Contracting == strikes which go towards your own body (this is quite rare, except in vital point striking where a disruption is often the result of cutting with an ulna onto a wrist, forearm or neck point towards yourself (counter to the opponent's ki flow)...

Extending == strikes directly away from your own body (where you are dumping kinetic energy onto a target in the line between you and it). This is sometimes called 'punching from the heart', since your attack moves directly away from your centre.

Inward == strikes cutting across the line between you and the opponent (eg, left hand strikes rightwards). Examples include a slap in the face, or an inward knife-hand strike.

Outward == strikes away from the line between opponents. Many elbow strikes, and the outward knife-hand strike are examples.

Inward and outward strikes almost always have to be circular (see below).

Linear == the substantive direction at impact is the same as the initial direction. Example: straight punch. Radial motion...

Circular == the substantive direction at impact is radically different from the initial direction. Examples: Crescent punch, forearm blocks. Tangential motion...

Full-body == the bones, joints and muscles of the whole body are co-ordinated to send a pulse of energy to the striking tool. This is sometimes called 'internal strength', and requires a lot of practice. One feature is that the striking limb is relatively relaxed - much power comes from the legs, hips, waist and back, which is transfered through the limb (with good timing). Fullness of Ki, and loaded (but not stressed) joints are a feature.

Local == main power comes from the striking limb, eg, tricepts and shoulder powering a punch.

For beginners, Full-body power is nearly impossible to develop, so the student often exert too much tension and generate a stiff (and slow) variant of local power. With experience, Full-body power is much more devastating. Try the neijia page for a relevant discussion on internal strength in taijiquan, bagwa chang and xing-yi.

Blunt == diffuse striking tool (eg, full fist, elbow, shoulder, bear palm)...

Fine == small area striking tool (eg, fingers, knife hand, back fist). Fine requires more accuracy...

The selection of one of these options usually depends on the hardness or softness of the target, accuracy required, and vulnerability of the target.

Massive == lockout of the striking limb (and shoulder) mean that the impact accepts the momentum of the whole body, rather than...

Whippy == the speed of the striking tool supplies the impulse to do damage. There is no lockup.

Note: Massive loading of the body momentum onto a target may be accomplished by either pulsing the body power into the striking tool, thence into the target, or by adding it to the striking tool at (or just after) impact. The second method is much harder to realise (and more potent).

Part of all fighting tactics: to trick or not to trick...

Penetrating == the striking tool delivers all or most of its energy into the target. This means at least a slight pause before retraction. With practice, the depth of penetration can be set quite accurately.

'Bounce-back' == the striking tool immediately retracts after stinging the target. This permits quite rapid sequences, eg, left-right punch, or punch-grab. With practice, some depth of penetration can be realised, but it is not as strong as for the 'penetrating' strike.

Note: The term 'focus' (kime) in some Japanese and Korean arts refers to both the Penetrating aspect and the Massive aspect of striking. This is a simplification. It is possible for a strike to be whippy and penetrating, or massive with bounce-back.

For more thrills - and a source of fluidity, see co-ordination exercises.