Reference Area
Reference Material Shotokan Basics Kata Diagrams
and Videos
KYU Rank Testing
Requirements Glossary Of Terms
Reference
Material
Patterson Park dojo follows the teachings
of Gichin Funakoshi. As such, his book, Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text serves
as our primary reference. If
differences between Karate-do Kyohan and other
references are found, the material in Karate-do Kyohan
will be used.
Karate-do Kyohan: The Master Text,
ISBN: 0870111906
Find
great prices for purchasing this book here
Other References used include:
Dynamic Karate by Masatoshi Nakayama,
ISBN: 0-87011-788-2
Best Karate Series by Masatoshi
Nakayama
Shotokan’s Secret,
by Bruce D. Clayton, ISBN: 0-89750-144-6
Shotokan Basics
Stance
Basic
Techniques
Stance
The first, and most important, concept to master in Shotokan, and almost any other martial art, is stance. Stance is paramount. The stance forms a solid base from which
to act. There are several stances
used in Shotokan. The stances listed below do not
constitute all the stances used in Shotokan. They do, however, represent the basic
stances taught to Kyu level karate-ka. Below are some of the common stances
used in Shotokan. In the descriptions, the terms
“narrow” and “wide” refer to side-to-side foot
positions and the terms “shallow” and “deep” refer to
front-to-back foot positions.
* The images shown
below are from Masatoshi Nakayama’s Dynamic Karate and
Nakayama’s Best Karate series and are the property of Kodansha
International.
Forward (Front)
Stance - Zenkutsu-dachi
Forward stance is a strong stance which can be used
either offensively (attacking) or defensively (blocking). It places the karate-ka’s
center of gravity forward. The
stance is both wide and deep. The
feet are placed hip width apart side to side and more than shoulder width front
to back. Done properly, the rear
leg should be nearly straight and the leading leg should be bent so that the
knee aligns above the ball of the foot.
BackStance - Kokutsu-dachi
Backstance is a strong stance and is typically employed defensively
as basis for blocking. It places
the karate-ka’s center of gravity
rearward. It does, however, offer a
strong base from which to use the leading foot in a frontal strike. It is less suitable for attacks to/from
the sides due to the narrow stance.
Although the stance is deep, the heels align on the centerline, making
it narrow.
Horse
(straddle) Stance – Kiba-dachi
Kiba-dachi is a strong side-to-side stance and is employed both
offensively and defensively to/from the sides. It is less suitable for attacks to/from
the front or back, but can be employed as part of throwing an attacker from the
rear. Although the stance is very
wide, it is shallow. The heels
align on the centerline. The knees
are slightly bent and the back is straight. It places the karate-ka’s
center of gravity evenly between the feet.
The stance resembles a person astride a horse.
Rooted Stance
– Fudo-dachi
Fudo-dachi, also known as Sochin-dachi, is a strong stance, both front-to-back and
side-to-side. It is essentially a
combination of Front Stance and Horse Stance. Body weight is distributed evenly across
the feet. This is a strong stance
suitable for most defensive and offensive moves and it allows easy transition
to/from Horse Stance, Front Stance and Back Stance.
The following diagram illustrates how by simply changing the
direction of the feet, aim of the body and center of gravity, the karate-ka can
transition between Back Stance, Rooted Stance, Front Stance, and Horse
Stance. The medium gray feet
represent Horse Stance. The black
feet represent either Rooted Stance or Front Stance, depending upon the center
of gravity. The light gray foot in
conjunction with the medium gray foot, represents Back Stance.
As stated above, stance is paramount. Following on that principle is the need
to move in stance and transition between stances. In Shotokan,
one does not walk linearly as one walks down the street; rather the feet follow
a “C” pattern. When
moving forward, bring the rear foot forward and into the center, passing the
other foot and then sweep the foot out away from the center. When moving backward, the same pattern
applies in reverse.
Basic
Techniques
This section will discuss some of the basic techniques used
in Shotokan.
