Karate techniques explained

A number of karate techniques are used to deliver strikes to the human body. These techniques are delivered from a number of stances. The karateka uses a number of blocks to protect themselves against these strikes.[1]

Vital points

Vital points used in attack[2] !Japanese!English
HichuThis pressure point is located in the center of the lowest part of the neck, in the hollow.
ShofuIn the lateral aspect of the neck, in the posterior border of the Sternocleidomastoideus posterosuperior on both sides of the center of the neck.
TentoHalf an inch directly above the middle of the anterior hairline.
DokkoDokko is a hollow spot behind the ear lobe
UtoHalf an inch above the eye bridge, between the eyes.
JinchuA little above midpoint of the philtrum, just under the nostrils.
MikazukiAbove the Adam’s apple, in the depression of the upper border of the hyoid bone.
KoteOn the inner crease of the elbow (find the center of the crease, and move inward toward the body one half cun.)
Yun ChuanOn the sole of the foot just forward of center.
YakoFour cun (inches) above the medial epicedial of the femur, between m. vastus medialis and m. Sartorius. One inch below the center of the inner thigh.
BiteiThe coccyx, targeted inwards or upwards or a combination of the two angles.
Kinteki The midpoint of the upper border of the Superior pubic ligament
TekoOn the dorsum of the hand, between the thumb and the 1st metacarpal bones, dors. Inter osseous m.,1st
MyojyoClassic martial arts on inch below the belly button. Acupuncture places it at 1.5 cun from navel.
Sonu The general location of this area is stomach and large intestine
TendoFound at the top of the skull, 2 cun (inch) posterior to the midpoint of the anterior hairline.
KasumiSphenoid or temple, in the depression about one inch posterior to the midpoint between the lateral eyebrow and the outer canthus.
MimiWhole of the ear
SeidonYuyao, middle of the eyebrow with the eye looking forward, the point is under the pupil, between the eyeball and the infraorbital ridge.
GenkonIn the depression in the center of the Mentolabial groove.
KeichuCenter of the back of the neck, between the third and fourth Cervical vertebrae.
Muyo boneInside edge of the tibia, seven cun above the tip of the medial malleolus, on the medial aspect near the medial border of the tibia.
Fukuto Fukuto is located on the midline of the lateral aspect of the thigh, about seven cun above the transverse popliteal crease.
Uchi Kuro BushiIn the depression of the lower border of the medial malleolus or one cun (inch) below the medial malleolus. Just below and slightly to the front of the knobby protruding of bone on the in side of the ankle of the right leg.
KooriGap between the first and second toe on the foot surface of the web.
GaishohoOne half inch above, on the Pericardium meridian, on the palm side of the arm about two and a half inches above the wrist, between the Radius and the ulna bones.
Shen MenOutside of the back of the foot, behind outer ankle.

Arm techniques

Parts of the Arm used in Attack[3] !Japanese!English
Zuki/Tsuki
Uchi
Age ZukiRising punch
Kagi ZukiHook punch
Yama ZukiMountain punch
Awase ZukiTwo handed punch
Heiko ZukiParallel punch
Hasami ZukiScissors punch
Nagashi ZukiFlowing punch
Ko UchiBent wrist strike
Washi-DeEagle hand
Kaisho Open hand
Choku ZukiStraight punch
Ura ZukiUpper punch
Uraken Uchi Back fist strike
Furi Zuki Circular punch
Mawashi ZukiRound hook punch
Tate ZukiVertical punch
Kizami ZukiJab punch
Oi Zuki Lunge punch
Gyaku-zukiReverse punch
Nihon Zuki Double punch
Sanbon ZukiTriple punch
Jun Zuki Leading punch
Morote Zuki Two fisted punch
Furi SuteWhip swing
Hojo Oshi Augmented push
Tsukami Hiki Grab-pull
Ashi Dori Leg take down
Toki WazaFreeing technique
Hazushi WazaThrowing-off technique
Nage Waza
haito Uchiridge hand
hiji uchi (empi)elbow strike[4]
kaiko-kenflat fist
kokenbent wrist
nakadaka-kenmiddle finger knuckle fist
nukite Uchifinger thrust
seikenfist
shotei Uchipalm of hand
shuto Uchiknife hand
tettsuihammer hand
yubi hasamifinger pinch

