# Karate techniques

A number of karate techniques are used to deliver strikes to the human body. These techniques are delivered from a number of stances. The karateka uses a number of blocks to protect themselves against these strikes.

## Vital points

Vital points used in attack :
| Japanese | English |
| Hichu | This pressure point is located in the center of the lowest part of the neck, in the hollow. |
| Shofu | In the lateral aspect of the neck, in the posterior border of the Sternocleidomastoideus posterosuperior on both sides of the center of the neck. |
| Tento | Half an inch directly above the middle of the anterior hairline. |
| Dokko | Dokko is a hollow spot behind the ear lobe |
| Uto | Half an inch above the eye bridge, between the eyes. |
| Jinchu | A little above midpoint of the philtrum, just under the nostrils. |
| Mikazuki | Above the Adam’s apple, in the depression of the upper border of the hyoid bone. |
| Kote | On the inner crease of the elbow (find the center of the crease, and move inward toward the body one half cun.) |
| Yun Chuan | On the sole of the foot just forward of center. |
| Yako | Four cun (inches) above the medial epicedial of the femur, between m. vastus medialis and m. Sartorius. One inch below the center of the inner thigh. |
| Bitei | The coccyx, targeted inwards or upwards or a combination of the two angles. |
| Kinteki | The midpoint of the upper border of the Superior pubic ligament |
| Teko | On the dorsum of the hand, between the thumb and the 1st metacarpal bones, dors. Inter osseous m.,1st |
| Myojyo | Classic martial arts on inch below the belly button. Acupuncture places it at 1.5 cun from navel. |
| Sonu | The general location of this area is stomach and large intestine |
| Tendo | Found at the top of the skull, 2 cun (inch) posterior to the midpoint of the anterior hairline. |
| Kasumi | Sphenoid or temple, in the depression about one inch posterior to the midpoint between the lateral eyebrow and the outer canthus. |
| Mimi | Whole of the ear |
| Seidon | Yuyao, middle of the eyebrow with the eye looking forward, the point is under the pupil, between the eyeball and the infraorbital ridge. |
| Genkon | In the depression in the center of the Mentolabial groove. |
| Keichu | Center of the back of the neck, between the third and fourth Cervical vertebrae. |
| Muyo bone | Inside edge of the tibia, seven cun above the tip of the medial malleolus, on the medial aspect near the medial border of the tibia. |
| Fukuto | Fukuto is located on the midline of the lateral aspect of the thigh, about seven cun above the transverse popliteal crease. |
| Uchi Kuro Bushi | In the depression of the lower border of the medial malleolus or one cun (inch) below the medial malleolus. Just below and slightly to the front of the knobby protruding of bone on the in side of the ankle of the right leg. |
| Koori | Gap between the first and second toe on the foot surface of the web. |
| Gaishoho | One half inch above, on the Pericardium meridian, on the palm side of the arm about two and a half inches above the wrist, between the Radius and the ulna bones. |
| Shen Men | Outside of the back of the foot, behind outer ankle. |

## Arm techniques

Parts of the Arm used in Attack :
| Japanese | English |
| Zuki/Tsuki | Punch |
| Uchi | Strike |
| Age Zuki | Rising punch |
| Kagi Zuki | Hook punch |
| Yama Zuki | Mountain punch |
| Awase Zuki | Two handed punch |
| Heiko Zuki | Parallel punch |
| Hasami Zuki | Scissors punch |
| Nagashi Zuki | Flowing punch |
| Ko Uchi | Bent wrist strike |
| Washi-De | Eagle hand |
| Kaisho | Open hand |
| Choku Zuki | Straight punch |
| Ura Zuki | Upper punch |
| Uraken Uchi | Back fist strike |
| Furi Zuki | Circular punch |
| Mawashi Zuki | Round hook punch |
| Tate Zuki | Vertical punch |
| Kizami Zuki | Jab punch |
| Oi Zuki | Lunge punch |
| Gyaku-zuki | Reverse punch |
| Nihon Zuki | Double punch |
| Sanbon Zuki | Triple punch |
| Jun Zuki | Leading punch |
| Morote Zuki | Two fisted punch |
| Furi Sute | Whip swing |
| Hojo Oshi | Augmented push |
| Tsukami Hiki | Grab-pull |
| Ashi Dori | Leg take down |
| Toki Waza | Freeing technique |
| Hazushi Waza | Throwing-off technique |
| Nage Waza | Throwing technique |
| haito Uchi | ridge hand |
| hiji uchi (empi) | elbow strike |
| kaiko-ken | flat fist |
| koken | bent wrist |
| nakadaka-ken | middle finger knuckle fist |
| nukite Uchi | finger thrust |
| seiken | fist |
| shotei Uchi | palm of hand |
| shuto Uchi | knife hand |
| tettsui | hammer hand |
| yubi hasami | finger pinch |

