Meaning of the Name:
Romanji: Age Ippon Ken
English: Rising Single Finger Fist
Japanese: 上一本拳
Technique Description:
To execute the Age Ippon Ken with precision and power, start by adopting your boxing stance and visualizing your opponent’s head at a mid-to-close range. The Ippon Ken is a specialized strike executed with a clenched fist—your index finger is bent back so that the second knuckle is exposed, serving as the primary point of impact.
Begin by shifting your weight slightly onto your front foot and lowering your stance. Drop your front Ippon Ken by about one foot to generate the space needed for a powerful upward thrust, all while keeping your back hand raised to shield your chin. As you initiate the movement, rotate your hips—clockwise for an Hidari Ken Kamae or counterclockwise for a Migi Ken Kamae—to channel force upward, gradually returning to your regular stance height. Enhance this action by simultaneously exaggerating the rotation with your shoulders, driving your front Ippon Ken in an almost vertical trajectory with your palm facing your face, all aimed at your opponent’s chin.
By the end of the strike, your front shoulder should be either in contact with or protecting your chin. Finally, quickly retract your Ippon Ken back into its guard position and reset your stance, readying yourself for the next move.