Karate For Beginners Do You Use Punchbag?

Punchbag training is a very important part of my karate, some people prefer makiwara, whick I also like, some people like focus pads and kick sheilds. Whatever your preference, your karate training shoulkd include hitting something! Maybe your karate classes use a lot of striking equipment and maybe they do not, if your karate dojo do, then great, if not, then set yourself up at home and start hitting things! The benefits are incredible, learning karate at home should be a priority, so go get em! :)

Learning Karate At Home - Kizami Tsuki or Jab Punch

Kizami zuki or jabbing punch is a a karate technique using the front arm. In karate classes, the karateka practice a few different versions of this move -
1. From zenkutsu dachi (front stance), punch with the front arm, leave the punch out, as you punch, be sure to pull the hikite arm back strongly, with the body finishing in the hanmi or side facing position.
2. From zenkutsu dachi (front stance), punch with the front arm, snap the punch back, making sure you have a strong hikite, which also snaps back strongly to jyu kamae.  
3. From jyu kamae or fighting stance, keep your guard up and punch with the lead arm, similar to a boxers jab, with no hikite.

Jion Karate Kata

The Jion kata below is the shotokan karate version of the kata. Jion is a very physical kata and is the second longest brown belt kata after Kanku Dai. Although the karate moves are mainly basic, there are some advanced techniques within the kata. If you are learning karate at home, jion is a good training kata.