The kanji character 拳 primarily represents a "fist" or a "clenched hand." It signifies the hand closed tightly, with the fingers curled into the palm. This is the core meaning from which its other related meanings derive.

・On-yomi (音読み): ⚫︎ ケン (ken) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): ⚫︎ こぶし (kobushi) - fist

⚫︎ 拳銃 Translation: pistol; handgun ⚫︎ 拳法 Translation: martial arts (using fists) ⚫︎ 握り拳 Translation: clenched fist; a fist

The kanji 拳 is a phono-semantic compound. The phonetic component is a sound-alike character, and the semantic component is the radical 手 (て - te), meaning "hand." Together, they suggest a "fist" or "clenched hand." The hand radical indicates the meaning, and the other part of the character contributes to the sound. The original form depicts a hand that is closed tightly. Over time, the form has simplified to its current shape.