Yoo Kwon (Soft Fist)
By Daniel Segarra

This information is for educational purposes only!
Do not use this material for experimentation on partners
 or yourself, you may cause major injuries. Train at your own risk.

One of the rarely seen of the hand techniques is the 'Yoo Kwon' or 'Soft fist'.  Yoo Kwon properly understood can be one of the most effective tools in your self defense arsenal. Yoo Kwon is formed same as a punching fist (Jung Kwon) but the first two knuckles are used to rap the target, similar to knocking on a door. Used in this manner to the right target this can be a very effective technique. Remember the same target struck with different hand and foot techniques can produce VERY different results. A technique using Yoo Kwon (soft fist) on a target might create simple numbness but major trauma, injury and death could result if a stronger technique such as a kick were used. Another interesting application of Yoo Kwon is during the Joong Dan Jaseh or mid point of many basic techniques. For example with the long backfist strike (Hwa Gook Jang Cap Kwon) the intermediate position has a natural yoo kwon within it. This then is followed by the backfist causing two hits with one motion.
 

Some basic targets are:
                                    In between the eyes San Gun
                                    The side of the jaw (Knock out point) SI 18 Kual Lyo
                                    The Nose GV 25 So Ryo
                                    Under the nose (In Joong) GV 26
                                    The Chin (Tuk) CV 24 Sung Jang
                                    The sternum CV 20 Hwa Gae
                                    The Brachial Nerve (Funny Bone) SI 8 So Hae
                                    Inner Wrist PC 6 Nae Gwon
                                    Wrist  LI 5 Yang Gye (thumb side) SI 5 Yang Gok
                                    Thumb joint (Um Ji)
                                    Back of the hand (Dwi Sohn)

In between the eyes San Gun
This point when struck usually results in a knockout depending on the force used. Strong force may cause bleeding  which may be a concern to due disease transmission.

The side of the jaw (Knock out point) SI 18 Kual Lyo
This target  is in the hollow just under the cheek bone. If you lightly tap this area in a small circular manner you will find the spot that makes the target go numb. This is a numbing point if struck with moderate force and a knockout point if hit with enough force.

The Nose GV 25 So Ryo
So Ryo point is on the tip of the nose. Striking the tip of the nose with the yoo kwon will cause the eyes to water and effect the vision as well as cause numbness to that area. Striking the bridge of the nose will cause a similar effect but also bleeding, which may want to be avoided due to disease transmission.

Under the nose (In Joong) GV 26 Su Gu
In Joong is a popular target. Lying under the nose if this point is struck the effect can range from numbness to a knockout depending on the force used. Again strong force may cause bleeding  which may be a concern to due disease transmission.

The Chin (Tuk) CV 24 Sung Jang
When this point is struck the usual effect is numbness.

The sternum CV 20 Hwa Gae
This point struck in a downward scraping manner usually causes instant pain followed by numbness. Usually used when an attitude adjustment is needed.

The Brachial Nerve (Funny Bone) SI 8 So Hae
When this area is struck the arm goes numb from the elbow down to the hand.

Inner Wrist PC 6 Nae Gwon
When this area is stuck the hand goes numb. If the hand is closed it will usually open or be weakened to the point of uselessness. If the hand is open it will usually close into a useless loose closed fist. You can see this effect if you press this area when your hand is totally relaxed. You will see the fingers close and move when you press this area with the opposite hands thumb.

Wrist  LI 5 Yang Gye (thumb side)
When stuck numbness and usually a quick withdrawal away from the strike are a result. You can feel this effect by lightly tapping the wrist area with a little experimentation you will find a spot that causes numbness.

Wrist SI 5 Yang Gok (small finger side)
When stuck numbness and usually a quick withdrawal away from the strike are a result.

Thumb joint (Um Ji)
The joint below the fingernail or middle-joint of the thumb. When stuck numbness and usually a quick withdrawal away from the strike are a result. An interesting note: When grabbed with two hands and one hand is struck on this point usually both hands release. Obviously you should not depend completely on this and use it in combination with other techniques.

Back of the hand (Dwi Sohn)
When stuck numbness and usually a quick withdrawal away from the strike are a result. This can be used for self defense as illustrated with a wrist grab or in fighting by attacking the opponents hands. Take away the opponents hands and his/her defense is severely weakened.

Seven Hand Grips
There are seven basic hand grips from the frontal position:
1-Opponents right grabs defenders left (Same side grip)
2-Opponents right grabs defenders right (Cross Grip)
3-Opponents left grabs defenders right (Same side grip)
4-Opponents left grabs defenders left (Cross grip)
5-Opponents grabs with two hands defenders left (2 on 1)
6-Opponents grabs with two hands defenders right (2 on 1)
7-Opponents grabs with two hands defenders two hands (2 on 2)

Yoo Kwon can be used to defend against all seven grabs for example:

       
This is a simple system of removing an opponents hand with out causing major injury to them. The follow up is up to you and dictated by the scenario. Obviously a situation requiring less force should be followed up maybe by disengaging and backing up in a defensive stance. A situation where you attempt to use less force and the attacker responds with further aggression might be followed up with a more forceful technique such as the one illustrated. For instructors beginners can be taught the escape and intermediate students a follow up such as back fist and reverse punch, and ,more advanced students can follow up with techniques such as Long Back fist. This allows the instructor to give a student more self defense options.

Yoo Kwon is a very versatile technique that can be used for many different situations from wrist grabs to lapel grabs any time there is a hand involved it is open to attack with the Yoo Kwon.

The Real world 'an etiquette lesson'
Here is a actual situation that happened to me. Looking back at it it seems funny now, but when it happened it was quite an experience. Quite a few years back I was going to the movies with a friend of mine to see the movie based on the music group the Doors. Knowing this movie might draw an interesting crowd in the evening my friend and I decided to catch a matinee. The theater was empty except for a small group of rowdy teens near the back which we avoided by moving to the center far enough away. About twenty minutes into the movie the I hear jingling like a gunslinger with spurs walking down the isle, and the seat behind me groaned and complained about the size of the person sitting in it. Then two Harley Davidson boots perched themselves on either side of my head, which I politely brushed off and asked the owner to 'give me a break'. (Mind you the theater had dozens of empty seats and he sat in this one) To which he replied by grabbing me from behind and let fly a few colorful metaphors. To which I replied with a polite Yoo Kwon on his grabbing hand. He pulled back that hand like I touched it with a hot poker, then must have thought it was luck and grabbed with the other hand. At this point I politely placed a wrist lock on him keeping him in his seat, As I turned and got a good look at him for the first time I had to try real hard not to look like a camper who jut came across a grizzly bear. He was a Biker with gang colors on and huge, his hand seemed like it was the size of my foot. Well at this point I was in too deep so I explained to him how rude he was and if he kept it up how difficult it would be for him to eat solid foods for a while and asked him to 'be cool' to which he replied 'I'm ice baby'. Then he politely offered me a beer that he snuck in. I politely said I didn't drink. And he got up and sat near the rowdy guys in the back. So Yoo Kwon (soft fist) combined with a little Ho Sin Sool (self defense) and a bit of bluffing, got me out of an ugly situation where striking may have instigated a brawl and made the situation worse.

Practice Yoo Kwon it is a worthwhile technique!

Special Thanks to Mr. Bryan Yutan and Mr. Oscar Menendez

This information is for educational purposes only!
Do not use this material for experimentation
on partners you may cause major injuries. Train at your own risk.