This section examines a wide variety of Karate punches & hand strikes and provides the Japanese names for these Karate techniques. However, please be aware that punching terminology and techniques can vary based on the Karate styles that utilize them (i.e. a Shotokan strike may be slightly different than a Kyokushin strike). These Karate punches & strikes are used in self-defense, kata, kumite, etc. For information on punching techniques used by other martial arts styles, please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main Punches & Strikes section.
Karate Punches & Hand Strikes – Click on a punch for video and/or written instructions
- Age Zuki (Age-Tsuki) – Uppercut Punch or Rising Punch
- Choku Zuki (Choku-Tsuki) – Straight Punch
- Enpi (Empi) Uchi – Elbow Strike
- Gyaku Zuki (Gyaku-Tsuki) – Reverse Punch
- Haishu Uchi – Back Hand Strike
- Haito Uchi – Ridge Hand Strike
- Hasami Zuki – Scissor Punch
- Heiko Zuki – Parallel Punch
- Ippon Ken – One Finger Strike
- Nihon Ken – Two Finger Strike
- Kage Zuki (Kage-Tsuki) – Hook Punch
- Kizami Zuki (Kizami-Tsuki) – Jab Punch (also
- Mawashi Zuki (Maswashi-Tsuki) – Roundhouse Punch
- Morote Zuki (Morote-Tsuki) – Double Fist Punch or Double U Punch
- Nukite – Spear Hand Strike
- Nihon Nukite – Two Finger Spear
- Oi-Zuki (Oi-Tsuki) – Lunge Punch
- Sokumen Zuki – Double Side Punch
- Shotei Uchi – Palm Heel Strike or Palm Strike
- Shuto Uchi – Knife Hand Strike
- Tate Zuki (Tate-Tsuki) – Vertical Punch
- Teisho Uchi – Palm Heel Strike
- Tobikomi Zuki – Snap Punch
- Uraken Uchi – Back Fist Strike
- Ura Zuki (Ura-Tsuki) – Upside-Down Punch or Inverted Punch (To The Solar Plexus)
- Yama Zuki (Yama-Tsuki) – Two-Level Double Punch or Mountain Punch
Related Punch & Strike Terminology
- Zuki or Tsuki – Punch
- Uchi – Strike
- Jodan – High Section (i.e. High Punch – Jodan Zuki)
- Chudan – Middle Section
- Gedan – Low Section
Karate Punches
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