Open-hand strikes
Various techniques used in the martial arts to attack or defend without curling the hand into a fist
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- Type
- Other strikes
- Classified as
- strike
Open-hand strikes include various techniques used in the martial arts to attack or defend without curling the hand into a fist. The most famous of these techniques is probably the so-called "karate chop", which is also described as a knife-hand strike (shuto uchi) although there are many other techniques. In fact, this wide variety of techniques is what makes open-hand strikes so useful.
Techniques that use the edge of the hand closest to the little finger or use the opposite edge of the hand: A knife-hand strike may be delivered in a vertical, horizontal, or intermediate arc. It is usually used to strike muscled areas such as the forearms, neck, or groin.
Techniques that use the other edge of the hand (ridge hand strike) are more difficult to execute since care has to be taken to position the thumb so that it will not be injured. Performing this move in a way that is powerful will generally involve striking with the palm facing down. And so doing will mean that, e.g., the person using this strike will attack the left side of his opponent's body with the right knife hand, or vice versa.
Other other strikes
Japanese terms for other strikes
| Term | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 打突 | datotsu | strike (kendo) |
| 踏鳴 | fuminari | stamp (in Japanese martial arts); stomp |
| 四股 | shiko | wrestler's ceremonial leg raising and stomping |
| 震脚 | shinkyaku | stamp (in Chinese martial arts); stomp |
| 当て身 | atemi | blow to a vital point of a person's body; striking techniques (judo) |
| 当て技 | atewaza | blow to a vital point of a person's body |
| 肘打ち | hijiuchi | elbow strike (karate) |
| 猿臂打ち | enpiuchi | elbow strike (karate) |
| 体々の先 | taitainosen | answering one's opponent's attack with an unwavering strike |
| 三役揃い踏み | san'yakusoroibumi | ritual stomping in unison on the final day of a tournament |
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q11293484 (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.