Many have written entire book on this subject. This section will introduce a few of the
basic techniques. For simplicity,
the basic techniques in Shotokan can be placed in
three categories; blocks, strikes and kicks. In actual practice, blocks can be
strikes and strikes can be blocks.
Blocks
Although there are a myriad of blocks in Karate,
beginners start with five basic blocks; Rising Block (Age-uke),
Down Block (Gedan-barai), Inside Block (Uchi-uke), Forearm Block (Ude-uke)
and Knife-Hand Block (Shuto-uke).
Rising Block
The Rising Block (Age-uke) is
an upper body/head defense. It
works well as a setup for a grab followed by subsequent moves. Note the distance between the head and
the blocking hand and that the block is only as high as needed to prevent
impact to the head.
Down Block
The down block (Gedan-barai),
is a lower body defense. The block
itself begins at the ear and travels down across the body. The Down Block does not work as well as
a setup for a grab. Note the wrist
rotation during the block.
Inside Block
The inside Block (Uchi-uke) is
a mid-body defense. As with the
Rising Block, it works well as a setup for a grab followed by subsequent
moves. It begins at the waist and
rotates up across the body.
Forearm Block
The Forearm Block (Ude-uke) is
also a mid-body defense. As with
the Down Block, it is less well suited as a setup for a grab followed by
subsequent moves. Similar to the
Down Block, the Forearm Block starts at the ear and rotates across the body.
Knife-Hand
Block
The Knife-Hand Block (Shuto-uke)
is also a mid-body defense. It
works well as a setup for a grab followed by subsequent moves.
As with the Down Block, this block also begins at the
ear. The non-blocking hand protects
to solar plexus. Note that the
elbow of the blocking arm is bent at about 60 degrees.
Strikes
Although there are a myriad of strikes in Karate,
beginners start with a few basic strikes.
Shotokan strikes tend to be strong
strikes. There are a few that are
“stinging” strikes but the majority of strikes focus on disabling
an opponent instead of wearing him down.
Remember that Matsumura reshaped Shuri-te
after the Perry incident; doing away with many of the locks, holds and stinging
strikes in favor of disabling/debilitating moves.
Lunge Punch
The lunge punch begins just above the waist with the fist
palm up. This is called “the
chamber”. Unlike boxing,
where punches come from the shoulder, in Shotokan
punches come from the chamber. The
lunge punch combines the force of the punch plus the force of the body moving
forward plus the force of the hips rotating into a very strong strike. From the chamber the punch moves out and
up. The fist rotates from palm up
to palm down at the point of impact.
The twisting of the fist is believed to deliver a stronger impact while
aligning the arm in its strongest position.
Reverse Punch
Like the Lunge Punch, the Reverse Punch (Gyaki-zuke) begins from the chamber as well and follows the
same arm mechanics of the lunge punch.
It is more often used as a follow-up strike rather than an initial
strike due to its shorter reach.
The reverse punch combines the force of the punch with some level of hip
rotation to enhance its effectiveness but it is generally does not have the
impact of the lunge punch.
Knife-Hand
Strike
The Knife-Hand Strike (Shuto-uchi)
can be employed as an upper body strike (e.g. neck), a mid body strike (e.g.
ribs) or a lower body strike (e.g. groin and inner thigh). There are two variants of this strike,
sometimes referred to as Inward and Outward. The Outward strike is sometimes referred
to as Knife-Hand Strike while the Inward is usually referred to as Shuto. The
Japanese term Shuto-uchi refers to both. The Outward Knife-Hand Strike starts
from the ear and is very similar to Knife-Hand Block above (palm down) with the
exception that the striking arm is often straighter.
The Inward Knife-Hand Strike also starts from the ear;
however the palm is facing up.
Elbow Strike
The Elbow Strike (Empi-uchi) is
a close-in body strike. It can be
delivered by either the front or back of the elbow and from side to side or up
and down. Targets include the face,
head, neck, ribs, back and groin.
