Black Belt Kihon - Shotokan Karate Online

Oizuki looks so simple. But for Shotokan karateka who follow the karate way, it’s an art form all on its own!

Indeed, lots of dojo place little importance on the intricate and detailed movement required to execute karate’s basic stepping punch (oizuki).

They see a step and a punch and as long as it resembles oizuki, that’ll do! Now lets practice it like a bunch of crazed animals!

Oi zuki Stepping Punch

Stepping forward oizuki from zenkutsu dachi, gedan barai (left leg in front).

1. An initial, small but important forward movement with the front knee, whilst keeping the front foot still.
2. Drive the left shoulder, right hip and rib cage forward, at the same time keeping the right shoulder back.
3. Try pulling with the front leg as you step half way.
4. The left leg then pushes from the floor to propel the body forward.
5. At the same time the right foot lands, execute the punch.
6. At the exact time the right foot lands and the punch reaches the target, drive the left heel back into the floor tighten the muscles for a split second, especially muscles under the punching arm, abdomen and the back and inside of the thigh muscles and buttocks, them immediately relax.
7. Repeat 10,000 times, relax, less is more, don’t try to hard and good luck with the very basic, oizuki, which every experienced shotokan karateka thinks they have down!
8. Breathing should be smooth and natural, no ‘Thomas The tank Engine’ sounds.

Once this style of movement is drilled and practiced thoroughly, especially during kata training, your whole karate seems to take on a new direction.

Age uke stepping forward and backwards
1. Start from a left gedan barai position
2. The initial movement forward starts with the front knee pushing forward, as the knee pushes everything else starts to move forward.
3. Keep the same height as you step up to the half way position, opening the left hand and placing the arm in the age uke position.
4. At the half way point the knees should be bent and back straight, feet slightly apart. (unless you practice feet together at this point)
5. As uyou start to step forward with the right leg, the left hand stays and the left elbow drops slightly as you bring the right arm up and form an X shape in front of your chin approximately.
6. At this point the left hand is palm down and the right back of the fist is facing away from you.
7. You should now be at the three quaters through the step and your body is square (shomen).
8. As you complete the block, rotate the right blocking arm strongly so the palm is facing forward and at the same time, the left Hikite arm rotates strongly and stops the same time as the blocking arm. The blocking arm moves upward at a 45 degree angle, so the right arm feels like you are punching 45 degrees up to the left side of your body.
9. As the arms complete, the body and hips go from the Shomen (square facing) position to the Hanmi (side facing) position.

Uchi Ude Uke (Outside Forearm Block)

1. The right blocking arms elbow is approximately a fist, to a fist and a half distance from the body. There should be a 90 degree bend at the blocking arms elbow. The fist of the blocking arm is approximately shoulder height, shoulders down and relaxed, with the palm of the right fist, facing towards you.

2. The leftt hikite arm, should be placed at the bottom of the ribs on the left side of the body. The fist should be palm up, with the elbow pulling down slightly, both shoulders down and relaxed. Try not to let the elbow stick out, keep the elbow directly behind the fist.

3. Extend the right arm forward, so the back of the fist is pointing up, arm straight and fist directly in front of the right shoulder. This can also be done with the hand open and fingers stretching forward.

4. At the same time the right arm stretches forward, the left fist slides across the stomache, towards the top of the right hip, with the palm of the left fist facing down. (pic 2)

5. Now bring the blocking left arm forward and across the centre of the body. The blocking part of the arm, is the outside of the forearm, so as the blocking arm travels forward, keep the back of the left fist facing upwards, then rotate the forearm strongly, so the finished arm position is the same as explained in number 1.

6. As you perform number 5, pull the right hikite (pulling arm) strongly back. As the hikite arm reaches the side of the body, finish the rotation strongly, by rotating the forearm and fist, so the fist finishes palm up, elbow pulling down slightly and with both shoulders square and relaxed.

Uchi Uke Top Tips

When you block, think forward, not around!

The blocking arm should travel in more of a straight line, from the side of the body above the hip, more of a direct line from start to finish, not a large sweeping arc.

Remember, the blocking part of the arm, is the outside of the forearm, not the edge of the arm!

In the finished blocking position, make sure you can tighten all of your arm muscles properly, if you cannot, your blocking arm will be to high, to far forward, or to far across the center of the body.

If you are learning karate online, take these karate moves one step at a time, start slowly, research and study karate resources, before building up to full speed.

Soto Ude Uke (outside forearm block)
1. The left blocking arms elbow is approximately a fist, to a fist and a half distance from the body. There should be a 90 degree bend at the blocking arms elbow. The fist of the blocking arm is approximately shoulder height, shoulders down and relaxed, with the palm of the left fist, facing towards you.

2. The right hikite arm, should be placed at the bottom of the ribs on the right side of the body. The fist should be palm up, with the elbow pulling down slightly, both shoulders down and relaxed. Try not to let the elbow stick out, keep the elbow directly behind the fist.

3. Extend the left arm forward, so the back of the fist is pointing up, arm straight and fist directly in front of the left shoulder. This can also be done with the hand open and fingers stretching forward.

4. At the same time the left arm stretches forward, lift the right elbow straight up from the hikite position, as the elbow reaches shoulder height, lift the right forearm and fist, so as the fist is directly above the elbow, with the palm of the fist facing out to the right, now take the elbow as far behind you can, without feeling uncomfortable. In this position, the elbow should be at least shoulder height.

5. Now bring the blocking arm down and across to the center of the body, the elbow takes a straight line from the high position to the finished position. The blocking part of the arm, is the inside of the forearm, so as the blocking gets level with the right side of the body, rotate the forearm strongly, so the finished arm position is the same as explained in number 1.

