Uchikomi (打ち込み) is a common Japanese martial-arts term meaning “repeated entry practice” or “striking or thrusting repetitions.” The exact meaning depends on the art, but the core idea is always the same: you repeat the entry or impact portion of a technique over and over to develop precision, timing, and body mechanics.
Here’s how it appears across different martial traditions:
In Judo, uchikomi is practiced as repeated entry drills for throws. You practice tsukuri (entry) and kuzushi (unbalancing) without completing the throw. It’s a high-rep, rhythm-based drilling with the goal of developing timing, footwork, hip entry, smoothness, muscle memory.
In Kendo, uchikomi is done as impact/striking drills against a partner that includes hitting the targets of men, kote, dō, and tsuki with spirit, kiai, and pressure. In kendo, uchikomi emphasizes: correct distance (maai); explosive spirit (kiai); full, decisive strikes.
In Kenjutsu and Iaido uchikomi means striking into a target; practicing the initiation of a cut; and sometimes “cutting entry practice.”
In Karate it can mean repeated impact striking.
Translation
打ち (uchi) — strike, hit
込み (komi) — into / in / deeply
打ち込み = driving a strike in or entering repeatedly
