Gyaku-Zuki or Reverse Punch Shotokan Karate Tutorial

Gyaku-zuki or revers punch is one of the first moves that a karateka will learn, early on in their karate practice. This punch is very strong, an advanced karateka combining great technique, kime (focus), timing, body weight and body rotation, can deliver a devastating blow with this karate technique! There are several ways to practice reverse punch, the basic principles remain the same, the differences come when applying the punch. When practicing karate kihon, karateka will more often than not, take up a long zenkutsu-dachi (front stance), when practicing kumite (sparring), the stance will be higher and shorter in length. With a basic reverse punch from front stance, both arms are utilised. So as the punching arm begins it's forward motion, the hikite (pulling arm) begins it's pull back. In self defense, this is not a good idea, so for sparring and self defense, regarding the arms, just the punching arm is used.

Description Below Related To The Gyaku-zuki Video Tutorial Kihon Gyaku-zuki
 1. Migi zenkutsu-dachi (right side front stance) . Right arm extended out straight into the tate-shuto (edge of the hand) position and left arm in the hikite position. (see image) Punching gyaku-uki with the left arm. Body and hips are in the hanmi (side facing) position.
2. Drive from the back leg, through the left hip and begin the punch.
3. The left punching arm remains palm up until the elbow loses contact with the body, then start to rotate the left fist and forarm clockwise.
4. At the same time the punching arm starts to drive forward, you also drive the left side of the body forward.
5. When the arm starts to punch and the body starts to rotate, you also drive the hips around and forward.
6. When the arm starts to punch and the body starts to rotate, along with the hips, you also start to pull with the right hikite arm.
7. As the punching arm finishes the rotation, everything else also finishes. The body and hip rotation and the right hikite arm. So your body is in the shomen (Square) position.
8. Try and have an explosive start, but stay relaxed through the movement.
9. Breath out as you punch
10. At the completition of the punch, kime (focus), Tightening the muscles throughout the body for a split second, then immediately relaxing but keeping form.
11. Try not to push the right front knee out as you punch. What should happen is the front knee should come inwards slightly as you tighten the front legs inner thigh (controversial:))
12. As in the video you can then snap back to the starting position, with the body once again, in the hanmi (side facing) position.
13. IMPORTANT When striking fast, remember to hit with intent!

Self Defense Gyaku-zuki
1. The stance is higher, no use of the hikite pulling arm, but everything applies as above. Gyaku-zuki Tip There are three different strikes within the one punch (refer to the gyaku-zuki video).
1. Ura-zuki (upper cut/dig)
2. Tate-zuki (vertical punch) and finally
3. (Gyaku-zuki reverse punch)

Ikken Hissatsu To Finish With One Strike!

The Japanese phrase Ikken Hissatsu is made up of three kanji, (ichi) meaning “one” , (ken) meaning “fist” and hissatsu meaning “certain kill or death”. To kill with one blow (ikken hissatsu) is a martial arts concept that, in todays modern world, very few karateka adhere to. No one knows for sure when ikken hissatsu first came into karate, but it may have originated from the samurai. Ichi Geki Hissatsu is an old samurai maxim which means “One strike, certain death“

A karateka who lived by this concept was the legendary karate Master, Masutatsu Oyama 1923-1994 He became known as the ‘Godhand’, a living manifestation of the Japanese samurais’ maxim, Ichi geki Hissatsu or “One strike, certain death”. In 1950, master Mas Oyama started testing his power by fighting bulls. He fought 52 bulls, three were killed instantly, and 49 had their horns smashed off with knife hand strikes. During later years, he took on all challengers and had fights with over 270 different people. Nearly all of these fighters were defeated with one punch! Most of the fights lasted a few seconds and none of the fights lasted more than three minutes. To Masutatsu Oyama, Ichi geki Hissatsu, was the true purpose of karate techniques.

 

A modern day karate master who also lives by this concept, is the amazing.....read more

Gankaku Team Kata (1st Place) Men`s Team Kata - JKA World Karate Championship 2017

A great team kata from Japan to win the world JKA Championships 2017. Oss!


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Shotokan Kumite Simultaneous Block Strike Exercise

Here is a kumite exercise working on simultaneous block and counter strikes with a fast strike immediately after the block and a take down on the fourth combination. The attacker punches with a left kizami zuki (jab punch), the defender blocks and strikes simultaneously, soto uke (outsideblock) and gyaku zuki (reverse punch). The blocking hand can be closed or open. As soon as the reverse punch lands, immediately use the blocking arm to Strike uraken uchi (back fist strike) to the side of the neck or jaw.

The second combination has the same attack kizami zuki (jab punch), followed by the same defence outside forearm block reverse punch. This time the blocking arm immediately strikes tettsui (bottom fist), the third combination is exactly the same with kizami zuki (jab punch) and a simultaneous block and counter punch. But this time the blocking arm strikes with shuto uchi (knife hand strike).

On the fourth and final combination the attacker attacks gyaku zuki jodan (reverse punch to the head), the Defender blocks uchi uke (inside block) with a left open hand or closed fist and counter  at the same time with heito uchi (ridge hand strike) with the right hand.

When Marcus performs these combinations fast, he adds a guillotine choke after the back fist, bottom fist and knife hand strike. Then on the fourth combination he executes a takedown, try and use the left leg strongly along with the left blocking arm, which slams into the top of the opponents chest of throat, at the same time kick the left leg back.

This is a really good combination, working on speed striking and simultaneous block counters.

Single Shotokan Strikes From Shizentai

1. With the right arm, punch chokuu zuki (straight punch), immediately pull the right arm back to the left side of the chest or neck after the punch, then strike uraken uchi (back fist strike) with the right arm.
2. Repeat on the opposite side and make sure the body stays square for the completion of the punch, then rotate the body and hips for the uraken uchi.
3. Next, strike teisho uchi (palm heel strike), with the right arm, immediately pull the right arm back to the left side of the chest or neck after the punch, then strike tettsui uchi (bottom fist strike) with the right arm.
4. Repeat on the opposite side and make sure the body stays square for the completion of the palm heel strike, then rotate the body and hips for the tettsui uchi.
5. Next, strike nukite (spear hand), with the right arm, immediately pull the right arm back to the left side of the chest or neck after the punch, then strike shuto uchi (knife hand strike) with the right arm.  6. Repeat on the opposite side and make sure the body stays square for the completion of the spear hand strike, then rotate the body and hips for the shuto uchi.
7. Next, strike heito uchi (ridge hand strike), with the right arm.
8. Finally, strike heito uchi (ridge hand strike), with the left arm. This video is taken from one of our shotokan karate training lesson plans, which are for Sensei to use at their own Dojo.

Mae Geri Front Kick

Front Snap Kick (Mae Geri Keage) 

1. Starting from the feet together stance (Heisoku-dachi), lift the knee high, keeping the ankle bent (90 degrees) and the toes curled back, so the ball of the foot is pointing directly forward.
2. Extend the kick to the target, keeping the supporting foot flat and toes facing forward. As the kicking leg travels forward, push into the floor with the supporting leg, then using that push, drive the hips forward (keeping them square), try not to over extend with the hips.
3. Ensure the kick drives into the target and not up in front of the target. This basic front kick wants to travel straight, like a bullet and not in an upward arching movement.
4. As the foot reaches the target, the ankle goes from a 90 degree bend to straight. The foot points forward with the toes curled back, making sure the ball of the foot hits the target.
5. At full extension the kicking leg should snap back vigorously while keeping the knee high; this technique, if done correctly, should release a shock effect into the target.
6. Make sure the kick travels in a straight line into the target, not arching up at the end of the kick.