6. As you perform number 5, pull the left hikite (pulling arm) strongly back. Be sure to keep the elbow on line with the side of the body, as you pull the arm back. To make sure the elbow and fist come back in a straight line, as soon as you start the pull back, rotate the left hikite arm clockwise, so the bottom of the fist faces down. As the hikite arm reaches the side of the body, finish the rotation strongly, by rotating the forearm, so the fist finishes palm up, elbow pulling down slightly and with both shoulders square and relaxed.

Soto Uke Top Tips

When you block, think forward, not around!

The blocking arm should travel in more of a straight line, from the high preparation point, to completion and not a sweeping arc.

Remember, the blocking part of the arm, is the inside of the forearm, not the edge of the arm!

Shuto Uke Kokutsu Dachi (knifehand block in back stance)

Starting with the left leg in front.

1. Start the step by driving the front (left) knee forward. Imagine someone has a hold of your left wrist and they sharply pull you forward, so really stretch the left arm forward, hand open, fingers and wrist straight.

2. At the same time as you perform number 1. Lift the right arm straight up from the stomach to the left shoulder. Keep the forearm close to the body as you lift the arm and keep the elbow in the center of the chest. When the right hand reaches the left shoulder (palm facing the neck), the hand is open, fingers and wrist straight.

3. The front knee and two arm movements above, should be done at exactly the same time. As the above moves are executed, immediately start to step with the right leg, pushing the right side of the body forward.

4. Keep the same height throughout the step, knees and feet come close together at the half way point, body square and both feet facing forward.

5. As you start the second half of the step, from the half way point, keep your body weight over your back (left) leg.

6. Still keep both feet facing forward as you move through the here quarter stage of the step. At this point, start to block with the right arm and pull the left hikite arm back.

7. As the hikite arm pulls back, keep the palm facing down and as the blocking arm goes out, keep the palm facing towards you and the elbow down. The back of the blocking forearm, slides down the inside of the hikite arm.

8. As you land in the full kokutsu dachi (back stance), sharply pivot on the left (back) foot, turning your left foot and knee out to the side.

9. As you complete the arm movements, rotate both forearms sharply, so the palm of the hikite (left) arm, faces up and the palm of the blocking arm, faces to the inside and down slightly.

10. Both numbers 8 and 9, should be performed at exactly the same time.

11. Breath in on the preparation and out on the execution of the block.

Mae Ren Geri (two front kicks)

Mae Ren Geri stepping, first kick Chudan (body) and second kick Jodan (head)

When practicing mae ren geri, change the distance of the steps, sometimes take a long step in between the kicks and sometimes take a short step. With this exercise you can also practice different kicking distances, sometimes drive the hips fully forward for a long kick and sometimes keep the hips further back for a short front kick.

The two kicks should be continuous with no pause in between the kicks, try and ensure the body weight travels forward in a continuous flowing movement.

Mawashi Geri (round kick)

Stepping forward mawashi geri from kamae.
1. Left leg in front fighting stance
2. Lift the right knee as high as possible to the right side of the body, while keeping the back as straight as possible and the arms still.
3. Make sure the knee is slightly higher than the kicking foot and the ankle is bent.
4. Pivot strongly on the left supporting leg and come around with the kicking leg, keeping it parallel with the floor.
5. As the kicking leg comes around start to switch the arm position to the opposite side.
6. As the hip completes the rotation, the ball of the foot, instep or shin, hits the target, not after the hip has stopped.
7. Snap the kicking foot back vigorously, keeping the knee high.
8. Step forward into a right fighting stance by pushing off the left supporting leg, do not just fall forward.
9. repeat on the opposite leg.

There are many variations of mawashi geri, snapping the leg back, keeping the leg straight on and after impact, kicking downwards, kicking upwards, etc

Kicking with the shin, top of the foot or ball of the foot.

Ushiro Geri (back kick)

Ushiro geri is an extremely powerful kick, if done well! If done poorly, it can be disastrous.

Starting from a left leg in front fighting stance (kamae)
1. Keep the upper body and arms completely still and lift the kicking foot (right) to the back of the left knee.
2. Keep the supporting leg bent and pivot strongly around clockwise 180 degrees
3. As the hip comes around, drive them into the target, try not to over rotate the hips.
4. The kick should hit the target at exactly the same time as the hips are finishing the rotation and push towards the target.
5. Recover the kicking leg strongly and step forward into a right leg in front fighting stance (kamae).
6. Then repeat on the opposite leg

Yoko Geri Kekomi (side thrust kick)

Stepping forward yoko geri kekomi from kamae.
1. Left leg in front fighting stance
2. Lift the right knee as high as possible to the front of the body, as you pivot 90 degrees to the left, on the left leg. Keep the back as straight as possible and the arms still.
3. Make sure the knee is high as with mae geri.
4. Pivot strongly on the left supporting leg and drive the right kicking leg directly forward.
5. As the kicking leg drives forward start to switch the arm position to the opposite side.
6. As the kick completes, drive the hip forward and pivot on the ball of the foot.
7. Hitting the target with the edge of the foot.
8. Make sure everything is aligned in a straight line. Foot, knee, hips, shoulder and head.
9. Snap the kicking foot back vigorously, keeping the knee high.
10. Step forward into a right fighting stance by pushing off the left supporting leg, do not just fall forward.
11. repeat on the opposite leg.

Kizami zuki (lead arm punch), Oi zuki (stepping punch), Gyaku zuki (reverse punch)

1. Make distance on the first technique, drive off the back leg and make kizami zuki jodan.
2. Then step with the back leg oi zuki jodan
3. Finish with gyaku zuki chudan