Hammer Fist
The Hammer Fist Strike is a strike every child has
used. It is an action that comes
naturally. One simply makes a fist,
raises it and brings it down. Targets
are usually the face, neck and clavicle (collar bone). Note the step taken with the delivery of
this strike. It is used to
accelerate the body so that the strike is delivered with greater impact, much
like the lunge punch.
Kicks
While there are a great many kicks in Karate, beginners
start with a few basic kicks. Kicks
in Shotokan Karate tend to be low. While there is an occasional Round-House
to the head, most kicks are chest level and below. The reason for this is simple. Shotokan
Karate is a fighting art and is not sport/competition based (JKA Karate,
however, often is competition based).
There are no extra points for impressing your opponent with flashy
moves. Shotokan
moves are linear, discrete and usually very powerful. Some martial arts, such as Taekwon Do and JKA Karate, are sport/competition
based. There are rules and extra
points for style. One rule in Taekwon Do is “no groin strikes”. This allows Taekwon
Do practitioners to practice very high axe kicks because they do not have to
fear exposing their groin to their opponent. Shotokan
Karate is not a sport. It is a
martial art whose sole purpose is self defense. Performing high kicks and exposing
one’s groin to an opponent in a real confrontation could be disastrous. For this reason, Shotokan
Karate kicks are relatively low allowing the karate-ka to keep their balance
and center of gravity low. The
picture below illustrates why Shotokan kicks tend to
be low. Note that the opponent on
the left has not only been struck in the groin but is being driven back off his
balance because his center of gravity is higher while the opponent on the right
has a lower center of gravity and better balance (oh, yeah… and a foot in
his opponents groin).
Front Snap Kick
The Front Snap Kick (Mae-geri keage) can be employed as a full body strike, however, it
is more often employed and a mid to low body attack. Typical targets include the chest, ribs,
stomach and groin, although it can be employed on the face/head or knees. This kick is not performed in the same
manner as kicking a ball. Note that
the knee is raised and points to the target before the leg snaps out to the
target. The toes are pulled back to
avoid breakage and the ball of the foot makes the strike. Note that the hips are pressed forward
to increase the impact. After
striking the target the foot is retracted back to the knee of the standing leg
in the same position as before it struck the target.
Side Snap Kick
The Side Snap Kick (Yoko-geri-keage)
allows the karate-ka to strike an opponent while reducing his frontal
profile. Targets are the same
as with the Front Snap Kick, and like the Front Snap Kick, the striking foot
comes up next to the knee of the standing foot, strikes and is then retracted
to its previous position. The foot
travels in an upward arc to the target.
This kick relies on speed to produce impact. Unlike the Front Snap Kick, the contact
area of the foot is the outer edge of the foot and not the ball.
Side Thrust
Kick
The Side Thrust Kick (Yoko-geri-kekomi)
is an extremely powerful kick which is usually employed from the middle of the
body down. The karate-ka aims at a
target behind his opponent and attempts to drive his foot “through”
the target. Targets include ribs,
stomach, groin and knees. This kick
may look similar to the Side Snap Kick but has an important difference. Where the Side Snap Kick travels in an
upward arc and relies on speed to affect impact, the Side Thrust Kick travels
in a straight line and utilizes the strong muscles of the thigh to break
bone.
Round House
Kick
The Round House Kick (Mae-geri Keage) is a powerful full body strike. It relies on a combination body momentum
and the whip like action of the leg for its power and can be effectively
employed from the head to the knees.
Impact can be made with the ball of the foot or top of the foot. When used against higher targets,
however, (face or head) it can leave the karate-ka vulnerable to a groin
strike.
