The Thumb Jab

I'm sure a lot of you remember the scene in the movie "The Presidio" were Sean Connery's character decimates the jackass in the bar with nothing more than his thumb!

Some of you may remember Andy Adam's book on Ninjutsu highlighting Hatsumi. Several photos showed the intense conditioning of natural weapons including the 'boshiken" or thumb fist. One photo in particular impressed me. That showed a small flat stone being broken by a "thumb" jab.

Sykes, it has been reported, had a tremendous amount of grip and hand strength. He was apparently quite fond of the "thumb" jab. Though NOT a basic method, since conditioning over a period of time is mandatory, it still was a favored "personal" weapon of his.

Allowing the thumb to jut out along the side of the fist was a "street" tactic shown to me when I was a kid by my father and uncles. Aimed at the eyes it made that left jab a really potent weapon.

The thumb as a weapon can be used to strike, gouge and/or apply tremendous concentrated force. It is also used in many Judo/Jujutsu "shimewaza" of the "combat" variety.

Many methods employ this type of strike. The problem is CONFIDENCE in its use! Here's a method of toughening and strengthening the "thumb" that is specific to its use in hand to hand combat:

Grab your palm sized "crushing" rock. Keep the flattest side UP. If the rock you use is TOO round, find a flatter one.

Get a THICK DENSE piece of foam as used in upholstery.

Place the rock in the middle form your "thumb jab" fist, place the pad of the thumb on the rock and PUSH. Try to push/press the rock right THRU the foam. DON'T STRIKE IT YET! Just numerous repetitions of the FORCEFUL push! Repeat it over and over. Over time you will be able to strike the rock and ram it right down fully to the bottom of the thick foam pad.

Other good exercises such as the "thumb" hook push up on bricks or cinderblocks can also be added as well as any other personal favorites, BUT the exercise as described above is about as specific to USING the "thumb" jab as you can get.

I train the thumb in several uses:

Boshiken - Thumb tip jab
Boshiken - Thumb knuckle Uechi style
Oyayubiken - Thumb knuckle fist
Tohote - Sword tip hand (thumb hook)
Dim Jeang - Palm strike with thumb jab. From Fushan Wing Chun as taught by Sifu Chong.
Ying Jow - Eagle claw with thumb crush/gouge

In Dr. Ernst Jokl's excellent treatise on the scientific and medical aspects of boxing blows, he describes the "old" street fighter's trick of jabbing the extended thumb into the carotid and causing a knockout. He also details some "jiu-jitsu" blows with the edge of hand.

All of the foregoing weapons can be trained on the makiwara. Just start EASY. And..................keep a bottle of "New Skin" handy.

Here's another "good" one: Get a cinder block. Place it long ways in front of you. Open hands, and "hook" thumbs in openings on each end of block. Apply OUTWARD pressure with THUMBS ALONE and lift AND HOLD. Repeat several dozen times.

Also any king of "pinch" grip work is also great!

Copyright 2003 http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

Car l Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement and military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl's ranks and honors:

Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu
Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle
Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct)
Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada
Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki
Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka
Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka
Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu
Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson

http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

---

Fight Simulator Theory for Reality Based Street Defense

This is such a powerful tool that it should leave no question unanswered for you and allow you to create an infinite number of techniques and drills.... Read More

Fairbairn on the Fairbairn Method

Something for our shooting "enthusiasts" -PRELIMINARY STATEMENTBackground:"Prior to my association with the armed forces of Great Britain and the United States I served as Assistant Commissioner in... Read More

Tai-Chi for the Masses--and Others

Kuang Ping was the T'ai-chi set favored by Yang Lu-Chan, the man who brought forward the "Yang" style in the mid-1800's, now so popular throughout the world.... Read More

Is it a ?Hurt? or is it an ?Injury?

My father fed me this line every time I felt pain or discomfort. Growing up the coach's son was not without difficulty. My dad never played favorites;... Read More

Samurai Sword Facts

The first samurai swords we're actually straight bladed, single edged weapons imported from Korea and China known as chokuto, which were later replaced with the curved blade... Read More

By-Rote Combinations

Do not believe that practicing "by rote" 1-2-3,etc. type "responses" to street attacks is a viable or particularly useful training exercise. Example: He does this, I do... Read More

Aikido Philosophy: An Oriental Concept of Energy, Self, and Mind

PrefaceThere are many different ways to understand Aikido philosophy and perceive, utilize, and benefit from energy. What I offer here is one of many ways. Indeed when... Read More

Regular or De-escalated

We always stress that NOTHING occurs in a vacuum. There always exists stepping stones or a progression of events that lead up to a "situation". Whether YOU... Read More

Have No Misconceptions

I just received an Email from a woman who has a child (3 year old) and about to have another. Considering my wife is in a similar... Read More

Samurai Armor Part 1

The first prototype for Japanese samurai armor came about in the form of the yoroi during the Gempei War of 1181-1185. The weight of the yoroi was... Read More

New Book: Positive Aikido

A new book with a practical look at Aikido and its history. The Co-authors are direct students of the legendary master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei from 1957. the... Read More

The Plight of Industrialized Man

Living in the Pacific Northwest is a challenge for any body: the poor excuse for weather west of the Cascades is one of the worst on earth... Read More

Does It Hurt When I Do This?

Let me tell you something. I don't bruise too easily. You guys know after years of Wrestling, Football, Karate, Jujutsu and Judo- you develop resistance to those... Read More

The Test

"Will this work so that I can use it instinctively in vital combat against an opponent who is determined to prevent me from doing so, and who... Read More

Applying Law of Gravity to Judo

In judo it is important to throw your opponent by making use of his loss of balance, the law at work here is the law of gravity.... Read More

Are You Frustrated Yet?

I was talking to a parent recently and they told me that their son was not going to compete in wrestling because they were afraid they would... Read More

A Beginning History of Old School Jujutsu - Part 1

Over the next couple of day's I will writing an article of the history of Pre-WWII Japanese Jujitsu/Judo. I wasn't sure where to start, but here I... Read More

Generating More Power from Hip Rotation - Lessons from Martial Arts

One of the important lessons of Martial Arts training is the ability to use hip rotation as a way to generate power and speed for maximum impact.Martial... Read More

A Great Question!

It's a question that we went back and forth with for awhile ourselves many moons ago. The "how" and "why" of our conclusions may be of some... Read More

Choosing a Self Defense / Martial Arts School: A Parents Guide

"Daddy, I want to take Karate!""Mommy, Jimmy on the bus hit me again today"There are many reasons why parents want to sign their children up for Self... Read More

The Fallacy and the Myth

It's always amusing when "know it alls" dismiss certain methods out of hand as being useless or "unworkable". One "victim" of this line of thinking is the... Read More

Combatives

This is our last installment on "defining" the parameters of COMBATIVES.The point, I am sure, will be missed by some but it must be emphasized that this... Read More

How to Relax During a Fight

I received a returned video from a well meaning, but severely misguided, former customer. This is a rarity since over the past 2 plus years and hundreds... Read More

So You Think You Train Hard

"Tokio Hirano (1922-1993) 8th Dan The Man Who Revolutionized Judo" By Jim Chen, M.D . and Theodore ChenHirano 7th Dan At Age 42Tokio Hirano (5'5", 75 kg),... Read More

Why Every Cop Should Study Judo Part 1

Up until 30 years ago, JUDO was the martial art. Then with the introduction of the more mysterious martial arts with more of a "killing" edge to... Read More

How to Select Your Martial Arts and Self Defense Equipment

The most common place to buy martial arts or self defense equipment is in the local dojo. Most dojos, training centers, etc., have a small store where... Read More