Twist or Verticle Punch

 

The question Dewey I. Bowman asked was the placement of the thumb when using a twist punch. Since one of the changes Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei made when creating Isshin-ryu karate was the making of the fist.

 

In an interview with Kaneshi Eiko, Stigma Genyu and Kaneshiro Kenji, on December 24, 1984, they explained Tatsuo Sensei was always experimenting. In the photo they are showing the differences of the Isshin-ryu fist with the thumb on top and the Shorinryu fist with the thumb placed to the side of the forefinger.

 

While all three of them went back to using the twist horizontal punch, they retained using the Isshin-ryu fist simply because it keeps a stronger wrist.

The 2nd video is taken at Kaneshi Eiko Sensei's dojo. They are doing Seisan kata using a twisting horizontal punch with a Isshin-ryu fist.

 

 

 

Left, Shigema Genyu showing a Isshin-ryu fist. Right is Kaneshi Eiko showing a Shorinryu fist where the thumb is placed to the side of the forefinger. Kaneshi Eiko Sensei explained that Tatsuo Sensei was always experimenting. Ciso, Tatsuo's second son said the same and said his father was a innovator. So Tatsuo Sensei concluded that by placing the thumb on top of the forefinger made the wrist stronger then if the thumb is placed to the side of the forefinger.

Dec 24, 1984 Interview by Arcenio Advincula, Taba, Gushikawa, Okinawa