15 Basic Karate Skills rear-hand reverse punch

(gyaku zuki). Use timing and

I. Punching Techniques (Zuki-waza): rhythm for smooth execution.

1. Choku Zuki – Straight Punch

II. Blocking Techniques (Uke-waza):
o From a front stance (zenkutsu
dachi), punch straight forward with 7. Age Uke – Rising Block / Upward Block
one arm while retracting the other
to your hip (hikite). Keep the o Raise your forearm upward in an
elbow tucked and the wrist arc to deflect a high attack. The
aligned with the forearm. Use hip blocking arm crosses in front of the
rotation (koshi) and exhale body and finishes above the
sharply. forehead, palm
facing outward, with the elbow
2. Renzuki – Continuous Punches slightly bent.

o Execute a series of straight punches 8. Soto Uke – Outside Block

in rapid succession, alternating
arms. Maintain stability and proper o Bring your blocking arm across
technique, using each punch with your body and sweep outward
full extension and sharp retraction. to the side. Start with the
blocking hand near the
opposite ear and finish with the
3. Sambon Zuki – Three Punch Combination
forearm vertical, protecting the
o Deliver three consecutive midsection.
punches: usually one to the
head (jodan), one to the 9. Uchi Uke – Inside Block
midsection (chudan), and
another to the head or chest. o Begin with the blocking arm
Each punch should be sharp chambered at the side. Sweep
and controlled with good timing. inward across the body to block an
attack aimed at your torso. The
forearm ends vertical with the palm
4. Kizami Zuki – Jab Punch / Front Hand Punch
facing inward.
o From a fighting stance, extend your
front hand quickly toward the target, 10.Gedan Barai – Downward Block / Low Sweep
using shoulder and slight hip
movement for reach. It's fast and • Sweep your forearm downward and
used to set up combinations. across the body to deflect low attacks
(e.g., kicks). Start with the arm across
5. Gyaku Zuki – Reverse Punch your chest and finish low with the palm
facing outward.
o From a front stance, punch with
your rear hand while twisting your 11.Shuto Uke – Knifehand Block
hips and shoulders. The power
• Perform from a back stance. The lead hand
comes from rotation and proper
blocks using the outer edge (knife edge) of the
weight transfer. hand in a sweeping motion. The other hand
chambers at the side in hikite.
6. Kizami Zuki Gyaku Zuki – Jab and Reverse
Punch Combination
III. Kicking Techniques (Geri-waza):
o Begin with a quick front-hand jab
(kizami zuki) followed 12.Mae Geri – Front Kick
immediately by a powerful • Lift the knee, extend the foot forward with the
 ball of the foot as the striking surface, and
retract. It targets the groin, stomach, or chin.
Focus on snapping motion and balance.

13.Yoko Geri – Side Kick

• Raise the knee across the body, pivot the
supporting foot, and extend the kicking leg
sideways with the heel as the striking surface. What is Karate-Do?
Retract quickly after impact.
Karate-Do, meaning “The Way of the Empty
14.Mawashi Geri – Roundhouse Kick Hand”, is a martial art that originated in
• Pivot on the support foot, lift the knee Okinawa, Japan. It was developed to enable a
sideways, and snap the lower leg in a person to defend themselves without weapons
circular motion. Strike with the instep or ball using highly trained body movements.
of the foot. Common targets: ribs, thighs, or
While legends speak of extraordinary
head.
feats—breaking boards, striking down animals with
bare hands, or piercing bamboo—these serve only
15.Ushiro Geri – Back Kick as symbolic tests of skill. The true essence of
• Turn your head to look behind, lift the Karate-Do lies in the balance between physical
knee, and drive the heel backward in a discipline and spiritual development.
straight line. It’s a powerful thrusting
kick used for counter-attacks.

Origins of Karate-Do
• Karate-Do was shaped in Okinawa, not
Work/s Cited: China, despite the historical influence of
Chinese martial arts.
• ULTIMATE KARATE (Director). (2024, • The earlier character for “kara” (唐) meant
October 15). KARATE 15 BASIC
“Chinese,” reflecting Okinawa’s cultural
MOVEMENTS | SHOTOKAN KARATE
[Video recording]. admiration for China at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf5KRe-V • Eventually, the character was changed to
Up8 空 (kara), meaning “empty,” to better
represent the deeper, more
philosophical meaning of the art.

The Meaning of "Kara" (空)

1. Empty Hand
o Karate teaches how to defend
without weapons using only the
body: hands, feet, and limbs.
2. Emptiness of Mind
o Like a clear mirror or a quiet
valley, the karateka (student) must
empty themselves of selfish and evil
thoughts to fully receive knowledge. 3.
Humility and Resolve
o True karateka are inwardly humble
and outwardly gentle. But when
justice calls, they show
unshakable courage—“Even
against ten million foes, I go!”
 4. Spiritual Emptiness (Ku)
o Echoing Buddhist philosophy,
emptiness (kara, or ku) is the
root of all form. Karate Work/s Cited
becomes a path to self-discovery
• Hakuakai Karate. (n.d.). What is Karate-Do?
and spiritual truth.
https://www.hakuakaikarate.org/en.karatedo.
Karate-Do (空手道) translates to “The Way of the html
Empty Hand”

• 空 (kara) – empty
• 手 (te) – hand
• 道 (do) – way
Karate-Do vs. Karate as Self-Defense

Many view Karate only as a set of fighting

techniques. However, true Karate-Do is not
about defeating others—it’s about defeating
your own ego and pursuing personal
perfection.

Karate-Do is a lifelong journey of

• Discipline
• Character development
• Justice and humility
• Harmony of body and mind

Legacy of Master Gichin Funakoshi

Master Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan

Karate, emphasized that Karate is not just physical
but also moral and philosophical. His teachings live
on through every:

• Kihon (basic techniques)

• Kata (forms)
• Kumite (sparring practices)

Funakoshi’s wisdom reminds us:

"The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in

victory or defeat, but in the perfection
of character."

Karate-Do Today

Modern karateka continue to embrace these values

while excelling in global competitions. Karate-Do
bridges tradition and progress, teaching the
timeless principle that true strength lies within.