| Correct practice of Kihon kata is vital to shotokan | | | | breathe out. |
| karate practitioners. This karate kata only consists of | | | | There are many interpretations of kime, but for the |
| two different karate moves, oizuki (stepping punch) | | | | beginner, focusing at the end of a karate technique |
| and gedanbarai (downward block). But within these | | | | should be a priority and when I say focus, I mean |
| two 'simple' karate techniques, lay the basic | | | | mind and body. Try to move relaxed then just as the |
| fundamentals of shotokan karate. | | | | technique lands, on the physical side, tighten the |
| Let us look at why kihon kata is so important to the | | | | muscles, then relax immediately, still keeping form. |
| shotokan karate dojo. | | | | All through kihon kata, the same height should be |
| 1. Shomen (Square) | | | | maintained, try not to move up and down as you |
| 2. Hanmi (Side facing) | | | | travel forward, or whilst turning and spinning. |
| 3. Hikite (Pulling hand) | | | | You should be aware of your seichusan (centre line) |
| 4. Breathing | | | | and embusen (kata performance line) at all times. The |
| 5. Kime (Focus) | | | | embusen of kihon kata forms the shape of the letter |
| 6. Same Height | | | | I. |
| 7. Seichusen (Centre line) | | | | Once the kata techniques are understood, speed |
| 8. Embusen (Performance Line) | | | | should be applied, the explosive start of each move |
| 9. Speed | | | | should be practiced, not a slow start, then picking up |
| 10. Zenktsu dachi (Front stance) | | | | speed as the move progresses. |
| 11. Oizuki (Stepping punch) | | | | Zenkutsu dachi (front stance), is the foundation |
| 12. Gedanbarai (Downward block) | | | | stance, so getting this right is essential. Try not to be |
| Lets just briefly cover these important elements. | | | | to long, to short, to high, or to narrow. To begin |
| The first move in kihon kata is gedanbarai | | | | with, the stance should be hip width, so from |
| (downward block), when executing this technique, | | | | shizentai (natural stance), step forward with the left |
| the body goes from a square (shomen) position, to a | | | | leg and bend the left knee so you cannot see the |
| hanmi (side facing) position upon completion. | | | | toes of the left foot, have the left knee roughly |
| The hikite arm (pulling hand) is used strongly on | | | | above the centre of the left foot. Front stance is a |
| every move. Work hard on developing a strong | | | | lot more involved than this, but this is a good starting |
| hikite. | | | | point. |
| Very basic breathing is practiced when first learning | | | | Oizuki and gedan barai are two great karate moves, |
| karate, so simply breathe in on the preparation of | | | | that will enable you to practice all the above points, |
| each move and out on completion, keeping the chest | | | | they are basic but contain all the basic fundamentals |
| still and using the stomach. The stomach should push | | | | needed for good strong karate practice. |
| out when you breathe in and pull in when you | | | | |