Kyokushin Techniques

Powerful counter-attack punch

Timing · Counter to opponent's attack

Attack position for the chest and stomach

Timing · Direct frontal attack to opponent's midsection

Common position for attacking the face and jaw

Timing · When opponent's upper body is exposed

Turning or roundhouse punch to side of head

Timing · When opponent is taller or their side is exposed

Strike to the jaw with normal fist

Timing · Quick strike when opponent's jaw is exposed

Back fist frontal punch targeting the face

Timing · Direct frontal attack to face

Back fist one-two punch combination

Timing · Rapid sequential strikes to the face

Back fist punch to the spleen or gut area

Timing · When opponent's side is exposed

Back fist lower punch, opposite of Seiken-chudan-tsuki

Timing · When grabbed suddenly by opponent

Close-range strike when punches are blocked

Timing · In close quarters combat

Handsword chop to the collarbone

Timing · When opponent's collarbone is exposed

Handsword strike (not chop) to collarbone with follow-through

Timing · Direct thrust to opponent's collarbone

Handsword chop to face, ear, or neck

Timing · When opponent's face or neck is exposed

Handsword cross-body chop

Timing · Diagonal strike to opponent's face, neck, throat, or arms

Head strike - additional upper body weapon targeting opponent's face

Timing · In extremely close quarters when hands are controlled

Shoulder strike - additional upper body weapon using bony portion

Timing · In close-quarters combat when other weapons unavailable

The strongest and most effective fist position for attack and defense. Used for Jodan-tsuki (upper body thrust), Chudan-tsuki (middle body thrust), and Gedan-tsuki (lower body thrust)

Timing · Primary technique for practice-sparring and powerful strikes

Back fist technique for striking with the back of knuckles

Timing · When opponent is very close or at your side

Handsword or knifehand technique for striking with open hand

Timing · Versatile technique for various targets

Reverse handsword using inner edge of hand. Weaker than Tegatana, rarely used

Timing · When inner edge strike is needed

Piercing hand strike. Blow to solar plexus renders opponent unconscious. Attack to throat can cause lethal damage

Timing · When soft targets like throat or solar plexus are exposed

Variation of Nukite for roundhouse attacks

Timing · When roundhouse angle of attack is needed

One-finger piercing hand for attacking eyes, nose, throat, or ribs

Timing · When precise strike to vulnerable point is needed

Two-finger piercing hand for attacking the eyes

Timing · When attacking opponent's eyes

Chicken beak fist for attacking the eye

Timing · When eye is exposed and close-range precision strike needed

Thumb fist for striking temple or below ear. LETHAL TECHNIQUE - use with great care

Timing · Life-threatening situations only

Forefinger fist for striking pressure points and vulnerable areas

Timing · When precise pressure point strike is needed

Middle-finger fist. Variations include Nihon-ken (both index and middle finger) and Ryutou-ken (middle finger forms triangle point with other knuckles)

Timing · When precise pressure point strike is needed

Iron hammer fist - heavy and powerful strike using outer edge of fist

Timing · When heavy strike to head, shoulder, temple, neck, or ear area is needed

Palm heel thrust for powerful open-hand strikes

Timing · When open-hand strike is preferred over closed fist

Sword peak hand for precise strikes

Timing · When peak formation strike is needed

Flat fist for wider striking surface

Timing · When broader impact area is desired

Arc fist using bent wrist as striking surface

Timing · When bent wrist strike angle is needed

Elbow strike - powerful close-range weapon

Timing · In close-quarters combat

Forearm - primarily defensive blocking tool, back forearm can strike jaw

Timing · Primarily for blocking, occasionally for jaw strikes

Long-range attack to keep opponent at distance

Timing · When opponent is at kicking range

Powerful circular kick to the midsection or head

Timing · When opponent exposes their side

Surprise attack when opponent is behind you

Timing · When opponent moves behind you

Side kick using footsword technique

Timing · When opponent is at your side or for powerful lateral strikes

Kick to the knee joint using footsword

Timing · When targeting opponent's knee to disable or destabilize

Upper body side kick using footsword technique

Timing · When attacking opponent's head or upper body from the side

Front upper kick using ball of foot

Timing · When attacking opponent's upper body from the front

Middle body front kick targeting stomach and solar plexus

Timing · When opponent's midsection is exposed

Upper body front kick targeting jaw and face

Timing · When opponent's face is exposed

Roundhouse kick using ball of foot

Timing · When opponent's side or face is exposed for circular attack

Roundhouse kick with instep, primarily targeting the neck

Timing · When neck is exposed for circular attack

Testicles kick with instep. CAUTION: Never make contact during practice. Excellent for women's self-defense

Timing · Self-defense situations against male attackers. Never in practice

Heel kick for downed opponents - very powerful and dangerous as all body weight is concentrated in heel

Timing · When opponent is on the ground

Rear kick using heel to strike opponent behind you

Timing · When opponent attacks from behind

Knee kick - as hard and powerful as elbow, targets testicles, stomach, and thighs. Most effective in close combat

Timing · In close-quarters combat

Knee kick to attack opponent's thigh

Timing · When in close range and opponent's thigh is exposed

Technique of forcing opponent's face onto your knee

Timing · When controlling opponent's head in close combat

Footsword technique using outer edge of foot to attack neck, jaw, spleen, hips, and joints

Timing · When side attacks or joint strikes are needed

Ball of foot technique for attacking chest, stomach, and spleen. Must keep toes bent back to avoid injury

Timing · Primary striking surface for front kicks

Instep technique using top of foot below ankle to strike groin, side, neck, and ribs. Toes stretched forward

Timing · When instep striking surface is most effective for target

Arch of foot - primarily for blocking with shock-absorber effect, also for sweeping attacks to side or arm

Timing · Primarily defensive blocking, occasionally offensive sweeps

Heel technique - pivotal point for body turning and effective offensive weapon

Timing · For turning movements and powerful heel strikes

Using knee and upper thigh to block opponent's kicks

Timing · When defending against opponent's kicks