Shotokan Karate Exercises

Close Distance Striking Video

In this live Class recording we are going to work on some shotokan karate exercises to improve striking from close range.

Where you try and generate as much power and speed as possible in a very short distance.

In the first part of this shotokan karate class, we are going to be striking ura zuki, tate zuki and choku zuki, from shizentai.

Shotokan Karate Exercises

Part 1 Close In Striking

1. First Strike Ura Zuki (uppercut) with the right arm.

Be sure and drive the right hip forward, driving from the right leg and then on impact snap the right hip back to the square position.

2. Keep the right arm in the ura zuki position, then again push from the right leg through the right hip and strike tate zuki (vertical punch).

Again snapping the hip back on Impact.

3. keep the right arm in the tate zuki (vertical punch) position, then again push from the right leg through the right hip and punch choku zuki (straight punch).

Again, snap in the hip back on Impact.

These shotokan karate exercises are very difficult, as there is no build up to the strikes, it’s just instant, from nothing to full speed in a short distance.

Try and stay relaxed before the strike and then use the whole body, especially the legs and hips with each strike.

Breathe out sharply, kime (focus) then relax instantly.

Shotokan Karate Exercises

Part 2 Close In Striking

In the second part of this class we are going to work from fighting stance.

Start with the left leg in front in fighting stance.

Once again, the first technique we are going to use is ura zuki (uppercut).

Drive off the back leg rotate the body round and forward, strike ura zuki.

Snap the hip fully back to the hanmi position, but only snap the punch back 6 to 8 inches.

On to the second technique, tate zuki.

Drive off the back leg rotate the body round and forward, strike tate zuki.

Snap the hip fully back to the hanmi position, but only snap the punch back 6 to 8 inches.

On to the third technique, which will be gyaku zuki instead of the choku zuki used in the first part of the class.

Drive off the back leg rotate the body round and forward, strike gyaku zuki.

Snap the hip fully back to the hanmi position and this time also snap the punch back fully.

Repeat on the opposite side.

Shotokan Karate Exercises

Part 3 Close In Striking

In the third part of this online karate class we are once again going to be working from fighting stance.

We are now going to finish the class using full body, hip and arm movements.

From a left leg in front fighting stance, punch ura zuki with the right arm.

Drive off the back leg rotate the body round and forward, strike ura zuki.

Snap the hip fully back to the hanmi position and make sure to snap the punch back fully.

Now repeat for tate zuki and gyaku zuki.

With the last part of this class, you should really feel the difference, because now you are doing a much bigger movement.

After these short distance shotokan karate exercises, once you go for more distance with the striking, they should feel completely different.

So to recap, It is really good karate training to practice these close distance strikes.

If you can generate strong karate techniques in close, then your long range karate techniques will be very strong.

Where self defense is concerned, close in strikes are essential, as many attacks end up being very close range.