## Foot techniques

| Japanese | English |
| Mai Geri Keage | Front kick (snap) |
| Mai Geri Kekomi | Front kick (thrust) |
| Kansetsu Geri | Stomping joint kick |
| Hiza Geri | Knee kick |
| Nidan Geri | Double front kick |
| Mai Tobi Geri | Jump kick |
| | Swing kick |
| Yoko Geri Keage | Side kick (snap) |
| Yoko Geri (Kekomi) | Side kick (thrust) |
| Mawashi Geri | Round kick |
| Ushiro-Geri | Back kick |
| Ashi Barai | Foot sweep |
| Kakato Otoshi | Heel drop |
| Fumikomi | stomp (strike) |

## Foot movements

Movements of foot used in Attack :
| Japanese | English |
| Suri Ashi | Sliding step |
| Tsugi Ashi | Shuffling step |
| Ayumi Ashi | Natural stepping |
| Yori Ashi | Dragging step |
| Keri Ashi | Kicking foot |
| Tenshin | Moving |
| Chakuchi | Landing |
| Issoku-cho | One foot length |

## Stances

Stances used in Karate :
| Japanese | English |
| Dachi | Stance |
| Heisoku Dachi | Closed foot stance (feet together) |
| Musubi Dachi | Heels together - feet at an angle |
| Heiko Dachi | Parallel stance (feet shoulder width apart) |
| Hachiji Dachi | Natural stance (feet shoulder width apart - toes slightly pointed out) |
| Shiko Dachi | Straddle leg stance |
| Kiba Dachi | Horse riding stance |
| Sanchin Dachi | Hourglass stance |
| Zen Kutsu Dachi | Front Stance |
| Han Zen Kutsu Dachi | Half front stance |
| Fudo Dachi | Free stance |
| Kokutsu Dachi | Back stance |
| Neko Ashi Dachi | Cat stance |
| Renoji Dachi | "L" stance |
| Seisan Dachi | Side facing straddle stance |
| Koshi Dachi | Squat stance |

## Blocking techniques

pages 129–136 of Higaonna's Traditional Karatedo Vol. 1 Fundamental Techniques
Blocking used in Karate :
| Japanese | English |
| Uke | Block |
| Age Uke (Jodan) | Rising block (Head) |
| Chudan Uke | Inside circular block |
| Harai Uke | Sweeping block |
| Yoko Uke | Side block |
| Morote Sukui Uke | Two hand scoop block |
| Shotei Harai Uke | Palm heel sweeping block |
| Shotei Otoshi Uke | Palm heel descending block |
| Hojo Uke | Augmented block |
| Hari Uke | Bow & Arrow block |
| Haishu Mawashi Osae Uke | Back hand circling press block |
| Kuri Uke | Circular elbow block |
| Ura Kake Uke | Back-hand hook block |
| Uchi Hiki Uke | Middle level inward pulling block |
| Yoko (Soto) Hiki Uke | Side (outward) pulling block |
| Kosa Uke | Cross block |
| Kake Uke | Hook block |
| Ude Osae | Arm wedge |
| Shotei Osae | Palm-heel press |
| Gedan barai | Downward block |
| Hiki Uke | Grasping block |
| Shuto Uke | Knife hand block |
| Shotei Uke | Palm heel block |
| Chudan Uchi Uke | Inside forearm block |
| Ko Uke | Wrist block |
| Gedan Uchi Barai | Inside downward block (open hand) |
| Ura Uke | Back hand block |
| Hiji Uke | Elbow block |
| Hiza Uke | Knee block |
| Mawashi Uke | Roundhouse block |
| Morote Uke | Double handed block |
| Tora Guchi | Tiger mouth (block & strike) |