Foot techniques

JapaneseEnglish
Mai Geri KeageFront kick (snap)
Mai Geri Kekomi Front kick (thrust)
Kansetsu GeriStomping joint kick
Hiza GeriKnee kick
Nidan GeriDouble front kick
Mai Tobi Geri
Swing kick
Yoko Geri KeageSide kick (snap)
Yoko Geri (Kekomi) Side kick (thrust)
Mawashi GeriRound kick
Ushiro-GeriBack kick
Ashi Barai Foot sweep
Kakato Otoshi Heel drop
Fumikomistomp (strike)

Foot movements

Movements of foot used in Attack!Japanese!English
Suri Ashi Sliding step
Tsugi Ashi Shuffling step
Ayumi Ashi Natural stepping
Yori Ashi Dragging step
Keri Ashi Kicking foot
TenshinMoving
ChakuchiLanding
Issoku-cho One foot length

Stances

See main article: Karate stances.

Stances used in Karate[5] !Japanese!English
Dachi Stance
Heisoku DachiClosed foot stance (feet together)
Musubi DachiHeels together - feet at an angle
Heiko Dachi Parallel stance (feet shoulder width apart)
Hachiji DachiNatural stance (feet shoulder width apart - toes slightly pointed out)
Shiko Dachi Straddle leg stance
Kiba Dachi Horse riding stance
Sanchin DachiHourglass stance
Zen Kutsu DachiFront Stance
Han Zen Kutsu DachiHalf front stance
Fudo DachiFree stance
Kokutsu DachiBack stance
Neko Ashi Dachi Cat stance
Renoji Dachi"L" stance
Seisan Dachi Side facing straddle stance
Koshi DachiSquat stance

Blocking techniques

pages 129–136 of Higaonna's Traditional Karatedo Vol. 1 Fundamental Techniques

Blocking used in Karate!Japanese!English
Age Uke (Jodan)Rising block (Head)
Chudan UkeInside circular block
Harai Uke Sweeping block
Yoko UkeSide block
Morote Sukui UkeTwo hand scoop block
Shotei Harai UkePalm heel sweeping block
Shotei Otoshi UkePalm heel descending block
Hojo UkeAugmented block
Hari UkeBow & Arrow block
Haishu Mawashi Osae UkeBack hand circling press block
Kuri UkeCircular elbow block
Ura Kake UkeBack-hand hook block
Uchi Hiki UkeMiddle level inward pulling block
Yoko (Soto) Hiki UkeSide (outward) pulling block
Kosa UkeCross block
Kake UkeHook block
Ude OsaeArm wedge
Shotei OsaePalm-heel press
Gedan baraiDownward block
Hiki UkeGrasping block
Shuto UkeKnife hand block
Shotei UkePalm heel block
Chudan Uchi UkeInside forearm block
Ko UkeWrist block
Gedan Uchi BaraiInside downward block (open hand)
Ura UkeBack hand block
Hiji UkeElbow block
Hiza Uke Knee block
Mawashi UkeRoundhouse block
Morote UkeDouble handed block
Tora Guchi Tiger mouth (block & strike)

See also

Literature

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Higaonna, Morio . Traditional Karatedo Vol. 1 Fundamental Techniques . 1985 . 34 .
  2. Book: Higaonna, Morio . Traditional Karatedo Vol. 1 Fundamental Techniques . 1985 . 34–39 .
  3. Book: Higaonna, Morio . Traditional Karatedo Vol. 1 Fundamental Techniques . 1985 . 42–46 .
  4. Book: Karate-Do Nyumon. 9784770018915. 10 January 2015. Funakoshi. Gichin. 1994.
  5. Book: Higaonna, Morio . Traditional Karatedo Vol. 1 Fundamental Techniques . 1985 . 117–120 .