Japanese in Karate 16 "Shutou"

手 te          刀 katana

　　　　　　　　　　　　
                                 
　　　　　　　　　　
手刀shutou             



Shutou in kanji is 手刀. The first kanji 手 is “te” (= a hand/hands) and the second kanji 刀 is “katana” (= a sword) in Japanese. But when they are together, it's called "shutou". “Shu” and “tou” are the second reading of those kanji.

So “shutou” means ‘a hand sword’.

★Shutou ganmen uchi

“Ganmen” is ‘facial surface’ and “uchi” is ‘strike’. This is a hand sword strike to the face.

★Shutou sakotsu uchi

“Sakotsu” is ‘a collar bone’. This is a hand sword strike to the collarbone from above.

sakotsu (image by estar.jp)

★ Shutou sakotsu uchikomi

“Uchikomi” means to strike and push. We usually use this expression when we hammer the nail in. This is the hand sword strike, which you push it into the collarbone.

★Shutou uchi uchi

There are two “uchi” in this technique. But they are different words. The first “uchi” means ‘inside’ and the second “uchi” means ‘strike’. This is a hand sword strike, which you strike from inside.

★Shutou hizou uchi

 “Hizou” is the name of the organ (spleen) as shown in the picture. This is a hand sword strike towards this part of the body.

hizou(spleen)