Tsuki
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Tsuki is one of the five strikes in kendo (along with men, do, hidari kote and migi kote). It is a point thrust toward the neck, aiming at cutting a carotid artery. The opponent then bleeds to death. Tsuki also designates the movement, the target, and the protection that covers the throat.
In hand-to-hand combat (judo, jujutsu, karate), Tsuki also exists as an atemi. The movement begins with the fingers extended and joined, palm downward; the hand is swiftly pushed forward while spining half a turn, so that the movement end with the palm upward, arm extended. Contact is made by the tip of the middle finger. The aim is to choke the opponent, or even to break the trachea cartilage (a fatal wound).
Variants of tsuki also exist, such as:
- Aiming at the eyes, to permanently or temporarily blind the opponent, or, without actually touching him, to distract him while moving to place a move -- a typical introduction for ippon seyo nage in judo)
- Aiming at the nose, to incapacitate the opponent with a direct hit; a down-to-up movement might kill him by pushing the nose cartilage into the brain
- Aiming at the chin, to incapacitate the opponent; this move might kill an opponent wearing a heavy kabuto by snapping the spine.
See also: strike (attack)
Tsuki, written with different kanji (月) is also the Japanese word for the moon.