Why Is Kihon So Important in Karate?

Why Is Kihon So Important in Karate?

To many people (especially beginners), kihon training in karate is boring and they would rather work on kata which is way more interesting or kumite which is practical and a lot more fun and they can see some value in it. In this post, I will argue that kihon is the...
How to Generate Explosive Power in Your Karate Punches

How to Generate Explosive Power in Your Karate Punches

A simple straight punch (choku tsuki) can tell a lot about you as a karateka because delivering a good punch with decent power is not easy. It requires a good understanding of body mechanics and thousands and thousands of hours of practicing correctly. This post...
What Is the Purpose of “Chambering” in Karate?

What Is the Purpose of “Chambering” in Karate?

We practice “chambering” a lot in karate including in kihon, kata, and basic kumite drills. But when we practice jyu kumite or freestyle sparring, “chambering” seems to go out the window and we rarely ever see it in competitions, combat sports,...
This One Tip Will Massively Improve Your Karate Skills

This One Tip Will Massively Improve Your Karate Skills

This one tip backed by science will massively improve your progress in karate without the need to increase your training time. I came across this technique when I was at university and applied it in my study with great results. I would say it was the main reason that...
Soto Uke Technique and Applications

Soto Uke Technique and Applications

Soto uke (also called soto ude uke) is a basic Shotokan block. Although simple, soto uke is a very often used technique to deal with various kinds of middle level attacks. This post will show you how to perform soto uke correctly from a natural stance,...
A Complete List of Goju Ryu Stances

A Complete List of Goju Ryu Stances

This post provides a complete list of Goju Ryu stances with instructions on how to perform them correctly and their illustrations. Heisoku dachi (閉足立) Heisoku dachi (meaning “feet together stance”) is a formal attention stance. In this stance, your back is...