Empi / Hiji

肘 / 猿臂

Elbow joint and striking surface in Japanese martial vocabulary.

Quick Facts

CategoryBody Part

Pronunciation/[em-pee] / [hee-jee]/

Alternative NamesElbow, Elbow strike

Definition

Hiji (or Empi, archaic for 'monkey arm') refers to the elbow. Elbow strikes (Empi-uchi) deliver tremendous momentum at close distance in Karate and self-defense systems.

Related Terms

Chudan中段

Middle level target area of the body (chest, abdomen, and torso).

Te手

Japanese word for hand or palm.

Kote小手

Wrist or forearm, also referring to the padded wrist guard in Kendo.

Associated Martial Arts

Shotokan Uechi-ryu Shorin-ryu Meibukan Goju-ryu Shito-ryu Shorinji-ryu Kenkokan Gensei-ryu Shorei-ryu Shorin-ryu Shidokan Shuri-te Naha-te Tomari-te Seiwakai Goju-ryu Jundokan Goju-ryu Matsubayashi-ryu Chito-ryu Karate Isshin-ryu Karate Satojuku Karate Byakuren Kaikan Motobu-ryu Karate Shorin-ryu Kyudokan Seidokaikan Karate Kyokushin Budokai Shorin-ryu Shorinkan Shorinji Ryu Renshinkan Takamura Shindo Yoshin-ryu Kyushin-ryu Jujutsu Asayama Ichiden-ryu Shinno Shinto-ryu Jujutsu Shindo Yoshin-ryu Jujutsu Sekiguchi-ryu Jujutsu Tenjin Shin'yo-ryu Jujutsu Shorin-ryu Seibukan Ashihara Karate Hontai Yoshin-ryu Jujutsu Enshin Karate Takagi-ryu Jujutsu Jikishin-ryu Jujutsu Shibukawa-ryu Jujutsu Tenjin Shin-ryu Jujutsu Chokushin-ryu Jujutsu Unkei-ryu Jujutsu