Ippon Ken
Literally: one-knuckle fist
Also known as: One-knuckle fist
A fist with one knuckle extended for striking soft or narrow targets at close range; in Shotokan it appears in the kata Hangetsu.
Quick Facts
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Without enough precision training, the striker's own knuckle risks injury. The fist must be firmly formed and the strike precisely aimed, or it has no effect.
Katas containing this technique
About
Ippon ken, in English one-knuckle fist, is a fist with one knuckle extended, used to strike soft or narrow targets. Per Black Belt Wiki, the extended joint is that of the middle finger. Torakan Karate distinguishes variants by the joint used: nakadaka ippon ken with the middle joint of the middle finger, and boshi ippon ken with the joint of the thumb or index finger. The Shotokan Fitness blog, by contrast, sets nakadaka ippon ken against plain ippon ken, in which the strike lands with the tip of one knuckle. Torakan Karate describes it as a close-combat weapon, meant mainly for self-defense against sensitive points, not for sport competition. In the Shotokan kata Hangetsu (JKA numbering) it is the 7th and 8th movement.