Kihon
Kihon means "basics," or "fundamentals." It is the term used to describe the practice and repetition of the basic techniques of karate. Kihon can be performed with footwork or from a stationary position.
Since Kihon is vital to the development of proper karate technique, Shotokan students spend a great deal of time trying to perfect it. Improve your kihon skills, and all other aspects of karate improve automatically. Kihon can be divided into 5 categories:
- Stances (Dachi)
- Blocks (Uke)
- Punches (Tsuki)
- Kicks (Geri)
- Strikes (Uchi)
Stances
Outer Tension Stances
- zenkutsu-dachi
- kokutsu-dachi
- kiba-dachi
- fudo-dachi (sochin)
- shiko-dachi
Inner Tension Stances
- hangetsu-dachi
- sanchin-dachi
- nekoashi-dachi
Natural Stances
- hachiji-dachi
- uchi-hachiji-dachi
- musubi-dachi
- heisoku-dachi
- renoji-dachi
- teinoji-dachi
- heiko-dachi
Unstable Stances
- ashi-dachi
- tsuru-dachi (sagiashi)
- kosa-dachi
- hizakutsu-dachi
- hiza-dachi
Blocks
Basic Closed-Hand Blocks
- age-uke
- soto-uke
- gedan-barai
- uchi-uke
Open-Hand Blocks
- shuto-uke
- tate shuto-uke
- kake-uke
- haishu-uke
- tsukami-uke (koko-uke)
Advanced Blocks
- haiwan-uke
- nagashi-uke
- osae-uke
- sukui-uke
- maki-otoshi-uke
Double-Hand Blocks
- morote-uke
- kosa-uke (juji-uke)
- kakewake-uke
- manji-uke
- bo-uke
- awase-uke
- hasami-uke
- oshi-uke
Punches
Basic Punches
- choku-zuki
- oi-zuki
- gyaku-zuki
- kisami-zuki
Advanced Punches
- ura-zuki
- age-zuki
- kagi-zuki
- mawashi-zuki
- tate-zuki
- uke-zuki
Double-Hand Punches
- morote-zuki
- yama-zuki
- yumi-zuki
- awase-zuki
- heiko-zuki
- hasami-zuki
Fore-Knuckle Punches
- ippon-ken
- nakadaka-ippon-ken
- hiraken
Spear-Hand
- ippon-nukite
- nihon-nukite
- tate-nukite (shihon-nukite)
- hira-nukite (shihon-nukite)
Kicks
Basic Kicks
- mae-geri
- yoko-geri-keage
- yoko-geri-kekomi
- mawashi-geri
Advanced Kicks
- ushiro-geri
- ura-mawashi-geri
- mikazuki-geri
- tobi-geri
Advanced Leg Attacks
- fumikomi
- ashi-barai
- ashi-namigaeshi
Non-Traditional Kicks
- ushiro-ura-mawashi-geri
- ura-mikazuki-geri
- kagi-geri
- otoshi-kakato-geri
- tsumasaki-geri
- sune-geri
- kin-geri
- naname-geri
Strikes
Roundhouse Strikes
- kentsui-uchi
- uraken-uchi
- shuto-uchi
- haito-uchi
- teisho
Animal Strikes
- keito
- seiryuto
- kakuto
- kumade
- washide
Smashing Techniques
- empi-uchi (empi-ate)
- hiza-tsuchi (hiza-ate)