Take a fighting stance and open your hands flat, fingers together, thumbs tucked - the knife hand. Chamber one hand up beside your head, palm forward, then whip it out and across in a downward-slanting chop, striking with the outer edge of the hand at neck height, while your other hand pulls back into chamber. Alternate sides, letting your hips rotate a little behind every chop - the strike snaps, it doesn't push.

Works: shoulders, upper back, arms, obliques

Breathing: Sharp exhale with each chop, inhale on the chamber.

Common Mistakes: Striking with a floppy wrist instead of a firm edge, swinging the whole arm wide instead of chopping from the chamber, and leaving the hips frozen while the arms do everything.

Make Easier: Slow the chops down and shorten the arc, building the chamber-strike-chamber rhythm before adding any speed.

Make Harder: Add speed and full hip rotation, sinking into a slight stance drop with every strike, or mix in Palm Strikes or Backfists.