Shōtei (掌底)

Introduction

Shōtei (掌底) is a striking surface using the heel of the palm.

The contact area is the fleshy base of the palm, especially near the thumb. Shōtei is used in strikes (uchi, 打ち), thrusts and blocks (uke, 受け).

Definition

Shōtei (掌底)
A striking surface in which contact is made with the heel of the palm, mainly the fleshy area at the base of the thumb.

Terminology

Japanese: 掌底
Romaji: shōtei
English: palm heel

Structure / Form

Starting position

• the hand is open
• the fingers are held together
• the hand remains stable

Fingers

• all five fingers remain controlled
• in strikes, all five fingers tense at the moment of impact

Position

• the heel of the palm forms the striking surface
• the wrist bends backward to expose the contact area

Wrist

• the wrist bends backward
• hand and forearm remain stable through impact

Striking surface

Primary contact

• fleshy heel of the palm at the base of the thumb

Secondary contact to avoid

• fingers
• center of the palm
• wrist

Basic principles

Structure

The hand remains open and stable so the palm heel is clearly presented as the striking surface.

Body connection

Force is transferred through the body to the striking surface.

English:
ground → legs → hips → trunk → shoulder → arm → striking surface

Japanese / romaji:
jimen (地面) → ashi (足) → koshi (腰) → dōtai (胴体) → kata (肩) → ude (腕) → datotsu-bu (打突部)

Kime (決め)

Force is concentrated at impact.

Execution

Movement

• the technique starts without unnecessary tension
• movement is driven by coordinated body action
• the hand follows a clear path toward the target or into the block

Impact

• contact is made with the heel of the palm
• in strikes, all five fingers tense at impact

Recovery

• the opposite hand retracts into hikite (引き手)
• the working arm retracts immediately after impact

Use

Shōtei is used, among other techniques, in:

Uchi waza

• shōtei jōdan uchi (掌底上段打ち)
• shōtei chūdan uchi (掌底中段打ち)
• shōtei gedan uchi (掌底下段打ち)

Uke waza

• shōtei jōdan uke (掌底上段受け)
• shōtei chūdan uke (掌底中段受け)
• shōtei gedan uke (掌底下段受け)

Training

Shōtei is trained through:

• kihon
• repetitions
• controlled striking practice
• controlled blocking practice

Focus on:

• correct striking surface
• correct wrist angle
• stable hand form
• firm fingers at impact

Common errors

Wrist not bent back enough

• the striking surface is not clearly exposed
• force transfer is reduced

Incorrect striking surface

• contact occurs with the fingers or center of the palm
• the impact is weaker and less stable

Relaxed fingers during a strike

• the hand form becomes loose
• impact structure deteriorates

Summary

Shōtei (掌底) uses the heel of the palm as the striking surface.

It is defined by:

• open hand
• wrist bent backward
• firm fingers at impact
• contact with the fleshy area at the base of the thumb