Enpi Kata Step By Step Moves 5 To 19
Amos Sensei breaks down Enpi Kata Step By Step, in this tutorial he focuses on Moves 5 To 19. We have Enpi kata as one of our brown belt Shotokan Karate Kata.
In the first part of the kata class, the first four moves are practiced and quickly reviewed, then Sensei moves on to moves 5 to 19 in detail.
Enpi yoi position has the left hand open in the shuto position, it is then placed at the left side of the body with the inside of the wrist facing the ribs.
The right arm is then placed accross the stomache with a vertical fist (palm facing the stomache), pushed against the thickest part of the left shuto hand.
There should be a 90 degree abgle where the right fist meets the left open hand, try not to wrap the arms around the body.
The yoi position of Enpi kata is in heisoku dachi, feet together, side by side. Keep your back straight and the shoulders relaxed.
Enpi Kata Step By Step Move 5
Drive off the right leg, whilst strongly preparing the arms for gedan barai.
As you drive off the right leg, your body is in he shomen position, then as you land in zenkutsu dachi, sharply block gedan barai and snap the hips and body ionto the hanmi position.
Enpi Kata Step By Step Move 6
This next move is very unusual, age zuki or rising punch. There are two ways to perform this punch in Enpi.
Age Tsuki 1st Way
From gedan barai in the hanmi position, drive off the back leg, just like you are about to punch reverse punch.
As you are three quaters of the way through the gyaku zuki, at the tate zuki (vertical punch point, sharply lift the arm and strike under the chin with the two larg knuckles of the fist.
Age Tsuki 2nd Way
Basically, the second way starts from lower down.
From gedan barai in the hanmi position, drive off the back leg, just like you are about to punch reverse punch, but punch down low (gedan).
Once again, as you are three quaters of the way through the gyaku zuki, at the tate zuki (vertical punch point, sharply lift the arm and strike under the chin with the two large knuckles of the fist.
The second way has a larger lifting movement.
Enpi Kata Step By Step Move 7
There are also a couple of different ways to the grab after the age tsuki.
1. Open the hand quickly with fingers straight in the shuto position.
2. Open the hand slowly with fingers straight in the shuto position.
3. A slow circular hand grab as Kanazawa Shihan introduced into the SKI.
Enpi Kata Step By Step Move 8
With the right hand remaining open and keeping still, attack hiza geri (knee attack), be sure and drive the hips forward, keeping the body square.
Enpi Kata Step By Step Moves 9 and 10
Lunge forward with the right leg after the hiza geri, try not to jump, this is a long driving step.
As the right foot lands block accross the face with a jodan soto uke, then shoot the left leg up into kosa dachi (crossed leg stance), keep the back straight and knees bent and locked together. Make sure the left ball of the foot is tucked just to the outside of the right foots heel.
As the left leg shoots forward, punch gyaku tsuki with the left arm.
In the final position make sure the right elbow is down, back straight, knees bent and knees locked (see image above).
Enpi Kata Step By Step Move 11
Drive off the right leg and strike or block gedan barai with the right arm. Land in zenkutsu dachi with the left leg in front and look over the right shoulder.
Two body positions are used with this move, some Shotokan Dojo practice this move with the back straight and other Dojo practice with the back straight, but angled the same as the back leg.
Enpi Kata Step By Step Move 12
Pull the left leg back and over to the left as you perform gedan barai with the left arm in zenkutsu dachi.
Enpi Kata Step By Step Moves 13 to 19
Repeat moves 5 through 12. This combination is used three times in the Shotokan kata Enpi. The third time we use this combination is towards the end of the kata.
