14
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Name and meaning of stance where you stand with fists on hips?
Your intuition is correct. It is a very vulnerable position. That should give you a clue about its bunkai.
For those that don't know, Bunkai is the Okinawan karate term used to refer to the practice ...
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13
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Styles of Karate
Thank you for the question. It's actually quite a good one to ask, because a lot of people assume all karate is basically the same. And that's not true.
There are 3 main branches of karate in my ...
- 18.9k
10
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How to do a good yoko geri (side kick)
You didn't give a specific problem you're having, so, it's hard to say what might be the problem.
There are two primary elements to the kick: the chamber and the thrust. There is your starting ...
- 4,057
8
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Shotokan Karate front stance - weight is over the front knee? Or centre?
Fair disclosure, I do not currently practice Shotokan, but I do practice Tae Kwon Do which has a front stance and requires 180 degree turns. There may be technical differences that I am unaware of.
...
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7
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Jumping in Karate Kumite
You will not telegraph the moment of your attack
This is the same reason for Taekwondo, western boxing (think Ali), or karate. If you are in a static stance, you have to shift weight before being able ...
- 7,540
4
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Shotokan Karate front stance - weight is over the front knee? Or centre?
It's a mistake to think of karate stances as static. They are not.
When fighting you will be in a stance for a fraction of a second. Therefore there is no correct static weight distribution.
Having ...
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4
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Starting position in Shotokan's Tekki Shodan
The question is: What is the purpose of the hand salutation at the beginning of Tekki 1 (Naihanchi 1)?
Here's a video showing the whole form:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAkA5zAosC4
One possible ...
- 18.9k
4
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Accepted
Final punches in Shotokan's Jion kata: Straight punch or hammer fist?
That weird looking hammer-fist / straight punch combination is done for a reason and should remain that way in order for the bunkai to work. I'll explain below.
Just to preface this, so you know ...
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3
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Shotokan morote uke: Use hammer fist surface of supporting hand?
but both alternatives seem to help
It depends on the application of the "block".
When you take a technique out of a kata, you also remove the context of its intended use. In general, I would take a ...
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Shotokan Karate front stance - weight is over the front knee? Or centre?
I am a current student of JKA Shotokan Karate. From my notes from the last Gassuku in Honbu Dojo, we went over front stance in fine detail for most of the week. The JKA teaches more of a 60% / 40% ...
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Shotokan Karate front stance - weight is over the front knee? Or centre?
"Should the weight be over the front knee in front stance? If so how much?"
Short answer No. Please consider that the percentage of weight is the product of a few other factors. These factors will ...
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What stretches should be done before performing Shotokan kata?
Stretching is somewhat of a personal thing, however there are a couple things to know. There are four different types of stretching, each with their own recommendations and hazards.
Static stretching -...
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Starting position in Shotokan's Tekki Shodan
I'd like to broadly endorse Steve's answer, but also add some possible context.
The kata actually starts at what the instructor calls "the oi", which is the ready posture referred to by ...
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How to do a good yoko geri (side kick)
Without knowing what art you're practicing or your goal for the kick (look good/classically proper technique vs. power/practicality?), I would blindly advise you to turn your hips more. You can get a ...
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Name and meaning of stance where you stand with fists on hips?
The entire 2nd half of Heian/Pinan Sandan (from the turn, position 11 in the diagram) is a single application.
The drill (kata applications are drills) is approximately as follows:
The turn 180 ...
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