Shuto
手刀
Edge of the open hand on the little-finger side, literally “hand sword”. In karate it is used for the strikes shuto-uchi and the blocks shuto-uke.
Quick Facts
Word breakdown
Definition
Shuto (手刀) means “hand sword”: shu is hand, to is sword. It is the little-finger edge of the open hand, between the base of the little finger and the wrist. The fingers are extended and pressed together, the thumb drawn against the palm. In karate, shuto is used in two ways: as a striking surface in shuto-uchi, delivered from outside or inside, usually to the neck or temple, and as a blocking surface, above all in shuto-uke, which opens a series of kata. Its counterpart is haito, the thumb edge of the palm.
Relations to other terms
Equivalent in another art
See also
Lower, little-finger side of the clenched fist, literally “iron hammer”. In karate it strikes from above or from the side like a hammer.
Te手Hand in Japanese. As a word element it is in the name karate and in terms such as te-waza or tegatana. In Okinawa it was also the name of the local martial art.