Strikes

The Japanese language is oddly-specific about which techniques are punches (tsuki) and which are strikes (uchi). This is unusual, since this is the same language where the English idiom “you can’t make a mountain out of a molehill” is untranslatable, because the Japanese use the same word to describe both mountains and molehills. It is claimed that "punches" transmit their power parallel to the forearm (like a thrust or stab), while "striking" transmits power perpendicular to the forearm (like a slash), but there are still exceptions to this rule.

Within Goshin-Jutsu, punches are techniques intended for general use, while strikes are specialized moves. Specialized moves are not “special moves” -- does not imitate animé. A given strike can only be used in certain instances, which tend to fall into one of three categories:

1. Atemi.
2. Techniques for hitting opponents from inside the clinch.
3. Techniques custom-tailored to destroy a specific kyūsho.

The striking techniques used in Goshin-Jutsu are listed below:

• Backfist strike
• Hassō-shutō uchi
• Tate-shutō uchi
• Makkikomi-shutō uchi
• Elbow strikes
• Palmheel strike
• Hammerfist strike
• Uraken uchi
• Ridgehand strike
• Spearhand strike
• Hiraken uchi
• Kakutō uchi
• Haishu uchi
• Seriyūtō uchi
• Koko uchi
• Chicken-head strike
• Tiger claw strike
• Thumbknuckle strike

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