Komekami (こめかみ) is the common everyday term specifically referring to the temple area on the side of the head. It is the most commonly used term in martial arts terminology — particularly in karate, aikido, judo, and various koryū — for striking or targeting the side of the head. It is used as a target area for atemi or strikes and refers specifically to the “temple” region on the head, a recognized vulnerable point where the skull is thinnest. In martial arts, it’s a highly sensitive target area — beneath it lie the temporal bone, superficial temporal artery, and temporalis muscle. Striking the komekami can cause: concussion or knockout (via rotational brain trauma); rupture of small vessels (hematoma); or loss of consciousness due to impact on cranial nerves.
In kenjutsu, jūjutsu, and karatedō, komekami is recognized as a kyūsho (急所) — vital point or weak area. Techniques aimed here include:
- Kubi yoko giri (neck-horizontal cut) → passes across the komekami line
- Empi-uchi (elbow strike) → side of head to komekami
- Uraken (backfist strike) → temple snap
- Tsuki (thrust) or keri (kick) → rarely aimed here intentionally in safe practice because of danger
Sokutōbu
The term for the anatomical “side of the head” in Japanese is sokutōbu (側頭部), meaning “temporal region” or “side of the head.” It is sometimes used in kata instruction when describing strike angles, guard positions, or defensive coverage.
Sokumen
Sokumen (側面), which one might take to mean “side of the head” does not mean the anatomical side of the head in martial arts usage; instead, it refers to the side aspect or lateral angle of a person or object. Is is used to describe positional relationships or attack directions and indicates moving to, attacking from, or cutting along the side of an opponent. It is not an anatomical term.
You might hear it used in these ways:
- sokumen-uchi (側面打ち) – A strike delivered from the side
- sokumen irimi (側面入り身) – Entering on the opponent’s side line
- sokumen kōgeki (側面攻撃) – A lateral/side attack
- sokumen-giri (側面切り) – in sword arts, a cut made from or to the lateral aspect
Your teacher might say: “komekami ni atemi” which is a strike to the temple; “sokumen kara atemi” meaning an atemi from the side angle; or “sokumen uchi” meaning a strike from the side (directional).
