Shomen-uchi

(striking the front mask)

This is shown in plate 115 and consists of a vertical, or straight blow to the centre of the mask. Note that the blow is delivered on the reinforced padding above the grill, with the cutting edge of the Dage-kibu (striking base).

Plate 116 shows the position during the follow-through, on the first step, as the attacker passes to his own right and carries the Shinai forward. In actual fact the attacker is dashing past at this point, rather than standing.