Atemi
Atemi (literally: "hit somebody") are attacks which are intended to stun opponents, to buy the time needed to setup other techniques.
The typical reaction to being hit is a momentary pause to say to yourself, “Ah! I just got hit?!”, or at least “Ow.” This moment of inattention briefly renders opponents unable to attack or defend. However, this window of opportunity only lasts a fraction of a second. With training, that brief advantage is enough to launch an incapacitating attack, like a side kick, or a hip throw.
Atemi are not powerful techniques, but they make up for this shortcoming with their incredible speed. Even if an atemi does no harm, the opponent must immediately react to it, and the mental switching from offense-mode to defense-mode and back creates a moment of lag, which also stuns the opponent.
Atemi are typically performed from the leading side. The following techniques are considered to be atemi:
- Front-foot punch
- Backfist strike
- Spearhand strike (when thrown with the lead hand)
- Kakutō uchi
- Haishu uchi
- Thumbknuckle strike
- Crescent kick
- Leg sweep
