| a) | proper alignments: |
| i) | dimensions: |
| 1) | height - lower face |
| 2) | depth - elbow bent (not hyper-extended) |
| 3) | width - directly ahead |
| ii) | body alignments: |
| 1) | hand vertical (palm pointing forward to ground) |
| 2) | wrist bent to expose heel-of-palm |
| 3) | elbow below hand (anchored) |
| 4) | shoulders - relaxed |
| 5) | upper body / hips - Neutral Bow rotation |
| 6) | legs / feet - Neutral Bow rotation |
| iii) | Point of Contact - tips of fingers (and possibly thumb) |
| iv) | stance - Neutral Bow |
| b) | proper formation - weapon (hand): |
| i) | fingers |
| 1) | slightly bent to expose tips of fingers (not nails of fingers) |
| 2) | slightly spread (Margin for Error) |
| ii) | thumb: |
| 1) | slightly bent to expose tip (not nail) |
| 2) | slightly spread (Margin for Error) |
| c) | execution: |
| i) | Method of Execution - Clawing |
| ii) | execute directly to target (prevent cocking) |
| iii) | improper execution: |
| 1) | improper speeds / methods: |
| A) | executed too slow (transforms into downward pull with fingers) |
| B) | executed too tense (unable to achieve proper 'snap' of strike) (strike looks 'pulled' downward) |
| C) | strike not tensed at Point of Contact (improper timing / never tensed) |
Comments
| a) | Common errors: |
| i) | formation: |
| 1) | over bending of fingers / thumb causes a nails to rake skin - not finger tips |
| ii) | alignment: |
| 1) | not anchoring elbow |
Example of a proper overhead claw (left)
(prior to execution / stance rotation)
Example of a proper overhead claw (right)
Example of proper overhead claw formation
Examples of improper claw formation / alignment
wrist - not bent, formation - fingers too bent,
wrist - over bent, formation - thumb tucked
Examples of improper overhead claw execution (with hammer-fist)
improper depth - shallow / deep, width - narrow / wide,
height - too low, elbow alignment - not anchored
Examples of improper overhead claw execution
improper depth - shallow / deep, width - narrow / wide,
height - too low, elbow alignment - not anchored