Shuto Uke, Kizami Mae Geri, Nukite

This is for 4th kyu Karateka working towards 3rd Kyu Brown belt

This is one of the combinations for 4th Kyu purple and white belts taking the 3rd Kyu brown belt examination with the EIKA.

Although these three techniques are classed as basic karate techniques, most people find the kick in back stance extremely difficult and uncomfortable. So we are going to break these techniques down, into small sections.

Get into the habit of breaking new karate moves down, they then become much easier to understand the small detail.

Starting back stance with the left leg in front.

1. Start the step by driving the front (left) knee forward. Imagine someone has a hold of your left wrist and they sharply pull you forward, so really stretch the left arm forward, hand open, fingers and wrist straight.

2. At the same time as you perform number 1. Lift the right arm straight up from the stomach to the left shoulder. Keep the forearm close to the body as you lift the arm and keep the elbow in the center of the chest. When the right hand reaches the left shoulder (palm facing the neck), the hand is open, fingers and wrist straight.

3. The front knee and two arm movements above, should be done at exactly the same time. As the above moves are executed, immediately start to step with the right leg, pushing the right side of the body forward.

4. Keep the same height throughout the step, knees come close together at the half way point, body square and both feet facing forward.

5. As you start the second half of the step, from the half way point, keep your body weight over your back (left) leg.

6. Still keep both feet facing forward as you move through the here quarter stage of the step. At this point, start to block with the right arm and pull the left hikite arm back.

7. As the hikite arm pulls back, keep the palm facing down and as the blocking arm goes out, keep the palm facing towards you and the elbow down. The back of the blocking forearm, slides down the inside of the hikite arm.

8. As you land in the full kokutsu dachi (back stance), sharply pivot on the left (back) foot, turning your left foot and knee out to the side.

9. As you complete the arm movements, rotate both forearms sharply, so the palm of the hikite (left) arm, faces up and the palm of the blocking arm, faces to the inside and down slightly.

10. Keep the shoulders down and tighten your lat muscles under your arms, lift the front knee sharply and kick mae geri chudan. Try and keep the same height as you kick and keep the arms still.

11. Drive off the left leg and land in zenkutsu dachi then strike nihon nukite (four finger spearhand)

12. As you start the next combination, stretch the hikite right arm forward as you sharply pull the left open hand back to the side of the neck, while at the same time driving the front (right) knee forward then repeat from number 4.

Most karateka start practicing this particular karate technique, a few months into their karate training. Of all the basic karate moves, this is one of the hardest to master. Whether you are attending a karate dojo, or learning karate at home, I recommend you break the techniques down and repeat again and again. Start slowly and gradually build up to maximum speed.

We covered the basic arm positions for shuto uke in this article and video used for our 8th Kyu red belt test.