In Combatives, the ax hand is a particularly useful tight space tool. It is very easy to perform, especially under survival stress, and extremely versatile. Usually we teach the long and short ax hand. I like Kelly McCann’s description of how to form the Ax Hand. Spread your fingers and thumb, which makes the hand very stiff. Explain that extending the thumb helps prevent the hand from arching. In training, we have found that it works best to extend at the point of impact as if you clench your fist when striking. This prevents the forearm from becoming too stiff so as not to hinder the acceleration of the blow.
We usually use the Short Ax Hand on the windpipe as part of an attack sequence. Simply project the edge of your hand forward in a straight line toward the target (without cocking). Although we don’t normally teach this to new students, we often employ a simultaneous stomp that others call the “drop step” that generates more power with the punch. I have never been able to find an accurate source of information on how much pressure it takes to crush the windpipe, but suffice it to say that this blow is sure to catch someone’s eye and it will. hurt.
We also often use the long ax hand within an attack sequence. It usually works great to use in conjunction with the short ax hand. For this shot, the body is turned slightly, away from the target; the hips are hooked, as with punching, to generate energy. With a cutting motion, we generally strike toward the side of the neck (about halfway) a bundle of nerve fibers called the Brachial Plexus Origin. This bundle divides to form the radial, ulnar, and median nerves of the arm. If you hit this bundle of nerves hard enough, it can cause motor dysfunction. Bullies often lose arm function and the ability to stand up temporarily. I think of it in terms of causing an electrical overload in the system. The use of bony portions of the anatomy for the origin of the brachial plexus can be fatal and is considered a deadly force.
Kelly McCann applies the ax hand from two separate starting positions. The first is what he calls the servile posture. The hands are together, resting against the body in the groin area, and the chin is tucked in. From here, swing the ax hand in an arc to the side of the neck. Although it may seem obvious, when you cross your hands, keep the hitting hand on top! McCann also uses the aforementioned landing step (same leg as punch hand) here to add power to the punch. Emphasizes bringing the other hand to a guard position to protect the head. The other starting position is one we also use: the Jack Benny Stance. As with our version of the Long Ax Hand, turn the body a quarter turn, as if moving away from the opponent (shoulder goes up here), and strike in an arc towards the neck / brachial plexus region.
By the way, if you’re too young to know what a Jack Benny pose looks like, just do a Google search on the Jack Benny website. There are many images to illustrate his classic pose, which is actually a very useful ready-made pose for fighting; It seems very simple, but the hands are ready for action.
Rex Applegate, in his book, Kill or die, describes the edge of the blow of the hand (that is, the hand of the ax) as “valuable because it can be used in vulnerable points of the body that would not be susceptible to blows of the fist or the heel of the hand.” Keeps fingers together and wrist locked. Like McCann, Applegate also emphasizes keeping the fingers and thumb extended to avoid “squeezing” the hand. In the application, it states that the elbow must be bent and that the blow must be a cutting movement, with blow and retraction, to locate the force within a small area. This increases the effectiveness of the blow (more pain!), Which makes perfect sense when looking at the targets: nerves of the forearm, trachea, base of the skull, under the nose, bridge of the nose, base of the spine and of Por of course, the side of the neck. Above all goals, Applegate prefers testicles. As a final note, he recommends that the edge strike be used with the strong side arm and the same side leg forward.
In Dennis Martin’s Combatives Forum, he has a quote from EA Sykes, describing the ax hand:
The deadliest unarmed blows are with the side of the hand. All force is concentrated in one area. The effect of these blows is obtained by the speed with which they are thrown, rather than by the weight behind them.
This is in line with Applegate’s thoughts on the subject.
Dennis thinks the ax hand is highly underrated (probably more of late, I imagine). He also uses and highly recommends the Vertical Ax Hand: “like the Hammerfist, it can be used for a crouching assailant, targeting the neck, spine, kidneys.” Many practitioners complain that it hurts to train the Ax Hand until the fleshy part of the hand is conditioned. Training in a BOB especially hurts; That fool is most implacable! Dennis explains that hitting a person is a bit different than hitting the training pads. He has devised a special cylindrical pad to train him, which better represents a human target. He also recommends training Ax Hands in focus gloves. Thai pads, like BOB, are particularly unforgiving. I found a recommendation somewhere that one can condition the hand by hitting a bag full of beans. I have yet to try this myself as I usually just smile and endure it. However, it can be a boon for new practitioners who are not used to hard training.
We use the hand of the vertical ax on a different target: the top of the shoulder, near the neck. Think of Captain Kirk in Star trek using this chop in fights. There is a nerve motor point here in the shoulder: the suprascapularis. I can attest to the fact that this bump hurts, but it can be a bit tricky to hit the nerve the right way.
Well, there you have it: the ax hand from many different perspectives. As with any technique, train it in many ways, find what works for you and your body, and test it with pressure. Although you often target nerve points, it is a fairly simple gross motor movement to execute. The ax hand is old school and brutally effective. It’s easy to acquire, comparatively speaking, because think about it: it takes a lot of time and dedication to perfect your hitting skills. Not so with many Combatives techniques. Keep this in mind: Some of these bumps can be distracting with pain, some can cause temporary motor dysfunction, and some CAN KILL. Remember that even with empty handed techniques, it is a deadly weapon and you must accept full responsibility for it. Train safely and responsibly!
References
Applegate, Rex. (1943). Kill or be killed: a hand-to-hand fighting manual. Boulder: Paladin Press.
Grover, Jim. (1999). Jim Grover Combatives Series: Power Strikes & Kicks, Vol. 1. [Videotape]. Paladin Press.
Martin, Dennis et al. The classic strikes. Retrieved May 2009 from Dennis Martin’s Combatives Community Forum.