Self-Defense Tip 2 Eye Stab

Some situations can be solved by stabbing an attacker’s eyes with your fingers. For example, in our video Basic Instincts of Self-Defense this is done in one of the groundwork attacks.

How to do an eye stab without hurting your fingers

The hand formation that we show is different from those typically taught by most karate systems. In those other systems either the index finger alone, as Ippon-nukite (one-finger piercing hand), strikes an eye, or the index finger strikes one eye while the middle finger strikes the other eye as in Nihon-nukite (two-finger piercing hand). If you strike with such a hand and miss or are blocked, you are in big trouble. You can have sprained, twisted fingers, and you will not be able to make a fist.

To avoid these problems we use the hand formation taught in Atemi Waza of Judo Kodokan. In this hand formation eyes are struck (Ryogan-tsuki) with the tips of the middle finger and the ring finger. The middle finger is braced by the index finger and the ring finger is braced by the little finger. All fingers are slightly bent inward (toward the palm of the hand). To learn this hand formation, just put your hand on the table with all your fingers together. Then, with your other hand, spread its middle and ring fingers. Try to keep your fingers from coming back together. Then try to spread them using the muscles of your hand while helping yourself with the other hand. Do it several times, each time with less help from the other hand.

For an alternative technique, see Self-Defense Tip #110 — Finger Jab.

To learn more techniques, see Basic Instincts of Self-Defense.

Self-defense tip from Thomas Kurz, co-author of Basic Instincts of Self-Defense and author of Science of Sports Training, Stretching Scientifically, and Flexibility Express.

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