| When attending a karate for beginners class, one of | | | | punch, this is a mis conception, the rotation starts as |
| the first karate moves taught is Chokuzuki or | | | | the elbow leaves the body and finishes at the end of |
| straight punch. | | | | the punch. |
| The punch is practiced from heiko-dachi (natural | | | | 2. Try to keep the wrist straight and the two large |
| stance), feet roughly shoulder width apart, toes | | | | knuckles aligned forward. |
| facing forward, shoulders relaxed, crown of the head | | | | 3. At exactly the same time as this is happening, the |
| pushing up, stomach pushing down and chin pulled in. | | | | arm that is out straight, starts to pull back to the |
| The weight should be evenly distributed over both | | | | hikite position. As soon as the pull back starts, twist |
| legs. Try not to put the weight on the heels, instead | | | | the left arm 90 degrees anti-clockwise, then start to |
| the weight should be on the balls of the feet and big | | | | pull the arm back in a straight line. Once again keep |
| toes. | | | | the elbow in a straight line, as soon as the elbow |
| One arm is placed straight out in front with a fist | | | | reaches the side of the body, the last 90 degree |
| formed, try to keep the shoulder of the punching are | | | | rotation can be completed. |
| relaxed and down, the back of the hand facing up. | | | | 4. Both arms should be moving at the same time and |
| The other arm is placed in the hikite position. Hikite is | | | | both arms should stop at the same time. Breathing |
| made when you form a fist and place it on the ribs | | | | should be silent, breathing out on the execution of |
| at the side of your body, the fist should be palm up, | | | | this basic karate punch. |
| with the elbow pulled in and down. If you look from | | | | 5. Technical Detail |
| the front, you should be able to see the fist at the | | | | When punching with the right fist, the power is |
| side of the body, but not the elbow sticking out. If | | | | generated not just from the upper body and arms |
| the elbow is higher than the fist, the shoulder will be | | | | but from the legs and in particular, the left hip which |
| up and weak. | | | | initially rotates back to pull back the left reaction hand |
| Punching With The Right Arm | | | | (hikite) and then immediately thrusting forward at the |
| 1. When you start the punch, your right fist will be in | | | | completion of the punch, so the hips once again |
| the hikite position at the side of the body. Your | | | | return to their square position, this movement |
| punching arm moves forward, but nothing else, keep | | | | generates tremendous power in the punch. The |
| the palm facing up, do not let the elbow come away | | | | muscles in the back of the left thigh plays a major |
| from the body as this will cause the punch to | | | | part in the punch and this muscle tenses at the end |
| become a flick, keep the elbow directly behind the | | | | of the technique, along with the abdominal muscles |
| fist until your elbow comes level with the front of | | | | and the muscles under the right punching arm. |
| your stomach. As your elbow moves away from the | | | | When learning karate, the techniques are extremely |
| body, you begin to rotate the forearm anti-clockwise, | | | | complex, so it is a good idea to take things slowly |
| your fist and forearm should travel through 180 | | | | and understand the karate basics fully, before moving |
| degrees and complete the rotation at the end of the | | | | on to the advanced training. |
| punch, do not do the rotation at the end of the | | | | |