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Shotokan Technique · Strike

裏拳打ちUraken-uchi — Back-fist strike

Uraken-uchi (裏拳打ち, “back-fist strike”) snaps the back of the two large knuckles into a close target — the nose, temple or side of the head. Power comes from a fast snap of the forearm around the elbow, then an immediate recoil, not a shoulder swing.
TypeStrike (uchi)
WeaponBack of the two knuckles
MotionElbow snap
DirectionsTate / yoko / mawashi
Introduced~6th kyu

See the technique型

Toggle between the phases. These are simplified schematics of the shape of the technique — pair them with the step-by-step below and your instructor.

A diagram shows the shape, not the speed or feel. For full-motion form, watch the reference video below and train it live.

How to perform it

  1. Chamber the striking fist across to the opposite shoulder or ear, elbow folded and pointing at the target; cover with the other hand.
  2. Keep the upper arm relatively still and whip the forearm out, the elbow acting as the hinge.
  3. Snap — do not swing — so the back of the knuckles reaches the target at maximum speed.
  4. Keep the wrist straight and firm so the two large knuckles land, not the flat back of the hand.
  5. Recoil the fist immediately back along the same path to the chamber or guard.

Key points

  • Strike with the back of the first two knuckles, wrist straight.
  • It is an elbow snap, not a shoulder swing.
  • Recoil instantly — a back-fist that pushes through is a fault.

Common mistakes

Swinging from the shoulder instead of hinging from the elbow.
Leaving the arm extended with no recoil.
A bent or loose wrist at impact.
Dropping the guard hand instead of pulling it to hikite.

Where you’ll see it

Uraken-uchi appears across the Shotokan kata syllabus, including:

Heian NidanHeian SandanTekki ShodanGankakuBassai Dai

Application (bunkai)分解

A fast, deceptive strike to a soft close-range head target where a full punch won’t fit — in Heian Nidan and Gankaku it fires together with a side snap-kick, attacking high and low at once.

Note: applications are interpretive and one shape carries several valid uses — explore them with a qualified instructor.

Watch a reference performance演武

To see Uraken-uchi performed at full speed, watch instructor demonstrations:

▶ Watch “Uraken-uchi” on YouTube

Related techniques

Tettsui-uchi鉄槌打ちGyaku-zuki逆突きShutō-uchi手刀打ち

Uraken-uchi — frequently asked questions

What part of the fist hits in uraken-uchi?
The back of the first two large knuckles (index and middle), with a straight, firm wrist — not the flat back of the hand.
Is uraken a snap or a swing?
A snap. Power comes from whipping the forearm open around the elbow and immediately recoiling — not a shoulder-driven swing.
What are the directions of uraken-uchi?
Tate (vertical/rising), yoko (to the side, as in Tekki) and mawashi (a horizontal roundhouse arc around a guard).
Which kata teaches the back-fist to beginners?
Heian Nidan — its side-kick-plus-back-fist combination is the classic introduction. It also appears in Heian Sandan, Tekki Shodan and Gankaku.