In this Shotokan Bassai dai step by step tutorial we are working on kata moves 1 to 14 in detail.

Bassai Dai Move 1

A few different ways to practice this first move of bassai dai ~

1. Land block/strike with the front foot.
2. Land block/strike with the baack foot.
3. Lift the knee, drive in and Land block/strike with the front foot.
4. Lift the knee, drive in and Land block/strike with the back foot.
5. No knee lift, just drive in with a long step and Land block/strike with the front foot.
6. No knee lift, just drive in with a long step and Land block/strike with the back foot.

In kosa dachi make sure the knees are pushed together, bring the back leg up fast and strong.

Bassai Dai Move 2

On the second move drive off the right leg, try not to just fall back into the uchi uke.
Either drive straight into uchi uke in zenkutsu dachi or drive off the right leg with the body square, then rotate the hip and body into the hanmi position as you execute uchi ude uke.

Bassai Dai Move 3
I pull my front foot back very slightly as i rotate into the gyaku uchi ude uke, but you can also keep the front left foot stationary, but make sure you have a strong rotation from hanmi to shomen or gyaku hanmi.

Bassai Dai Move 4
As you step across with the back right leg and prepare for soto ude uke, use the preperation as a tetsui uchi (bottom fist strike), at the same time as you strike with the right fist, lift the left arm up sharply ready for gyaku soto ude uke.
The right arm moves in a circular movement and the left arm lifts up straight in a linear motion.
As you drive off the left leg and come around with the gyaku soto ude uke, sharply pull the right arm back to the side of the body (hikite).

Bassai Dai Move 5
Snap the body sharply from the shomen square position to hanmi and block uchi ude uke with the right arm, a small movement with the arms but a dynamic body and hip rotation is needed here.

Bassai Dai Move 6
Imagine a kick coming from your right side, pull the right leg back as you sweep the right arm across and low under the kicking leg, keep the knees bent and back straight, once you feel you have hooked the kicking leg, straighten the legs and lift the right arm the the preparatory position for soto ude uke.

Bassai Dai Move 7
This next movement is a soto uke stepping with the right leg, but represents a karate throw as you have just hooked under someones kicking leg.

Bassai Dai Move 8

I pull my front foot back very slightly as i rotate into the gyaku uchi ude uke, but you can also keep the front left foot stationary, but make sure you have a strong rotation from hanmi to shomen or gyaky hanmi.

Bassai Dai Move 9

This is a slow but controlled step up into natural stance. Slowly pull the back left leg up into heiko dachi, keeping the knees bent place the left fist on top of the right hikite with the back of the fist facing forward.
Then as you straighten the legs push the left hand out tate shuto and settle into heiko dachi, good zanshin throughout this slow move.