Hikite
引き手
Pulling hand. In karate the arm drawn back to the hip during a strike or block, in judo the hand that holds and pulls the opponent's sleeve.
Quick Facts
Word breakdown
Definition
Hikite (引き手) means “pulling hand”: hiku is to pull, te hand. In karate it is the arm that is drawn back to the hip at the same time as the other hand strikes or blocks, ending with the fist at the hip, palm up. The movement of both arms happens at once and in opposite directions. In basic kihon training, hikite is practiced with every hand technique. In the bunkai interpretation of kata, the pulled arm is often explained as the arm that holds and draws the opponent's hand or clothing while the other hand strikes. In judo the same word is used for the hand that holds the opponent's sleeve and pulls it during a throw.
Common mistakes and confusions
Hikite in karate and hikite in judo are the same word but a different hand. In karate it is the arm drawn back to the hip during a technique. In judo it is the pulling hand that holds the opponent's sleeve and pulls it in a throw.
Relations to other terms
See also
Hip rotation, the source of the power of strikes, kicks and throws. In karate it is practised in every basic technique.
Bunkai分解Analysis of a kata: finding and practising the fighting use of its movements with a partner. Literally “disassembly”, the techniques used are called oyo.
Uke-waza受け技A group of blocks in karate, literally “receiving techniques”. It includes age-uke, soto-uke, uchi-uke and gedan-barai, which lacks the word uke in its name.