Shutō ganmen uchi¶
Name¶
Romaji:
Shutō ganmen uchi
Japanese:
手刀顔面打ち
English:
Knife-hand strike to the face
Terminology¶
Shutō refers to the outer edge of the hand as the striking surface.
Sequence position¶
Block:
Hidari sanchin-dachi
Placement in the sequence:
Technique 15
Preceded by:
Seiken chūdan uchi uke / gedan barai
Followed by:
Shutō sakotsu uchi
Starting position¶
Hidari sanchin-dachi, hand formed as shutō, fingers together.
Commands¶
Follows as the first shutō technique in block 3.
Count¶
Trained in the main count of block 3.
Kiai¶
According to the main count.
Execution¶
The edge of the hand is delivered toward the face or temple along a clean path. The strike should be fast, compact, and precise.
Technical key points¶
- strong wrist
- thumb correctly placed
- fingers kept together
- shoulder kept low
- waki closed
Common errors¶
- fingers spreading
- bent wrist
- arc too large
- loose hand form
Purpose¶
To establish shutō as a clear striking surface against a high target zone.
Relation to further training¶
Idō Geiko: Carried forward into moving shutō forms.
Kata: Shutō is central in several kata.
Kumite: Trains the direction and structure of the hand edge.