Furi-Uchi-Tsuki is the ridgehand punch of Karate. It’s a weird technique not because of the ridgehand but the fact that it gets its force by throwing your arm from your back to the opponent head: it involves putting your hand behind your back.

This traditional version is great for self defense (e.g.: if you are walking out of a fight and an aggressor strikes,rotating your body 180° and hitting him with a ridgehand in the face might as well knock out 70% of untrained attackers), but is surely needs to be adapted to full-contact Kumite (putting an hand behind your back means sending your guard to Brazil). About sport Kumite, you probably won’t get penalized, but you probably aren’t getting any points either doing it.

Traditional execution:

• Get in Heiko Dachi
• Get an arm behind your back and swing it to your center
• When it’s close make a 90° degree angle with your ridgehand up while performing a tight hiki-te with the other arm
• Kiai! at maximum extention (optional)
• While retracting perform another move (e.g: another Furi-Uchi-Tsuki)

Kumite execution:

• Get in Kumite no Kamae and bounce a little
• Lower yourself to the opposite side from were you will throw
• Explode back up swinging your arm to the point of impact
• When you are close to impact make a 90° degree angle with your ridgehand up while protecting your face with the other arm
• Kiai! if you are competing in point sparring

Where to use (✅ - Use; ❌ - Don’t use; 🟨 - Last resource):

• Sport Kumite: 🟨
• Full-Contact Kumite: 🟨
• Self-Defense: ✅

Video examples:

• Karate Goju-ryu - Furi uchi - Kapocs Sportprogram