逆突きGyaku-zuki — Reverse punch

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.

How to perform it

1. From front stance, chamber the rear-hand fist at the hip, palm up; the lead hand is extended forward.
2. Begin the punch with the hips — rotate the rear hip forward and around toward the target. The hips lead, the arm follows.
3. Fire the rear arm straight along the centre line, elbow staying in close until the last moment.
4. Rotate the fist from palm-up to palm-down in the final third so the first two knuckles land square.
5. Snap the lead hand back to the hip (hikite) at the same instant, and lock everything with kime on impact.
6. Keep the stance low and the rear heel down — do not lift it.

Key points

• The punching arm is the REAR arm — opposite the front leg.
• Power comes from hip rotation, not the arm.
• No step: it is thrown from a stationary stance.

Common mistakes

Where you’ll see it

Gyaku-zuki appears across the Shotokan kata syllabus, including:

Application (bunkai)分解

As a rear-hand counter it answers an attack the instant you have blocked or evaded — the whole body drives behind it, which is why the standard drill is block, then immediately gyaku-zuki.

Watch a reference performance演武

To see Gyaku-zuki performed at full speed, watch instructor demonstrations:

Related techniques

Gyaku-zuki — frequently asked questions