relaxation the pulling of the hand becomes less important. This hypothesis has
not been examined under scientific conditions but seems worth to study.
The conceptual
expectation of the outcome of hikite has probably a effect on the actual
execution of hikite itself. Thus, it might have several effects and purposes at
the same time. The karakteka must decide how to perceive and deal with hikite.
.
References
Abernathy, Iain
2019: The TRUE role
of Hiki-Te. In: Iain Abernathy. The Practical Application of Karate, Jan 3, 2019.
Enkamp, Jesse
2012: 3 Widespread
Misconceptions of Modern Karate (That You Need to Know Today)! In: KaratebyJesse.com.
Funakoshi, Gichin
1996 (1925): Rentan
Goshin Karate Jutsu, Tokyo.
McKinnon, Thomas
2019: Hikite: More
than just the pulling hand. In: The Shotokan Times, July 2, 2019.
Authors
I would suggest both are possibilities,
amd much more than this article suggests.
Consider what Sherman Harrill showed us not the
returning hand in hikite can become
A slashing attack to the opponent at the
same time.
Or my studies how the hand returning to
chamber can be used
As an elbow strike to the rear.
Ernest Rothrock suggested the hand going into
chamber is to protect the lower
Abdominal area against an attack.
The only limits are what we place on our
imagination to drive our actions.
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