Seiken chūdan tsuki

Name

Romaji:
Seiken chūdan tsuki

Japanese:
正拳中段突き

English:
Straight fist thrust to the midsection

Terminology

Seiken refers to the front knuckle area of the fist. Chūdan indicates the midsection. Tsuki denotes a thrusting technique along a straight path.

Position in the sequence

Block:
Migi sanchin-dachi

Position in the sequence:
Technique 1

Preceded by:
Migi sanchin-dachi, kamaete.

Followed by:
Seiken jōdan tsuki

Starting position

Migi sanchin-dachi. The body is gathered, the pelvis stable, the knees active and the torso upright. The hands are held in kamae.

Commands

Starts from: Migi sanchin-dachi, kamaete.

Counting

Practiced with repeated counting according to the main part of the sequence.

Kiai

Kiai is used according to the counting for the kihon form being practiced. The technique may first be established without kiai and then performed in the main count with kiai.

Execution

The fist is thrust straight forward toward the midsection. The movement follows a straight line from the center to the target. The arm should not be extended independently of the body; the feeling should be that the fist enters the target with the body behind it.

Technical key points

• straight path from center to target
• clear hikite
• low, stable shoulder
• wrist and forearm aligned
• power from the gathered body

Common errors

• raised shoulder
• misaligned wrist
• elbow drifting outward
• overextended arm
• technique disconnected from the body

Purpose

To establish the basic tsuki line, hikite, body coordination and understanding of the centerline.

Relationship to further training

Idō Geiko: The technique is carried into basic training with movement.

Kata: The basic mechanics recur in several kata forms.

Kumite: A basis for straight hand techniques to the midsection.