KYU Rank Test
Requirements
Adult belts colors
will follow the original set forth by Gichin
Funakoshi; White, Green, Brown and Black. Those
under 16 will have stripes on their Green and Brown belts to indicate the Kyu ranks in between the major belt colors.
|
KYU |
BELT |
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6th |
Green |
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|
Basic
Techniques: |
Self
Defense Techniques: |
Kumite: |
Kata: |
|
Punch
to chest |
Hand
shake |
3
Step Sparring – attack |
Taikyoku Shodan |
|
Punch
to face |
Lapel
hold |
|
Heian Shodan |
|
Punch
to stomach |
Wrist
grab |
|
|
|
Rising
block |
Two
handed choke hold |
|
|
|
Down
block |
Head
lock |
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|
|
Inside
block |
Bear
hug - rear |
|
|
|
Forearm
block |
Being
tackled |
|
|
|
Knifehand block |
Double
wrist grab |
|
|
|
Front
kick to chest |
Wrist
grab from rear |
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|
Front
kick to face |
Belt
hold |
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|
Crescent
kick |
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Back
kick |
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|
KYU |
BELT |
|
|
|
5th |
Green
/ Green-Brown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
Techniques: |
Self
Defense Techniques: |
Kumite: |
Kata: |
|
Punch
to chest |
Bear
hug-front |
3
Step Sparring |
Heian Nidan |
|
Punch
to face |
Collar
hold-one hand |
|
Heian Sandan |
|
Punch
to stomach |
Full
nelson hold |
|
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|
Rising
block/reverse punch |
Shoulder
grab from rear |
|
|
|
Forearm
block/reverse punch |
Lapel
hold-two handed |
|
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Down
block/reverse punch |
Head
Lock |
|
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|
Inside
block/reverse punch |
Hair
pull |
|
|
|
Knifehand block/reverse punch |
Collar
hold-two handed |
|
|
|
Front
kick to chest |
Bear
hug-side |
|
|
|
Front
kick to face |
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Side
snap kick |
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Side
thrust kick |
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|
KYU |
BELT |
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|
|
4th |
Green
/ Green-Brown-Brown |
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Basic
Techniques: |
Self
Defense Techniques: |
Kumite: |
Kata: |
|
Roundhouse punch
to chest |
Eight throwing
techniques |
1
Step Sparring |
Heian Yodan |
|
Roundhouse punch
to face |
|
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Heian Godan |
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Elbow
strike to face |
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Elbow
strike to chest |
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Elbow
strike to back |
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Elbow
strike to head |
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Knifehand block/spear hand thrust |
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Front
kick to chest/reverse punch |
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Front
kick to face/reverse punch |
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Back
kick/reverse punch |
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Roundhouse
kick |
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Sanbon zuki (3 punches) |
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KYU |
BELT |
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|
3rd |
Brown |
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Basic
Techniques: |
Self
Defense Techniques: |
Kumite: |
Kata: |
|
Sanbon zuki (3 punches) |
Kneeling
techniques |
1
step sparing |
Tekki Shodan |
|
Rising
block/forearm block/ reverse punch |
Chair
defense |
Semi
free sparring |
Tekki Nidan |
|
Down
block/rising block/ reverse punch |
|
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Inside
block/down block, reverse punch |
