Shotokan Basics Age Uke Gyaku Zuki Stepping
Working on Shotokan basics Age Uke Gyaku Zuki stepping forwards and backwards.
Starting from a right arm gyaku zuki in zenkutsu dachi, left leg in front.
The part that confuses people when they first practice this, is the changing of the arms as they step.
if your left leg is in front with a right reverse punch out, you are going to step forward with the right leg and block age uke with the right arm.
As you step pull the right arm back to the side of the body sharply, at the same time mark with the left arm, this arm can be straight or bent, I have my marking arm bent, like it’s in the age uke position.
At the halfway point the body is square, knees bent and back straight.
From here drive off the left leg stepping forward with the right leg, arms start to block as you step, then as you land in zenkutsu dachi have a sharp body and hip rotation into the hanmi (side facing) position and block age uke (upper block).
Be sure and fully complete the age uke, then drive off the right leg, rotate the body strongly and punch gyaku zuki (reverse punch) and finish in the shomen (square facing) position.
The same fundamentals apply when stepping backwards, just make sure to quickly soften and bend the back knee as you start to step back.
Practice this combination over and over as this Shotokan basics Age Uke Gyaku Zuki stepping forwards and backwards is very important for developing your shotokan karate.
The great Tanaka Shihan was once asked how he got so good and he replied ‘basics, basics and more basics’
