Ura-Tsuki is the lead uppercut punch of Karate. The traditional version has little to no power considering you are only using your arm to punch and not your body-weight and as such is so far behind compared to, for example, a boxing uppercut. Not that great for self-defense, it may come useful when clinching in full-contact Kumite and sport Kumite.
Traditional execution:
- Get in Heiko Dachi
- Perform an hiki-te with one arm
- Bend it by 90° with the elbow down, then make it rise until it reaches the height of your chin
- Simultaneously, perform an hiki-te with the other arm
- Kiai! at maximum extention (optional)
- While retracting perform another move (e.g: another )
Kumite execution:
- Get in Kumite no Kamae and bounce a little
- Close the distance, bend an arm by 90° with the elbow down and strike to the body
- Retract like if it was a straight punch
- If you want to strike the head, rotate your lead foot, your hip and your shoulders then let it go until you are back in guard (this is extremely modified an it’s not an Ura-Tsuki anymore, so don’t attempt it in sport Kumite)
- 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: