Do Uchi
胴打ち
Literally: trunk strike
Kendo strike with the shinai to the right or left side of the torso guard (do), one of the four basic strikes.
Quick Facts
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Dropping and deflecting the sword away from the centre, and tilting the body to adjust the blade's angle, which should be controlled by the wrist alone.
About
Do uchi (胴打ち) is, in kendo, a strike to the do, the torso guard, aimed at its right or left side, that is migi-do or hidari-do. The strike begins with raising the sword above the head just as for men; the blade's direction then changes solely through movement of the wrist, so that it lands on the opponent's right side. When performed, the kiai "Do!" is called out. Do belongs with men, kote and tsuki among the four basic strikes of the standardized kihon Bokuto ni yoru kendo kihon waza keiko ho. In practice, in the order men, kote, do, it comes third and progresses through three stages: sankyodo in three separate movements, nikyodo in two, and ikkyodo in one fluid movement. Without an opponent, the practice height of do is set roughly as for kote, parallel to the floor, but sloping diagonally downward to the right. Under the rules of the International Kendo Federation (FIK), do-bu, both the right and left side of the torso guard, is a valid target. A valid strike (yuko datotsu) must combine correct posture, a strike with the striking part of the shinai at the correct angle, and follow-through zanshin.