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.

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 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! :)

Brown Belt Shotokan Karate Kata Jion

Jion is a brown belt shotokan karate kata. Some karate classes have this particular karate kata as one that is needed when attempting shodan (black belt 1st dan). Jion is quite a basic kata, but also has several more advanced combinations. This kata is very strong and linear in style.

Jion (translates as: "Temple" or "Temple of love and goodness")

Karate Moves Gyaku zuki 3 Karate Moves in 1

Gyaku tsuki or reverse punch is one of the basic karate moves, but contained within gyaku tsuki are two other powerful strikes, they are 1. ura tsuki (upper cut) and 2 tate tsuki (vertical punch). if you are practicing gyaku tsuki correctly, these two extra karate techniques will come easily.