The word shukuchi (縮地), sometimes written shukuchihō (縮地法) or shukuchijutsu (縮地術), is a Japanese-language term for various techniques of rapid movement. The characters in the word literally mean "reduced earth".
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Historical use
Shukuchi is the Japanese word for the power of teleportation attributed to some sennin and xian. Those possessing this ability were believed to be capable of moving vast distances in a single step. The term is sometimes used to refer to a similar ability in Buddhist belief.
In martial arts
In modern Japanese martial arts, shukuchi refers to a sudden movement into an enemy's maai (space) or blind spot to attack. This definition is relatively recent, and is, therefore, used somewhat differently by various schools.
In popular culture
Fictionalized versions of shukuchi are common in manga and anime. In this context, it is usually portrayed as short-range teleportation or as the ability to move quickly enough to become invisible. Son Goku, the main character of the Dragon Ball franchise, is seen performing this feat as a child and eventually masters the art of teleporting when an adult. In addition, Seta Sōjirō from Rurouni Kenshin and various characters in Negima!: Magister Negi Magi employ such techniques. Weaver, a character from the popular video game Dota 2, has an ability called Shukuchi, which allows it to become invisible and run with maximum movement speed for a short time. Also, in the manga and anime "Prince of Tennis" the shukuchi method is used by players of the Higa Middle School from Okinawa to give the illusion of moving from the baseline of a tennis court to the net in a split second.