Strikes
The Japanese language is oddly-specific about which techniques are punches (tsuki) and which are strikes (uchi). This is unusual; especially since this is the 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. In general, punches transmit their power parallel to the forearm (like a thrust or stab), while striking transmits power perpendicular to the forearm (like a slash).
Punches are intended for general use, since they are adaptable to all target areas, and strikes are specialized moves. Specialized moves are not “special moves” -- life does not imitate animé. Certain strikes can only be used in certain instances, which tend to fall into one of three categories:
- Atemi.
- Techniques for hitting opponents from inside the clinch.
- Techniques custom-tailored to destroy certain kyūsho.
The striking techniques used in Goshin-Jutsu Karatedō 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
