67: Tong-Il under fist ("bear hand") strike and circular block

Continuing our analysis of Tong-Il, let's analyze a set near the end with three unique movements:

• Inward strike with the "under fist"
• Reverse palm pushing block 
• Turn 135-degrees into knifehand circular block 

The under fist comes from Karate's kumade or "bear hand" strike. 

 

Although Gen Choi lists the striking tool as the finger knuckles, it's thought the palm heel can be part of the strike as well. 

 

For an inward strike with the bear hand, the usual application given is a ripping attack to the ear, as shown by Tom Hill below.

Source: Tom Hill

 

The idea of ripping someone's ear off seems a little theatrical to me, but you can do an ear clap attack, disorienting the opponent by slamming air into their ear drum. 

 

Howcast ear slap

 

Striking with the finger knuckles is fine, since the outer ear is soft and this will still distract the opponent. Supposing we do use this as a disorienting attack to the ear, what's next in the pattern?

 

In context, we strike the opponent's right ear while pulling their right arm. We then grab the back of their shoulder and then pull while pushing their arm forward with the palm pushing block, effectively turning them around.

 

We then attempt to throw by pulling them 135-degrees right, the turn into the "circular block". We drop our weight into this to make the throw more effective.

 

 

If the throw fails, we rise up and use the knifehand "block" as a KO strike to the back of the opponent's neck.

 

We can then use the next movement (steps 54) in the pattern to kick behind the opponent and pull them towards us with both fists, essentially the same kind of throw but pulling straight back rather than at an angle. [1]

 

[1] This kick-then-pull is not in the 1965 version of Tong-Il, which instead has you perform a rising block followed by a reverse punch. The intent of the original version is probably to strike up under their right armpit before punching the back of their head.