Uraken - Arm, Wrist or Both ?

[JimmyTheHoover]

Been "observing" again 

This time it's the performance of Uraken-Uchi.....

So I've been wondering what the current view in delivery of Uraken is with respect to the wrist movement or perhaps the lack of it.....

I was taught - many moons ago - that Uraken-Uchi was delivered using a snapping action using firstly the forearm/elbow snap action which then culminates in a further snapping action of the backfist/wrist joint- thus maximising the percussive impact and minimising the contact area of the strike......

My observations recently seem to induicate that most folk seem now to simply snap the elbow/forearm but keep the wrist "solid"   

So what goes - ? new thinking or lazy students or poor instruction ? 

[JimmyTheHoover]

<BUMP> ?

[Moley]

At moment of impact I would pefer my wrist to be "rock solid" to minimise any possible injury.
 To generate destructive power I tend to use the hips and body vibration.

[JimmyTheHoover]

At moment of impact I would pefer my wrist to be "rock solid" to minimise any possible injury.
 To generate destructive power I tend to use the hips and body vibration.

I agree Moley - I wasn't meaning to imply that the wrist was mobile at the point of impact - more questioning regarding the "preferred" alignment.....

[JimmyTheHoover]

...wish the "whistling" smilie worked....

[KeithH]

I wondered about this one for a while too when I first started with Seki I was not quite sure what the correct technique was too.   If I recall correctly, in Goju Ryu there was a lot of emphasis on urakan with the snap of the wrist. The punch was practiced forward and behind

[JimmyTheHoover]

I wondered about this one for a while too when I first started with Seki I was not quite sure what the correct technique was too.   If I recall correctly, in Goju Ryu there was a lot of emphasis on urakan with the snap of the wrist. The punch was practiced forward and behind

Sorry Keith but I'm not quite sure what you mean by "the punch was practiced forward and behind" 

I've never had any doubt about the "snapping action" really I was just wondering mainly about the wrist postition at the moment of impact - I think that at the instant of impact the wrist should be bent (having snapped "into" the technique") and lock briefly to deliver the imact before relaxing again as it gets "retracted" by the whipping action..... (just my opinions obviously) 

[KeithH]

Sorry for not being clearer Jimmy, you described it better i guess as being a whipping action.  What I meant about forward and behind is that is where the targets would be.  Come to think of did we practice it to the side too? Its hard to describe easier to demonstate I guess.  Anyway, its too long ago and my head is beginning to hurt shouldn't have mentioned it !

[JimmyTheHoover]

LOL - Keith 

No Problem - I was obviously not even switched on enough to realise that you were referring to Ura-Ken when you mentioned "punch" - but a few glasses of wine will do that to me and is a much more enjoyable way to get a sore head