Introduction

Kihon comes from a Japanese term meaning ‘basics’ or ‘fundamentals. It is used to refer to the basic techniques that are taught and practised as the foundation of most Japanese martial arts.  This is true of karate and is taken very seriously.

Kihon is the practice of fundamental techniques: blocking, punching, striking and kicking. These techniques are the beginning and end of karate -- a karateka (practitioner of karate) may learn them in a matter of months yet fail to master them after a life's worth of training. Hence, basic techniques demand regular practice, applied with as much concentration and effort as possible.

Kihon is considered vital as it underpins the other parts of karate, i.e. kata and kumite (sparring). Without sufficient practice in kihon you may find that those parts suffer. This is especially true for kata as you may not understand the application (bunkai) of particular moves, which comes from the moves and combinations of kihon. That is, kihon forms the fundamental building blocks of the rest of karate.

How we practise kihon

Kihon comes in 3 main forms: static, combinations and pre-set kumite. Each of these actually builds on the other two. Combinations are formed from the static kihon, and pre-set kumite comes from both of these.

We practise kihon repetitively so that:

1. We can learn to perform the move or combination well and demonstrate it to our instructors and in grading.

2. The moves become second nature. For example, if someone were to throw a punch at our face, either in the dojo or in the street, we would respond with a block instinctively because we have done it so many times before.

It might seem boring and tiring, but experienced karateka will tell you it’s very much worth it. According to Masatoshi Nakayama, when practising any kihon we should bear in mind:

(With thanks to the JKA at Columbia University)

Form. Balance and stability are necessary to basic techniques. Kicking -- in which one leg supports the entire body -- is an example of technique that depends on the karateka's sense of balance. Karate movements involve shifting the body's centre of gravity, which demands good balance and control of the body. In addition, the karateka requires stable joints, stances and posture to deliver (or withstand) maximum impact in (or from) a blow.

Power and speed. Karate would be meaningless without kime, the ability to concentrate the greatest amount of force at the point of attack (or block). Those with great muscular strength do not excel at karate if they never learn to use their muscles to the greatest effect. The karateka who excels does so by maximizing her muscular power through kime. In addition, the karateka's power is directly related to the speed of her techniques. However, speed is ineffective without proper control.

Concentration and relaxation of power. The karateka cannot generate maximum power if her punches rely on the arm's muscles alone, or her kicks on the leg's muscles alone. The greatest level of power comes from concentrating all of the karateka's strength, from every part of the body, on the target. In addition, the karateka must generate power efficiently, using power when and where it is needed. Maximum power is required only at the point of impact. Until then, the karateka should stay relaxed and avoid generating unnecessary power. By tensing the wrong parts of the body or tensing at the wrong time, the karateka only diminishes the amount of power that goes into her block or attack. Although relaxed, the karateka should stay mentally alert.

Strengthening muscle power. The karateka must not only understand the principles of kihon, but she must also give them effect with strong, elastic muscles. Strong muscles demand constant, earnest training. They also require the karateka to know which muscles to use in her techniques: well-trained muscles will lead to strong and effective karate.

Rhythm and timing. Karate has its own rhythm that karateka should come to recognise and understand. No technique takes place in isolation; in combining basic techniques, the karateka should pay attention to the timing of her techniques as well as the techniques themselves. An expert karateka's movements not only contain a great deal of power but also rhythm and, in their own way, beauty. A sense of rhythm and timing will help the karateka understand the techniques and the art in general.

Hips. The hips are a crucial, yet oft-neglected component in executing karate techniques. Hip rotation adds power to the upper body and is thus essential to strong blocks and punches. The hips' proximity to the body's centre of gravity makes them the foundation of strong, stable movements, good balance and proper form. The karateka cannot move as smoothly, quickly or powerfully if the hips are passive. For this reason, teachers often remind their students to ‘block with your hips’, ‘punch with your hips’ and ‘kick from your hips’.

Breathing. The karateka should co-ordinate breathing with her techniques. Breathing enhances the karateka's ability to relax and concentrate maximum power in her techniques. Correct breathing -- fully exhaling when finishing a strike, for example -- is necessary to developing kime. The karateka should not breathe in a uniform manner; her breathing should change with the situation. Proper inhaling fills the lungs completely. Proper exhaling leaves the lungs about 20 per cent full -- exhaling completely makes the body limp, leaving the karateka vulnerable to even a weak attack.

