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Kihon (Basic Techniques)

The training Master Funakoshi received consisted almost exclusively of the practice of kata. After he himself became a teacher, he had his students practice single techniques from each kata repetitiously as independent units. He believed that this approach, the polishing of each technique, would eventually result in more perfectly executed kata. Out of this new training approach developed the method of practice we have come to call kihon, or basic practice. This repetitious practice of each basic technique forms the foundation from which one advances in one's growth as a Karate student.

The following is a list of the basic kihon techniques that we practice.

Stances - tachi (tah-chee)
Back stance/weight rearwardkokutsu-dachi (koh-koo-tsoo-dah-chee)
Cat stanceneko-ashi-dachi (neh-koh-ah-shee-dah-chee)
Close-leg stanceheisoku-dachi (heh-ee-soh-koo-dah-chee)
Forward stance/weight forwardzenkutsu-dachi (zehn-koo-tsoo-dah-chee)
Half-front facing stancehammi-dachi (hahm-mee-dah-chee)
Immovable stancefudo-dachi (foo-doh-dah-chee)
Open-leg stancehachiji-dachi (hah-chee-jee-dah-chee)
Horse stancekiba-dachi (kee-bah-dah-chee)
 
Blocks - uke (oo-keh)
Cross-arm blockjuji uke (joo-jee oo-key)
Downward blockgedan-barai (geh-dahn bah-rah-ee)
Hammer blocktettsui uke (tet-soo-ee oo-keh)
Inward/outward forearm blockude uke (oo-deh oo-keh)
Knife-hand blockshuto uke (shoo-toh oo-keh)
Palm-heel blockteisho uke (teh-ee-sho oo-keh)
Rising blockage uke (ah-geh oo-keh)
Two-hand blockmorote uke (moh-roh-teh oo-keh)
 
Hand Attacks - Te Waza (teh wah-sah)
Double punchmorote-zuki (moh-roh-teh zoo-kee)
Hook punchkagi-zuki (kah-gee zoo-kee)
Jabmaete (mah-eh-teh)
Lunge punchoi-zuki (oh-ee-zoo-kee)
Palm-heelteisho-zuki (teh-ee-shoh-zoo-kee)
Reverse punchgyaku-zuki (gyah-koo-zoo-kee)
Rising punchage-zuki (ah-geh-zoo-kee)
 
Kicks - Ashi-Waza (ah-shee-wah-zah)
Combination kicksrenzoku-geri (rehn-zoh-koo-geh-ree)
Crescent kickmikazuki-geri (mee-kah-zoo-kee-geh-ree)
Foot edgesokuto (soh-koo-toh)
Heelkakato (kah-kah-toh)
Kneecaphizagashira (hee-zah-gah-shee-rah)
Double front kicknidan-geri (nee-dahn-geh-ree)
Flying front kicktobi-geri (toh-bee-geh-ree)
Flying side-thrust kicktobi-yokogeri (tph-bee-yoh-koh-geh-ree)
Front kickmaegeri (mah-ee-geh-ree)
Front kick/font legmaeashi-geri (mah-ee-ah-shee-geh-ree)
Front-thrust kickmaeashi-kekomi (mah-ee-ah-shee-keh-koh-mee)
Rear kickushiro-geri (oo-shee-roh-geh-ree)
Roundhouse kickmawashi-geri (mah-wah-shee-geh-ree)
Side-up kickyokogeri-keage (you-koh-geh-ree-keh-ah-geh)
Side-thrust kickyokogeri-kekomi (yoh-koh-geh-ree-keh-koh-mee)
Stamping kickfumikomi (foo-mee-koh-mee)
 
Elbow Attacks - Enpi (ehn-pee)
Striking Techniquesuchi waza (oo-chee wah-zah)
Back-fist strikeuraken uchi (oo-rah-kehn oo-chee)
Bottom-fist striketettsui uchi (teht-tsoo-ee oo-chee)
Knife-hand strikeshuto uchi (shoo-toh oo-chee)
Forearmude (oo-deh)
Fore-fistseiken (seh-ee-kehn)
Fore-knuckle fisthiraken (hee-rah-kehn)
Middle finger/knuckle fistnakadaka ken (nah-kah-dah-kah kehn)
One-knuckle fistippon ken (ee-pohn kehn)
Ridge-handhaito (hah-ee-toh)
Spear-handnukite (noo-kee-teh)
Two-finger spear-handnihon-nukite (nee-hohn noo-kee-teh)