Seiken Choku Zuki

正拳直突き

Literally: straight fore-fist punch

Also known as: Choku zuki, Seiken choku tsuki, Choku tsuki

A straight punch from a natural stance: the fist rotates 180 degrees and the other hand pulls back to the hip; the foundation of karate punches.

Quick Facts

Martial Arts

Karate Shotokan

CategoryStrikes (Uchi/Tsuki)

DifficultyBasic

Targetsface, torso, abdomen

Impact Surfacefore fist

Katas containing this technique

GankakuStep: 3, 32, 36 HangetsuStep: 19, 22, 25, 29, 35, 36, 40 Tekki SandanStep: 7, 13, 24, 30 Heian GodanStep: 11 Heian SandanStep: 19, 20 EnpiStep: 7, 11, 17, 18, 23, 27 Kanku DaiStep: 6, 8, 41, 50 Bassai DaiStep: 10, 12, 24 Tekki ShodanStep: 15, 29

About

Seiken choku tsuki (正拳直突き), literally a straight punch with the front of the fist, is delivered straight forward from a natural stance. During the punch the fist rotates inward one hundred eighty degrees, from palm up to palm down, while the other arm pulls back to the hip, hikite, ending palm up. Only the index and middle knuckles strike, and the body stays relaxed until impact, kime. The punch is delivered to the upper, middle and lower level. The Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF) stresses that the thumb and little finger hold the seiken fist firm. The back of the fist and the forearm must stay in one straight line, otherwise the practitioner injures the bent wrist. Adding a step produces oi zuki.

Further sources on this topic (3)