Strike (attack)

US Navy 051103-M-2175L-200 U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ryan Papa, right, assigned to 2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, holds a striking pad for a member of the Senegalese 90th Naval Infantry.
Senegalese Naval Infantry and US Marines practice striking.

A strike is a directed, forceful physical attack with either a part of the human body or with a handheld object (such as a melee weapon), intended to cause blunt or penetrating trauma upon an opponent.

There are many different varieties of strikes. A strike with the hand closed into a fist is called a punch, a strike with a fingertip is called a jab or poke, a strike with the leg or foot is called to as a kick, and a strike with the head is called a headbutt. There are also other variations employed in martial arts and combat sports.

"Buffet" or "beat" refer to repeatedly and violently striking an opponent; this is also commonly referred to as a combination, or combo, especially in boxing or fighting video games.