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The
chop with the hand may be delivered either horizontally or vertically.
A horizontal chop is started with the arm bent and the hand held, palm
downwards, just above the far shoulder (figure 1). A vertical chop is
commenced with the arm bent and the hand held just above the near
shoulder. The hand is held with the fingers extended and close
together, the thumb bent and resting comfortably near the base of the
index finger (figure 2). The part of the hand that extends from the
base of the little finger to the wrist is used to strike at the
following target areas: trachea (wind-pipe) in front of the neck;
either side of the neck towards the front; the base of the skull at the
back of the neck; and the solar plexus up under the rib cage, if not
covered with heavy clothing. At the moment of striking, the hand and
wrist are made tense and rigid with the fingers in perfect alignment
with the forearm. Note that the thumb should not be extended so that it
is almost at a right angle to the fingers, because it might then be
grasped and wrenched back or punched back hard enough for it to be
broken. Similarly, any separation of the fingers is potentially
hazardous. In both horizontal and vertical methods of delivery, body
weight should be behind the blow in order to obtain the most severe
effect. This is done by advancing the leg on the same side as the hand
which is delivering the chop and transferring the whole weight of the
body on to this forward leg at the moment of impact.
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Close Combat Techniques 
