Direct actions
Choku-zuki is a basic direct hit. Oi-zuki is generally associated with stepping on the same side; gyaku-zuki to the arm opposite the front leg; kizami-zuki on the front arm. Tate-zuki indicates the vertical orientation of the fist. These distinctions do not imply that one arm works alone: the supports, the center and the other hand participate in coordination. The precision of the route and the possibility of stopping according to instructions remain observable criteria.
Surfaces and functions
Uraken-uchi uses the back of the fist, tetsui-uchi its hammer part, shuto-uchi the edge of the hand and teisho the palm. Empi concerns the elbow; nukite a pointed hand shape. Certain kata gestures are excluded from competitions. The hikite can receive several interpretations depending on the application. To study in contact, the teacher defines the material, distance and intensity; the feeling of impact is not a sufficient criterion of good organization.
Coordinate step, center and hand
A oi-zuki allows us to study the relationship between a displacement and a direct hit. A gyaku-zuki highlights another relationship between the arm and the front support. Compare their departure, their journey and what remains possible after the action. The fist should not be considered in isolation from the rest of the body. The returning arm may participate in coordination or take on a particular function in an application. The correct instructions depend on the work proposed: fitness exercise, action on a target and exchange with a partner do not provide the same benchmarks.
Recognize a surface without deducing a unique use
A word like shuto or teisho designates an organization of the hand, but does not automatically fix a target or a distance. In a kata, examine the actions that precede and follow this form. The same preparation can receive several plausible readings. The precision comes from the instructions given to the partner and the success criterion. An open hand does not make an exercise interchangeable with a punch. The material, amplitude and contact are chosen by the teacher for the situation being worked on.