Shotokan Karate Soto Uke Outside Block

Soto ude uke, or outside forearm block is one of the basic shotokan karate moves. A difficult move to begin with because it contains both linear and circular arm movements, this karate move should be first practiced in shizentai (natural stance), with feet approximately shoulder width apart and toes facing forward as in the video below
 

Karate For Beginners Shomen and Hanmi

Shomen and hanmi are explained to new karate students, but it sometimes takes a little while to understand. There are different explanations of shomen and hanmi. My karate instructor always referred to hanmi and shomen as, Hanmi = side facing and Shomen = Square facing.

Many shotokan karate dojo place tremendous importance on this area, but karate Sensei differ in the way they teach and practice shomen and hanmi, so please, if you are new to karate classes, ask your dojo sensei for an explanation of shomen and hanmi.

A beginner to shotokan karate will be told that hanmi (side facing), is used for the basic blocks in front stance and shomen (square facing), is used for the two basic punches oi zuki (stepping punch) and gyaku zuki (reverse punch).

Jyu Ippon Kumite Brown belt sparring Exercise

Jyu ippon kumite is a karate exercise that is practiced at brown belt or 3rd kyu. It involves single karate attacks from an attacker, and a defense and counter from a defender. Jyu ippon kumite is an integral part of shotokan karate and is need at karate exams from brown belt to black belt.

Karate For Beginners A Basic Combination Using Empi Uchi or Elbow Strike

The video below is taken from karateClassesOnline karate dojo, check out their Special $1 Trial offer.

At most shotokan karate dojo, these basic elbow strikes are practiced early on in a karateka's training.

Here is a very basic karate kihon four elbow strike combination, starting from Zenkutsu dachi – gedan bari (front stance – downward block), then moving into Kiba dachi (horse riding stance) and back into zenkutsu dachi (front stance).

The elbow strikes are ~
1. Mawashi empi Uchi (round elbow strike)
2. Age empi uchi (upper elbow strike)
3. Yoko empi uchi (side elbow strike)
4. Ushiro empi uchi (back elbow strike)

Karate Kumite With Masters Keinosuke Enoeda and Hirokazu Kanazawa

A rare chance to see karate masters, Keinosuke Enoeda and Hirokazu Kanazawa in action, amazing skill from these karate legends. These two people have played an extremely strong part in the development of shotokan karate. Both these masters have skills unique to them, but no one can deny their martial arts prowess!

Karate Kata Niseishi Video

Niseishi which means '24 steps', below is a karate kata video of Niseishi.

The history of Niseishi is unclear, but many believe that it originates from one of the Chinese "Dragon" kung fu styles. Master Gichin Funakoshi changed the kata and the name to nijushiho. The Shotokan karate version of this kata is very dynamic and athletic in it's execution, relying on very long movements and stances, whereas the original niseishi has much shorter stances and karate moves within the kata.

Niseishi has moto dachi which is like a mini front stance, neko ashi dachi (cat stance), shiko dachi (diagonal straddle stance) and Heisoku Dachi. Toes & heels together, (closed foot stance).

Shotokan Karate Japan Karate Association

Shotokan Karate Japan Karate Association JKA-Karate





The Japan Karate Association (JKA), is still the home of shotokan karate, still the one place in the world, all shotokan karateka turn to for guidence.