4 Different Stepping Combinations From Fighting Stance

Here we are going to practice four different stepping combinations from kamae.

Left side and right side, nice and slowly, working on shōmen, hanmi, and hikite. And nice and relaxed and flowing. Here we go.

Starting From A Left Leg In Front Fighting Stance

1a. Driving off the back right leg drive the front foot forward 8 to 12 inches into zenkutsu dachi, whilst at the same time punching kizami zuki with the left arm, making sure you have a good hikite and the body is in the hanmi position. As soon as the kizami zuki hits, snap the punching arm vigorously back, whilst at the same time executing a full step forward with the right leg and land oi zuki with good hikite and in hanmi zenkutsu dachi.

1b. Moving back tsugi ashi, as the right leg reaches the left, drive off the right leg and step back with the left leg and land in zenkutsu dachi, age uke with the right arm, then immediately counter with a left gyaku zuki.

Now repeat the first combination on the right side.

2a. Driving off the back right leg drive the front foot forward 8 to 12 inches into zenkutsu dachi, whilst at the same time punching kizami zuki with the left arm, making sure you have a good hikite and the body is in the hanmi position. As soon as the kizami zuki hits, snap the punching arm vigorously back, whilst at the same time stepping up with the right leg, then a the right leg reaches the left, drive off the right leg stepping with the left leg into zenkutsu dachi and punch right gyaku zuki with good hikite and shomen on the point of contact, then snapping back into a hanmi fighting stance.

2b. A full step back with the left leg, land in zenkutsu dachi, gedan barai with the right arm, then immediately counter with a left gyaku zuki.

Now repeat the second combination on the right side.

3a. Keep the front left foot where it is, shoot the back leg up towards the front left leg, as the foot steps punch kizami zuki with the left arm, making sure you have a good hikite and the body is in the hanmi position. As soon as the right leg reaches the left, drive off the right leg stepping with the left leg into zenkutsu dachi and punch right gyaku zuki with good hikite and shomen on the point of contact, then snapping back into a hanmi fighting stance.

3b. A full step back with the left leg, land in zenkutsu dachi, soto ude uke with the right arm, then immediately counter with a left gyaku zuki.

Now repeat the third combination on the right side.

4a. Driving off the back right leg drive the front foot forward 8 to 12 inches into zenkutsu dachi, whilst at the same time punching kizami zuki with the left arm, making sure you have a good hikite and the body is in the hanmi position. As soon as the kizami zuki hits, snap the punching arm vigorously back, whilst at the same time stepping up with the right leg, then a the right leg reaches the left, drive off the right leg stepping with the left leg into zenkutsu dachi and punch right gyaku zuki with good hikite and shomen on the point of contact, then snapping back, as you snap the gyaku zuki back, perform a full step with the right leg and land oi zuki hanmi in zenkust dachi with a good hikite, then snapping back into a hanmi fighting stance.

4b. Moving back tsugi ashi, as the right leg reaches the left, drive off the right leg and step back with the left leg and land in zenkutsu dachi, uchi ude uke with the right arm, then immediately counter with a left gyaku zuki, snapping back vigorously.

To start with have hikite on everything, try and move smoothly at the same height throughout all of the combinations.

In the video above we also practice the four combinations with no hikite, just nice and slowly, very relaxed. This really helps with the flow of your karate.

So karate training like this last way with no hikite or tension, helps you to relax and flow. So many Shotokan karateka try to go with very tense and strong movements. This helps you relax.

Oss!