Navigation | Karate | Karate Strikes

Tetsui

Tetsui is a karate strike. Pronounced 'tet-suey'. Tetsui is the hammer fist strike found in many oriental forms of karate and other martial arts.

The Tetsui Hammerfist is formed by making a tightly clenched fist, the striking area of the fist will be the underside soft fleshy area closest to the little pinkie finger. Tetsui blows are known for been quite powerful due to the heavy impact resistant area of the underside of the fist which is capable of performing a lot of power without really breaking the pain threshold, unlike many hand strikes.

The motion can be varied, in a Gedan Barai style for example makes a powerful downward hammer fist strike to the groin area, while the Soto uke application of the hammerfist across the face of an attacker makes an exception hammer type blow. Tetsui can be used in any way that you can find to strike, it may not have the best reach due to the mechanics of the arm while inverting the fist but pound for pound the hammerfist blow can certainly pack its weight in a strike.