手刀受けShutō-uke — Knife-hand block

Shutō-uke (手刀受け, “knife-hand block”) deflects a mid-level attack with the little-finger edge of an open hand, almost always from kokutsu-dachi (back stance). The blocking hand sweeps out to guard position while the other hand pulls back to the solar plexus. It is the first major open-hand block a Shotokan student learns.

TypeBlock (uke)

TargetChūdan (mid)

HandOpen — knife-hand

StanceKokutsu-dachi

Introduced~7th 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

From back stance, chamber both open hands to the opposite ear — blocking hand on top, palm toward the ear.
Sweep the blocking hand down and out in an arc, rotating the forearm so the palm faces forward and the knife-hand edge leads.
Stop with the hand at shoulder height, elbow bent about 90°, roughly a fist’s distance in front of the chest.
Simultaneously draw the reaction hand back, open, to just in front of the solar plexus.
Keep the back straight and 70% of the weight on the rear leg throughout.

Key points

The block is the outer (little-finger) edge of the hand, not the palm.
Both hands move together — block out, reaction hand in.
Tension arrives only at the end point (kime); the arc itself stays relaxed.

Common mistakes

Blocking with a floppy or bent wrist — the wrist must be straight and firm.

Letting the reaction hand drift instead of pulling sharply to the solar plexus.

Standing too upright or drifting weight forward off the back leg.

Where you’ll see it

Shutō-uke appears across the Shotokan kata syllabus, including:

Heian Nidan Heian Yondan Heian Godan Bassai Dai Kankū Dai Jion

Application (bunkai)分解

Read as catching or deflecting an incoming arm and immediately controlling it: the sweeping edge redirects the attack outward while the reaction hand traps or checks, opening the centre for a counter with the same hand.

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 Shutō-uke performed at full speed, watch instructor demonstrations:

▶ Watch “Shutō-uke” on YouTube

Related techniques

Gedan-barai下段払い Age-uke揚げ受け Kokutsu-dachi後屈立ち

Shutō-uke — frequently asked questions

What stance is shutō-uke done in?

Almost always kokutsu-dachi (back stance), with about 70% of the weight on the rear leg. This pairing is drilled from the Heian kata onward.

Is shutō-uke a block or a strike?

Formally it is a block (uke), performed with the knife-hand (shutō). The same shape can also be used as a strike (shutō-uchi), which is why bunkai often reads it as a simultaneous parry-and-strike.

Which hand edge blocks?

The outer, little-finger edge of the open hand, with a straight, firm wrist — not the palm and not a bent wrist.