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Forearm
block/inside block/reverse punch |
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Knifehand block/jab/reverse punch |
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Front
kick to chest/jab/reverse punch |
|
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Back
kick/reverse punch |
|
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Roundhouse
kick/reverse punch |
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Side
thrust kick/reverse punch |
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Crescent
kick/reverse punch |
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KYU |
BELT |
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|
2nd |
Brown-Black |
|
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Basic
Techniques: |
Self
Defense Techniques: |
Kumite: |
Kata: |
|
Lunge
punch to chest |
Knife
defense |
Free
style sparring |
Tekki 3 |
|
Lunge
punch to face |
Bat
defense |
|
Bassai Dai |
|
Lunge
punch to stomach |
Attacks
from two opponents |
|
|
|
Sanbon zuki |
|
|
|
|
Forearm
block/elbow strike/reverse punch |
|
|
|
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Down
block/back fist strike/reverse punch |
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Inside
block/jab/reverse punch |
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Rising
block/down block, reverse punch |
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Knifehand block/jab/front kick lead leg |
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Front
kick/back kick |
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Roundhouse
kick/crescent kick |
|
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Front
kick/side thrust kick |
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KYU |
BELT |
|
|
|
1st |
Brown-Black-Black |
|
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|
Basic
Techniques: |
Self
Defense Techniques: |
Kumite: |
Kata: |
|
Sanbon zuki |
Strikes
to the following areas: |
3
step sparring |
Jion |
|
*Forearm
block/jab/reverse punch |
back
of head |
1
step sparring |
|
|
*Inside
block/two finger strike/reverse punch |
kidney |
Semi
free sparring |
|
|
*Down
block/elbow strike/reverse punch |
back
of knee |
Free
style sparring |
|
|
*Rising
block/back fist strike/reverse punch |
lower
back |
|
|
|
**Knifehand block/jab/front kick/reverse punch |
groin |
|
|
|
**Front
kick/roundhouse kick/side thrust kick |
middle
of back |
|
|
|
**Roundhouse
kick/side snap kick/crescent kick |
back
of neck |
|
|
|
**Side
thrust kick/crescent kick/back kick |
collar
bone |
|
|
|
|
solar
plexus |
|
|
|
*blocks
and strikes performed with same arm |
face |
|
|
|
**same
leg |
temple |
|
|
|
|
crown
of head |
|
|
Glossary Of Terms
Your instructor will use
the following terms and Japanese commands in class:
Counting
|
Number |
Pronunciation |
Number |
Pronunciation |
|
1 |
ichi |
21 |
ni-ju-ichi |
|
2 |
ni |
22 |
ni-ju-ni |
|
3 |
san |
23 |
ni-ju-san |
|
4 |
shi |
24 |
ni-ju-shi |
|
5 |
go |
25 |
ni-ju-go |
|
6 |
roku |
26 |
ni-ju-roku |
|
7 |
shichi |
27 |
ni-ju-shichi |
|
8 |
hachi |
28 |
ni-ju-hachi |
|
9 |
kyu |
29 |
ni-ju-kyu |
|
10 |
ju |
30 |
san-ju |
|
11 |
ju-ichi |
40 |
yon-ju |
|
12 |
ju-ni |
50 |
go-ju |
|
13 |
ju-san |
60 |
roku-ju |
|
14 |
ju-shi |
70 |
nan-ju |
|
15 |
ju-go |
80 |
hachi-ju |
|
16 |
ju-roku |
90 |
kyu-ju |
|
17 |
ju-shichi |
100 |
hyaku |
|
18 |
ju-hachi |
|
|
|
19 |
ju-kyu |
|
|
|
20 |
ni-ju |
|
|
Terms
Age-zuki (ah-geh zoo-key) Rising punch
Age-uke (ah-geh
oo-kay) Rising block
Arigato (ah-rhee-gah-toh) Thank You
Choku-zuki (cho-koo zoo-key) Straight
punch
Chudan (chew-dahn) chest area
Chudan-mae-geri (chew-dahn mah-eh
geh-rhee) Front kick to body
Chudan-uchi-uke (chew-dahn oo-chee
oo-kay) Inside Block across body
Chudan-ude-uke (chew-dahn oo-deh
oo-kay) Forearm block across body
Dojo (dough-joe) Training gym
Empi (en-Pee) Elbow
Empi-uchi (en-pee oo-chee) Elbow strike
Gedan (geh-dahn)
Lower area of the body.