Let’s take a look at each area of kihon.

Static

This type of kihon is performed on the spot and, whilst in the dojo, to the instructor’s count. It consists of single techniques of punching, kicking and blocking using hands, arms, feet and legs. These are normally performed first at slow pace, then medium and finally hard and fast.

Many students tend to perform their techniques with tense muscles and limbs throughout. This is the best way in class to run out of energy and gasping for breath in class. I should know as I was one of those students. I still am when I’m nervous, as I tend to hold myself stiffly. However, we should practise all kihon, and by inference all karate, with kime. That means we should keep our muscles loose and relaxed until nearing the end of a technique. Understanding kime is vital for long sessions of karate and actually makes our techniques look better and more effortless. See here for more details.

Static techniques are normally performed from heiko dachi (ready stance) but can also be performed from kiba dachi (horse riding stance) and zenkutsu dachi (long stance). If your instructor makes you perform them from kiba dachi, it’s not because they are feeling mean; it’s because it’s good for improving your core and leg muscles too. At least that’s what they say….

As these techniques are performed to the count, they are also called out, so you do not need to remember the order, and in fact instructors often mix it up.

Always remember:

• Keep up with your instructor. Don’t get behind if you can manage it, and don’t get ahead to impress.

• Always do your best moves, no matter what your fellow students are doing. Try not to be put off if a nearby student does something wrong.

• Practise kime. Keep your muscles loose and shoulders down.

Combinations

These are the application of the static techniques whilst moving forwards or backwards in the dojo. For lower grades, you might initially think that ‘combinations’ is not a good description as apparently only a single technique is performed. However, when you remember you are also stepping at the same time it makes sense to teach them this way.

As a student progresses through grades, more advanced techniques are added, and by the time you take shodan (first black belt) there are no single techniques. Many of the combinations you learn in kihon are used within kata, so knowing the kihon combination helps with kata and vice versa.

Always remember:

• Learn the order of your combinations. They are normally carried out in the same order. That means that during a grading, if you miss the instruction, you know what you should be doing.

• Just as with static techniques, always do your best moves, no matter what your fellow students are doing. Try not to be put off if a nearby student does something wrong.

• Go at your own pace. Do not try to keep up with speedy students as they may be sacrificing technique to get that speed.

• Sets of combinations always start with left foot forward and lower block with the left hand. A set of combinations (except those performed in kiba dachi) are generally begun with the left foot forward when facing towards the front of the dojo and right foot forward when facing towards the back . Techniques that are performed moving backwards are always started on the foot according to which direction in the dojo you are facing.

• Kime….. learn to relax within the technique, but also between each set of techniques. Make that part of your practice. BREATHE!

Pre-set kumite

In Red Tiger, we practise 3 forms of pre-set kumite, which start at the basic gohon kumite (5 step fighting) with no partner, until 6th kyu, through to actual sparring, albeit with pre-set moves, called jyu ippon (semi free fighting) from 2nd kyu. Intermediate students practise kihon ippon (1 step fighting). We also perform more directed kumite drills that the instructor guides you through.

This form of kihon introduces students to the techniques in kumite. Although they are all staged, what you learn in the safety of a line drill becomes vital in the free form kumite.

Always remember:

• Listen to the count from your instructor for gohon kumite and go at your pace.

• Show respect to your partner, if you have one, by bowing to them before and after the set of techniques.

• When you have a partner, once you announce your technique but before you actually move, look into your partner’s eyes to make sure they are ready. That way you respect your partner by allowing them to perform their best defence.

• Kime, kime, kime. Learn it here, because without it, in normal kumite, you won’t make it through several full speed in back-to-back rounds, no matter how fit you are. Also remember to breathe. We don’t practise karate under water. Take as much air as you like!

So many techniques!

Sometimes kihon, particularly combinations, can be overwhelming. Don’t worry though: your instructor will help you through each one, and you will not pass or fail a grading on a single stuffed up technique. If you want to practise your kihon outside class, remember, unless you’re just getting the ‘pattern’, warm up and stretch first especially if you’re an adult.

If you want to look at what combinations you have to do in your grading, look on the website for the syllabus you’re grading to. Print it off and have it next to you. The full syllabus list is here.

Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: How to warm-up
Part 3: Stretching
Part 4: This Page
Part 5: Kata – How to be coordinated when you’re not.
Part 6: Kumite – Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
Part 7: Fitness – There is nothing like being karate fit