BASIC MOVES
White to Yellow Belt must show proficiency in the following. While this may at first seem a daunting task, practice and repetition will help. Besides, even the highest level karate-ka practice these with great enthusiasm.
Waza (movements):
Stances Kicks Blocks Strikes Punches
Renzoku-waza (basic combined movments):
Kihon
Kata
Bunkai
Kumite
Stances
Stances are refered to as Dachi (pronounced da-ch).
Heisoku-dachi (hey-so-koo da-ch): toes and heels touching one another.
Musubi-dachi (moo-sue-bee da-ch): heels touching and toes out about 45 degrees
Heiko-dachi (hey-ko da-ch): feet parallel, hip width apart. From musubi-dachi, move heels to be parallel with toes.
Soto-hachiji-dachi (sew-toe-hat-chee da-ch): feet at 45 degrees out, heels same as heiko-dachi, but toes move out.
Uchi-hachiji-dachi (ew-chee-hat-chee da-ch): from soto-hatchiji dachi, heels move out, and body drops. Knees are bent in slightly, and heels point out. Feels like you are squeezing a volleyball between your knees. Your feet should grip the floor. Common stance, and one you need to learn!
Shiko-ashi-dachi (she-ko-ash-ee da-ch): horse riding stance. From Uchi-hachiji-dachi, toes move out to 45 degrees and your weight settles down. Keep the bum tucked under and back straight. Knees will be bent. Low is good, but not so the knees are bent more than 85 degrees. Takes a while to get this one without the hamstrings burning.
Seisan-dachi (say-san da-ch): forward foot toed in slightly, back foot facing nearly forward. Knees bent and 60% weight on the front foot. Keep weight low. Front knee bent so that the knee is over the toes.
Kosa-dachi (ko-sa da-ch): front foot turned at 90 degrees to side, knee bent. Back foot with heel raised and ball of foot on the ground, behind the heel of forefoot. Back knee, fits into front knee. Weight mostly on the front foot, back leg ready to kick.
Tsuru-ashi-dachi (sue-rue-ash-ee da-ch):knees bent, weight on back foot, front foot toes at knee height, ready to kick.
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Kicks
Mae-kekomi: Front thrust kick
Yoko-kekomi: side thrust kick
Mae-ashi-keage: front snap kick
Ushiro-geri: back kick
O-uchi-mawashi-geri: big roundhouse kick
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Blocks
Jodan-age-uke: upper area block. Fist with palm in drives upward along center-line of body until eye level, then rotates outward. Block finishes with fist slightly above forehead, and forearm at an angle upward and outward.
Soto-uke: Inside to outside block. Blocking arm starts at opposite waist and sweeps forward and up to block the middle area. Fist starts facing the ground, and finishes facing your face.
Uchi-uke: Outside to inside block. Blocking forearm starts up at right angles to the ear, sweeps down and across the body.
Gedan-berai: lower area block. Blocking fist starts near opposite ear, and follows down the opposite arm until the blocking arm is pointing at the ground about 4 feet in front of you.
Shuto-uke: open hand block. Palm starts near opposite ear. Arm sweeps forward so that palm faces away from body. Finger tips finish at same level as shoulder.
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Strikes
Shuto-uchi: open hand strike using side of hand opposite to the thumb. Keep thumb tucked against the side of the hand.
Uraken-uchi: strike with the back of the hand (knuckles of the first two fingers) with closed fist. Palm faces your eyes.
Empi-uchi: elbow strike
Teisho-uchi: strike with the palm of the hand. Use the fleshy pads near the base of the thumb across the lower palm. Fingers curl very slightly.
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Punches
Choku-Zuki: punch that is from a neutral stance (e.g., uchi-hachiji-dachi)
San-ren-zuki: three quick punches.
Kagi-zuki: punch to the side at belly height.
Jodan-ushiro-zuki: over the shoulder rearward punch
Shiko-zuki: punch from horse stance (i.e., shiko-ashi-dachi)
Oi-zuki: forward punch after stepping forward
Mae-te-zuki: forward punch
Gyaku-zuki: reverse punch. (punch with hand that is opposite to the foot that is forward)
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