Shuto Uke
手刀受け
Literally: knife-hand block
A block with the edge of the open hand, usually in the rear stance kokutsu dachi; tested in Shotokan from 9th kyu and also used as a strike to the neck.
Quick Facts
Katas containing this technique
About
Shuto uke (手刀受け), literally knife-hand block, deflects an attack with the little-finger edge of the open hand. The Japan Karatedo Federation describes it as sweeping attacks from upper to lower level: the blocking arm turns inward and the hand edge knocks the attack aside. It is usually done in the rear stance kokutsu dachi. The block is one of Shotokan's basics. The British federation KUGB, following JKA practice, tests it as early as 9th kyu, drilled from kokutsu dachi forward and backward, and the grading includes the kata Heian Shodan, which ends with four shuto uke blocks in kokutsu dachi. Kata analysis shows the move can also strike the neck with the hand edge, not just deflect. The same hand shape gives other blocks: shuto age uke as a rising block, shuto gedan barai as a low sweep, and shuto mawashi uke as a circular block.