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A simple striking combination on the focus pads using single strikes. Striking karateka starts from left fighting stance. Strike the first pad with a right teisho uchi (palm heel strike), drive from the right leg Pull the left leg back, then drive in with the right leg and strike with a left teisho uchi (palm heel strike). Step back with the right leg, then drive in with the left leg and strike with a right heito uchi (ridge hand strike). Pull the left leg back, then drive in with the right leg and strike with a right shuto uchi (knife hand strike). Immediately follow the shuto uchi with a left heito uchi (ridge hand strike). Step back with the right leg, then drive in with the left leg and strike with a left shuto uchi (knife hand strike). Immediately follow the shuto uchi with a right gyaku zuki (reverse punch). Pull the left leg back, then drive in with the right leg and strike with a left gyaku zuki (reverse punch). Step back with the right leg...

Four kicks on the spot. This is normally used for shotokan brown belt examinations , good for balance and strengthening the supporting leg. Within our Dojo, this shotokan kicking combination is first practiced at brown belt and is then used at every examination, up to black belt. Starting from a left side fighting stance and kicking with the right leg. 1. Front kick (mae geri). 2. Side thrust kick (yoko geri kekomi). 3. Back kick (ushiro geri) 4. Round house kick (mawashi geri) with the right leg, then a short step forward with the right leg. Throughout this kicking combination, try an keep kamae, try not to let your arms wave around as you kick. Keep the kicks flowing, rather than kicking in a robotic fashion. Push the hips into the kick, rather than just using the leg. All these shotokan techniques should be practiced slowly first, then once you are confident in the technique, timing and rhythm of the combination, you can practice at full speed and power.

A simple oi zuki exercise that's really good for target and distance training

Within our Dojo, this shotokan kicking combination is first practiced at brown belt and is then used at every examination, up to black belt. Starting from a left side fighting stance. 1. Front kick (mae geri)with the right leg, then a short step forward with the right leg. 2. Side thrust kick (yoko geri kekomi) with the left leg, then a short step forward with the left leg. 3. Round house kick (mawashi geri) with the right leg, then a short step forward with the right leg. 4. Spining back kick (ushiro geri) with the left leg, then stepping forward with the left leg and finishing in a left side fighting stance.

How to form a correct karate fist Seiken (fore-fist)

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The Front kick or Mae Geri we are talking about today is mae geri keage (front kick snap) training on the punch bag . The kick should travel like a bullet and not upwards where the kick would literally grazing the surface of the target. This shotokan karate front kick wants to penertrate the target, then viciously snap back releasing the shock into the target. Try to keep the upper body as still as possible as you start the front kick

Shotokan basic combinations strung together in a nice shotokan training exercise. 1. Sanbon Zuki. 2. Age uke, Gyaku zuki, Gedan Barai. 3. Uchi uke, Kizami zuki, Gyaku zuki. 4. Soto uke, Empi, Uraken. 5. Shuto uke, Nukite.

  Shotokan Karate Kata - The Heian Kata Series The history of the heian kata (original name Pinan), is a subject of much debate. Many karate historians believe the karatemoves contained in the heian kata, come from the kata Kusanku, which is the original name of the shotokan kata, Kanku Dai (to view the sky). They say that master Itosu thought Kusanku (kanku dai), was too long and contained too many karate moves for new karateka to learn. So he took Kusanku and divided it up into the five heian kata. Other karate historians believe the hiean kata were developed from the long Chinese kata, Channan. Another theory says Channan kata is the Heian Kata. Whatever the history of the Heian kata, they are now practiced by millions of karateka worldwide and play an integral part of every shotokan karate practitioners development. The five heian kata are, 1. Heian Shodan (Peaceful mind, first level) 2. Heian Nidan (Peaceful mind, second level) 3. Heian Sandan (Pe...

This shotokan kumite exercise consists of three gyaku zuki (reverse punch) attacks, with 3 simultaneous block/reverse punch counters. This is a really good shotokan exercise for timing. This exercise works on the ‘shock attack’. Start slowly, then gradually pick up the speed, until the attacker can add in dummy and feigns before the attacks are launched

 A good exercise for front leg round house or mae mawashi geri. 1. Both karateka start from left fighting stance. 2. First person kick three left leg mae ashi mawashi geri, be sure to touch the target and try not to let the arms move out from the body. mae ashi mawashi geri 3. Second person kick three left leg mae ashi mawashi geri, be sure to touch the target and try not to let the arms move out from the body. 4. First person kick three left leg mae ashi mawashi geri, after each kick land and execute gyaku zuki (reverse punch). 5. Second person kick three left leg mae ashi mawashi geri, after each..... Click Here for the rest of the article

Here is a good shotokan karate back kick exercise to stop the karateka over spinning when executing ushiro geri or back kick

Kihon grading requirements for 10th kyu white belts belts taking 9th kyu orange belt. Shotokan dojo grading syllabus do vary, our orange belt kihon syllabus is very basic and only has one kick (mae geri front kick)

Kihon requirements for 9th kyu orange belts taking 8th kyu red belt. I know grading systems do vary from shotokan dojo to dojo,

The karate warm up and stretch is one of the most neglected parts of karate practice and it is a part of karate that a karateka ignores at their peril. Not only is stretching healthy, it also helps prevent injury during karate classes. Stretching should be practiced before and after your karate

This yellow belt shotokan karate syllabus comprises of single techniques throughout, there are no combinations. Our 6th kyu shotokan karate grading syllabus, has the first combinations in our syllabus

Bassai Dai translates as “To storm a fortress” and is practiced in many styles of karate. There are many variations of the original Passai, which was the original name for Bassai.  It is believed that there were two versions of Passai practiced on Okinawa. Karate master, Sokon Matsumrua brought one Passai kata to Okinawa, from China and the other was taught to Okan Oyadomari on Okinawa, by a Sokon MatsumruaChinese martial artist, who resided there. The one we are referring to here, is the shotokan Bassai Dai, which many believe came from the Okan Oyadomari lineage. In many shotokan karate dojo, Bassai dai is the first intermediate brown belt kata that a new brown belt karateka practices. Many shotokan karateka use Bassai dai to test for all their brown belt examinations and indeed, the coveted black belt test. The first move in the kata, epitomizes the whole kata. A very strong move, driving forward off the left leg, with a knee attack and strike. This karate kata also has ...

Jyu ippon kumite is a shotokan brown belt or 3rd kyu level kumite. The attacks in jyu ippon kumite are pre arranged at brown belt, then advancing to any attack at black belt. Most Shotokan jyu ippon kumite is practiced at long range, with attacks, oizuki jodan, oizuki chudan, mae geri, yoko geri kekomi, mawashi geri and ushiro geri. Some shotokan dojo, add other attacks, such as kizamizuki and gyakuzuki. This shotokan kumite can also be practiced at medium or close range, moving or stationary, with or without hikite on the attacks and counters.  For the first time, moving and feigning can be used while attacking and defending. Many shotokan dojo put a strong emphasise on this sparring and say that, if practiced correctly, the karateka should never have a problem in a self defense scenario.

A really good example of strong basic applications to the first shotokan kata in the Heian series, Heian Shodan. :)

A good example of shotokan kata Heian Shodan and applications ,. .....

A really good mae geri or front kick exercise. Travel the length of the belt slowly, using muscle control throughout. There are a few different front kick variations, this exercise applies to nearl all the different variations and can really benefit your front kick.