Shotokan Kihon Gyaku-zuki

Shotokan's Gyaku-zuki is a very strong punch. Here is a video with some tips to help with this karate technique.

Karate Classes And Kihon

 Karate Kihon

Kihon is a Japanese word meaning “basics” or “fundamentals.

So, what is karate kihon and why do we do it?

Kihon is the basic karate techniques of stances, blocking, punching, striking and kicking.

Repetition of basic Karate kihon holds all the secrets!

Basic karate moves, or simple combinations, is all that’s needed to achieve a very high understanding of karate. But I must emphasise, when it comes to repetition, correct form, both physical and mental is essential. Bad habits can develop quickly and can take years of correcting and can even cause injury and that’s just the physical side, if the state of mind and attitude is wrong, it can unleash a whole plethora of problems, some of which, can never be fixed.

This is why I always recommend joining a really good karate dojo, but if you are unable to train at a karate dojo, then take heed of the words in this article and get your mind, body and soul right for karate!

An incredible inner focus and determination can develop, when practicing very basic karate techniques, over and over again. Levels of understanding continually reveal themselves, as your karate practice continues.

Here’s a quote from the late and great Bruce Lee ~
I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.

Master Masahiko Tanaka 8th Dan, was once asked what the secret to his success was, he replied, ‘basics, basics and more basics!’

Learning Karate A Good Focus Pads Exercise

Here is a really good shotokan karate exercises that can be practiced on the striking pads. This exercise works on speed, distance, accuracy and timing. Starting with the left leg in front, the first person attacks with kizami-uki, gyaku-uki, then quickly pulls the left leg back, then immediately attack with a right leg mawashi-geri, landing with uraken, gyaku-zuki, followed by a left leg mawashi-geri, gyaku-zuki. As you land with the gyaku-uki, skip up with the right leg and finish with a left leg mawashi-geri and gyaku-zuki.

There are many other shotokan karate exercises that can be practiced on the focus pads, but this one does cover some important shotokan karate kihon fundamentals.

Shotokan Exercise Three Stance Combination

A simple shotokan karate exercise utilising three stances. Starting in kiba dachi with a left tate shuto, drive off the right leg and turn 45 degrees and perform a right arm gyaku zuki (reverse punch). Then strongly pull the right hip and body back at the same time as you pull the right gyaku zuki arm back. Then perform a left choku zuki (straight punch) in Kiba dachi (horse riding stance), immediately followed by a right choku zuki. Next, drive off from the left leg and turn 45 degrees and perform a left arm gyaku zuki (reverse punch). Then strongly pull the left hip and body back at the same time as you pull the left gyaku zuki arm back. Then perform a right choku zuki (straight punch) in Kiba dachi (horse riding stance), immediately followed by a left choku zuki. Then pull the left hip and left side of the body back as you perform a left shuto uke (knife hand block) in Kokutsu dachi (back stance), immediately start to pull the right hip and right side of the body back as you perform a right shuto uke (knife hand block) in Kokutsu dachi (back stance). Slowly return back to the starting position with a left tate shuto in kiba dachi, then repeat the exercise.

Shotokan Karate Exercise Front Kick Belt Training

Mae Geri (front kick)

The karate front kick, or mae geri is the first karate kick that is practiced. One of the common mistakes with front kick (mae geri), is to let the kick travel in an upwards arc. The kick wants to be traveling in a straight line on impact, just like a bullet. The path of front kick is a straight line as can be seen in the video below, where we are using our obi (belt) for a really good kicking exercise, that makes sure the path of the front kick is correct. Try to get the kicking foot to lightly touch the belt as it travels to the target and back. Mae geri is one of the first karate moves taught in karate classes, so if you are trying to learn karate at home, take your time with this karate technique because if you master this and understand the basic kicking principles, the other kicks will come very easily.

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).

Shotokan Stances Kokutsu Dachi

Many shotokan karateka find this karate stance the most difficult. Kokutsu dachi should be roughly two shoulder lengths, front foot facing directly forward and back foot facing 90 degrees to the side. The front leg slightly bent and should not be locked straight. The back leg is bent strongly, but naturally, do not force the knee outwards. 70% of the weight should be on the back leg and 30% on the front and the heels should be in a straight line.