Gyaku-zuki
Karate and aikido technique
逆突き
- Type
- Punches
- Martial arts
- Karate, Aikido
- Meaning
- Reverse punch
- Listed in
- Striking techniques (Shotokan karate)
The gyaku-zuki (Japanese: 逆突き; pronounced [ɡjakɯzɯki]) is an attack technique often also referred to as a reverse punch. This is used in many budō disciplines, e.g. in karate or aikidō. This is an embodiment of the choku-zuki (straight punch forward).
After a step forward from the zenkutsu-dachi position, a straight forward punch is made for each forward leg (chūdan or jōdan), with the hip twisted in, or the hip rotation supporting the impact. The gyaku-zuki is the counterpart to the oi-zuki, in which the impact is made to be the same in relation to the front leg. While the oi-zuki is used as an attacking technique and with a full step forward, the gyaku-zuki is a counterattack that is used in a standing position, without a full step forward.
Also common are the two variants of performing the crotch and kick simultaneously, or supporting the thrust (without crotch) by simultaneously sliding the entire body and legs forward.
Example: In the left display, the execution of a gyaku-zuki is done by the karateka doing a kick with the right fist.
The name word by word
Each part of the romanized name looked up in the JMdict Japanese dictionary.
Other Karate punches
- Leopard Blow
- Oi-zuki
- Yama Zuki
- Mika Zuki Geri Uke
- Sokumen Zuki
- Gyaku Age Zuki
- Nihon Ken
- Hasami Zuki
- Heiko Zuki
- Ippon Ken
- Kagi Zuki
- Sanbon Zuki
- Tate Zuki
- Tsuki uke
- Yumi Zuki
Japanese terms for punches
| Term | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 正拳 | seiken | seiken (karate proper fist); straight punch |
| 四つ身 | yotsumi | cross-grips (situation in which each rikishi has an underarm grip on the other) |
| 引っ掛け | hikkake | hook; gab |
| 腕を返す | kainaokaesu | to place one's arms under those of the opponent and lift them up, in order to prevent an overhand grip on one's mawashi |
| 上手投げ | uwatenage | overhand throw |
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q48807626 (CC0); text quoted from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.