In this shotokan karate fundamentals video, we work on the hip snap when striking ura zuki, tate zuki and choku zuki from heiko dachi.

There are lot’s of different ways to use the body and hips with these three karate punches and there is no right or wrong way, just different ways.

This is just the way we practice at the moment.

Starting from heiko dachi

1. Place the left arm out into the ura zuki position as it applies when striking with the basic straight punch and the right arm in the hikite position.
2. As we are first going to punch with the right arm, drive from the floor, through the right leg, propelling the right hip an arm forward, so now the hips are not square, the right hip is slightly forward.
3. At the same time you drive the right hip and punch forward, pull the left hikite arm back strongly.
4. As the right ura zuki completes, snap the right hip back into the square position, whilst at the same time completing the left hikite and driving the left hip and back of the thigh sharply. 
5. Now repeat the process with a left ura zuki.

These same steps are then applied for the tate zuki and choku zuki punches.

Try and keep the chin tucked in when punching. Push the crown of the head upwards, whilst at the same time pushing the stomach downwards as you complete the punches.

I hope this helps with your hip snap when punching from heiko dachi.