View source for Soto uke

{{short description|Karate blocking technique}}
{{infobox martial art term
| pic = 
| piccap = 
| picsize = 250px
| kanji = 外受け
| hiragana =
| revhep = Soto uke
| querer kkeos,oskslw= 
}}

In [[Shotokan|Shotokan karate]], '''soto uke''' is a [[Blocking (martial arts)|blocking technique]] used for blocking mid-level incoming attacks.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/karatehandbook0000pawl|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/karatehandbook0000pawl/page/253 253]|quote=Soto uke karate.|title=The Karate Handbook|publisher=Internet Archive|accessdate=29 December 2014}}</ref> It is roughly translated as "From outside block", similar to [[Osotogari]] (leg throw from the outside), which comes from the block's final resting point centered on the blocker's body.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Ym-BAAAQBAJ&q=Soto+uke+karate&pg=PP10|title=Karate Terminology|isbn=9781781660461|accessdate=29 December 2014|last1=Hill|first1=Tom|date=16 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1RUyAwAAQBAJ&q=Soto+uke&pg=PA19|title=Respecting the Old, Creating the New|isbn=9781447673033|accessdate=29 December 2014|last1=Denwood|first1=Chris|date=May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iDTtG43FEZsC&q=Soto+uke+karate&pg=PA75|title=Contrast and Energy Transfer in Karate|isbn=9780957751170|accessdate=29 December 2014|last1=Darwish|first1=Ali|year=2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4PTFdFRl9MQC&q=Soto+uke+karate&pg=PT98|title=Karate Technique & Spirit|isbn=9780804832823|accessdate=29 December 2014|last1=Nakamura|first1=Tadashi|date=November 2001}}</ref> The opposite of soto uke is uchi uke ("From inside block").

Soto uke is performed by bringing one hand to the ear, keeping the elbow raised, and sweeping the arm down and out towards the center of the body. The preparatory step of raising the arm gives the block more momentum, making it somewhat painful to encounter. A different application involves extending the non-blocking hand in front before performing the block. This represents grabbing the attacker's arm.  The motion termed the block, then, is actually meant to break the arm, which would explain the necessity of the extra momentum.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1RUyAwAAQBAJ&q=Soto+uke&pg=PA19|title=Respecting the Old, Creating the New|isbn=9781447673033|accessdate=29 December 2014|last1=Denwood|first1=Chris|date=May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1RUyAwAAQBAJ&q=Soto+uke+karate&pg=PA19|title=Respecting the Old, Creating the New|isbn=9781447673033|accessdate=29 December 2014|last1=Denwood|first1=Chris|date=May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3nHwE46D04kC&q=Soto+uke+karate&pg=PA112|title=The Complete Guide to American Karate & Tae Kwon Do|isbn=9781583942154|accessdate=29 December 2014|last1=Yates|first1=Keith D.|year=2008}}</ref>

The above designations are particular to Shotokan and some other schools, and are backwards from other systems ([[Wadō-ryū|Wado-ryu]], Doshinkan, [[Uechi-ryū|Uechi-Ryu]], etc.) where soto uke is a block ''to'' the outside and uchi uke is a block ''to'' the inside — consistent with Gedan Barai is a block in the downward direction and Jodan Age Uke is a block in the upwards direction. This doesn't mean one designation is wrong, just that there is a difference depending on the school.

== See also ==
* [[List of shotokan techniques|List of Shotokan techniques]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soto Uke}}
[[Category:Karate techniques]]
[[Category:Blocking (martial arts)]]

{{karate-stub}}