| Oizuki is simple, fast and direct, but hard to land! | | | | devastating. I will always remember the speed and |
| During a karatekas first few weeks of karate | | | | straight forward directness of Aihara senseis stepping |
| classes, they will be shown oizuki (stepping punch), | | | | punch. |
| this is a very basic karate move, which is used in the | | | | Oizuki is a basic karate technique that very few |
| first karate kata (form) and kumite (sparring). | | | | karateka take to a high level. Such a seemingly simple |
| Oizuki, starting from a left leg in front, karate front | | | | karate move, but underneath this basic karate move, |
| stance (zenkutsu dachi). | | | | lies a whole art form all on its own. |
| 1. The left leg bent in front and the right leg placed | | | | When stepping forward, many karateka think of the |
| behind, almost straight. | | | | upper body first, now the upper body plays a big |
| 2. The hip and body are side on (hanmi). | | | | part, but so does the front knee, hips, both sides of |
| 3. The arms are in the gedanbarai (downward block) | | | | the body, back leg, front leg, stomach, breathing, etc. |
| position, left arm placed over the left leg, the left fist | | | | Oizuki is an extremely hard technique to land on an |
| should be a fist to two fists away from the knee, | | | | opponent. It takes a long time to execute, you are |
| approximately. The right fist in the hikite position, | | | | open to attack because it is a long karate move, it is |
| placed just below the ribs, with the palm of the fist | | | | a straight karate technique, so it is much easier to |
| facing up. | | | | evade than say, a hook punch. |
| 4. Step forward with the right leg and punch as you | | | | This is an important karate move that should be |
| land in a right zenkutsu dachi. | | | | practiced intensely, by working on this punch in your |
| 5. On completion of the punch, the body should be | | | | karate classes, you will improve not only your oizuki, |
| square (shomen). | | | | but many other karate techniques will benefit |
| This is a very basic explanation of the punch, as this | | | | because of your effort with this one move. |
| article is more concerned with the importance of the | | | | They say oizuki is a simple karate move, but go ask |
| technique, than how to perform the move itself. | | | | an experienced shotokan karate instructor, I'm sure |
| I once witnessed Aihara Shihan deliver an incredible | | | | the answer you get, will be anything but simple! |
| oizuki to the throat of his tournament opponent, who | | | | If you are one of the many karateka, who learn |
| was himself, a very high level karateka. His timing and | | | | karate at home, as well as at the dojo, I urge you to |
| speed were incredible, if the control had not been | | | | work on the stepping punch. |
| there, the damaged caused would have been | | | | |