Basic Karate

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Stances and basic strikes

1.Zen Kustu Dachi (Forward Leg Stance). This is a Forward facing stance with 60% of your weight on the front foot and 40% on the rear foot. The lead foot is pointing straight ahead with the calf perpendicular to the floor. If you look over the top of your front knee, you should be able to see your toes. The back foot should be at a 45 degree angle with the back leg straight. The distance between your front and back foot should be your shoulders width from side and from front heel to back toe. Your hips and shoulders should be facing the front. This is a strong stance to the front, but weak to the rear and sides.

2.Hachichi Dachi (Horse riding Stance). This is a side facing stance with 50% of your weight on each leg. Your feet are pointed straight ahead a little more than shoulders width apart. Your back should be straight and your knees bent in an almost sitting position, not unlike sitting on a horse. This is a strong stance to either side but weak to the front and rear.

3.Neko Ashi Dachi (Cat Stance). This is a forward facing stance with 10% of your weight on the front foot, the back foot at a 45 degree angle. The front is straight ahead with foot arched so that the ball of the foot and toes only touch the surface lightly. The width should be a little less that your shoulders width with the distance from heel to toe being 12-18 inches. This is a strong stance in all directions.

Basic Blocks, Punches and Strikes

 From "Horse Riding" stance various strikes and blocks can be preformed.This will help develop strenght and power. 

 

Straight Punch                                                                          

(1st Technique for yellow Belt)                              

 Downward Block (2nd Technique for Yellow Belt)

 Upper Block (3rd technique for Yellow Belt)

 

In Free-style karate the following strikes may be practiced from what is know as “hour glass” stance. This is a symmetrical stance so at you practice with the right and left hand there is no need to change stance. This stance is taller than horse riding stance and can be used in many combat and self-defense situations.

 

Straight Punch

The straight punch can be preformed from this stance using the same pullback principle as in the horse-riding stance. The punch can either be held out for practice or snapped back as in practical self-defense. Sword hand

Sword Hand

This stance is also useful for the practice of Sword hand strike. To perform this strike raise your strike hand upwards and backwards almost placing the hand behind your head then swing your striking hand inwards towards the target, string with the small finger side of your open hand. The non-sticking hand is brought across your chest as you raise your hand and the withdrawn to the side of your body so as to create the important hip-twist motion. The target can be either the neck or face.

Ridge Hand

The ridge hand strike is a very effective self-defense technique. This is preformed by withdrawing the striking hand to hip level of the same side and striking upward towards the target with a slightly bent arm, the striking point being the outside of your index finger, The thumb should be bent inwards towards the small finger so as to prevent injury to your hand. The target can be neck or temple.

 

 

 

The Following techniques are preformed from Fighting Stance (Above)

Straight  Jab (4th Technique Yellow Belt)
Opposite Punch (5th Technique Yellow Belt)
Jab, Opposite Punch (6th technique Yellow Belt)