Gedan-barai (geh-dahn baa-rah-ee) Downward block
Gi (ghee) Jacket
Gyaku-zuki (gya-koo zoo-key) Reverse
punch
Haito (Hi-toe) Ridge hand
Haito-uchi (hi-toe oo-chee) Ridge hand
strike
Hanmi (hahn-me) Half front facing position
Hidari (he-dah-rhee) Left
Jiyu-Kumite (gee-you koo-me-teh) Free
style sparring
Jodan (joe-dahn) Face area
Jodan-age-uke (joe-dahn ah-geh ao-kay) Upper,
block against head attack
Jodan-KeKomi (joe-dahn Kay-Koh-me) Thrust kick to face
Jodan-mae-geri (joe-dahn mah-eh
geh-rhee) Front kick to face
Juji-uke (jaw-gee oo-kay) X-block
Karate (Kah-rah-teh) Empty-hand
fighting
Kata (Kah-tah) Forms
Keage (kay-ah-geh) snap kick
Kekomi (Kay-Koh-me) Thrust kick
Kentsui (Ken-tsue-ee) Fist-hammer
Keri (Kay-rhee) Kicking
Kiba-dachi (Key-bah dah-chee)
Straddle-leg stance
Y,ihon Kumite (Key-hone Koo-me-teh) Basic sparring
Kizami-zuki (Key-zah-me zoo-key) Jab
Kokutsu-dachi (Koe-koo-tsu dah-chee) Back stance
Ko-shi (ko-she) Ball of the foot
Kumite (Koo-me-teh) sparring
Ma-ai (mah-aye)
Distancing
Mae-geri (mah-eh
geh-rhee) Front kick
Mae-geri keage
(mah-eh geh-rhee kay-ah-gah) front snap kick
Mae-geri kekomi
(mah-eh geh-rhee kay-koh-me) front thrust kick
Makiwara (mah-key-wha-rha) Punching
board
Mae-tobi-geri (mah-eh toe-be geh-rhee) Jumping
front kick
Mawashi-geri (mah-wha-she geh-rhee) Roundhouse kick
Mawashi-zuki (mah-wha-she zoo-key)
Roundhouse punch
Migi (me-ghee) Right
Mikazuki-geri (me-kah-zoo-key gah-rhee) Crescent kick
Morote-uke (mce-row-teh oo-kay) Augmented forearm block
Nidan-geri (nee-dahn geh-rhee)
Double jump kick
Nihon-nukite
(nee-hone-noo-key-teh) Two finger spear-hand
Nukite (noo-key-teh) Spear-hand,
straight thrust
Oi-zuki (oh-ee zoo-key) Lunge punch
Shuto (shoe-toe) Knife hand
Shuto-uchi (shoe-toe 00-chee) Knife-hand strike
Shuto-uke (shoe-toe oo-kay) Knife-hand
block
Sokuto (sow-koo-toe) Foot edge
Suki (sue-key) opening
Tanden (tahn-den) Navel
Teisho (tay-show) Palm-heel
Teisho-uchi (tay-show oo-chee)
Palm heel strike
Teisho-uke (tay-show oo-kay)
Palm heel block
Teisho-zuki (tay-show zoo-key) Palm heel
punch
Tobi-Keri (tow-be Reh-rhee) Jump
kick
Tsuki (Tsue-key) Punching
Tsuki-waza (tsue-key wah-zah)
Punching techniques
Uchi (oo-chee) Striking
Uchi-uke (oo-chee oo-kay)
inside block
Ude (oo-day) Forearm
Ude-uke (oo-day oo-kay)
Forearm block
Uke (oo-kay) Blocking
Uraken (oo-rah-ken) Back-fist
Uraken-uchi (oo-rah-ken oo-chee) Back-fist strike
Ushiro (oo-she-row) Back, rear
Ushiro-geri (oo-she-row geh-rhee) Back kick
Yoko (yoh-koh)
Side
Yoko-geri (yoh-koh
geh-rhee) Side kick
Yoko-geri-keage (yoh-koh geh-rhee kay-ah-gehi Side snap kick
Yoko-geri-kekomi (yoh-koh geh-rhee kay-koh-me) Side thrust kick
Waza (wah-zah) Technique
Zenkutsu-dachi (zen-koo-tsue dah-chee) Forward stance