Grandmaster Chojun Miyagi was born on April 25, 1888. He began training in karate under Kanryo Higaonna at the age of 14, in 1902. Like his teacher before him, because of his great natural talent and fierce determination, he progressed very rapidly. The training was severe beyond belief at times but he practiced ever... more »
Fumikomi geri is a Karate technique. It’s a stompimg kick in a downward direction. It is used in Katas like Bassai Dai and self defense. Targets of the Fumikomi geri are generally the knee, the hip and the... more »
Gedan barai is a karate technique mainly used for blocking an attack. The approximate English meaning is ‘low level sweep’. Standing in natural stance, and in a yoi (ready) position, bend left forearm up until fist reaches near the right ear while the right arm moves slightly in to the middle. The left elbow... more »
Gekisai means “attack and destroy”. These kata were created around 1940 by Chojun Miyagi and Nagamine Shoshin as beginners’ kata, to introduce the basic forms of karate (kihon) to middle school students in Okinawa, to help bring about the standardization of karate, and to teach a basic set of techniques for self-defense. Gekisai kata... more »
Gekisai means “attack and destroy”. These kata were created around 1940 by Chojun Miyagi and Nagamine Shoshin as beginners’ kata, to introduce the basic forms of karate (kihon) to middle school students in Okinawa, to help bring about the standardization of karate, and to teach a basic set of techniques for self-defense. Gekisai kata... more »
Goju Ryu (Japanese for “hard-soft style”) is one of the main traditional Okinawan styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques. Both principles, hard and soft, come from the famous martial arts book Bubishi (Chinese: wu bei ji), used by Okinawan masters during the 19th and 20th centuries. Go which means... more »
A gyaku tsuki or gyaku zuki is a karate technique. It involves a punch executed by the back arm. A gyaku tsuuki is sometimes called a “reverse punch”. It is also executed better if you use the hips to push it forward. It is one of the most used and effective punches used in... more »
Kanryo Higaonna (March 10, 1853 – December 1916), also known as “Higashionna West”, was a native of Nishi-shin-machi, Naha, Okinawa. He was born in Nishimura, Naha to a merchant family, whose business was selling firewood, an expensive commodity in the Ryukyu Islands. He founded the fighting style later to be known as Gōjū ryū... more »
The leg sweep or foot sweep in Karate is called Ashi Barai. Its primary target is usually just above the ankle but below the knee. This sweeping kick can be delivered with power using your shin as the weapon or by using the sole of your foot. This is one of the difficult kicks... more »
Kumite means sparring, and is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which you train against an adversary, using the techniques learned from the kihon and kata. Kumite can be used to develop a particular technique or a skill (e.g.... more »
Kizami tsuki (jabbing punch), is an extremely important Karate technique, one which some karateka really perfect and seem to have unbelievable speed. Kizami zuki is the closest weapon to an opponent and the fastest to deliver. Karate dojo should really focus on this punch, as it is not only simple, but can be extremely... more »
A knifehand strike is a strike using the part of the hand opposite the thumb (from the little finger to the wrist), familiar to many people as a karate chop, (in Japanese, shuto-uchi). This refers to strikes performed with the side of the knuckle of the small finger. Suitable targets for the knife hand... more »
Kote uchi is the forearm strike in Karate. Its primary target is usually the head with strikes to the neck, jaw and ears as the most common. It can also be a strike to the ribs or groin depending on the situation at hand. You can use the forearm strike as a recovery technique if... more »
Kururunfa “Holding Ground” epitomizes the ideals of Go-“hard and Ju-“soft”. Stance transitions are quick and explosive while the hands techniques are employed using “muchimi” or a heavy, sticky movement. As in the other kata of Goju-Ryu, it is quite evident that grappling and close-quartered fighting is the favored fighting style. The same kanji “fa”is... more »
Mae Geri (front kick) is the most basic of the many kicks in karate. And it’s fundamental, used more than all kicks in karate, so it’s important a beginner knows it. Steps Position yourself in a double “gedan barai”. This is a normal gedan barai with both arms slanting downwards to the sides of... more »
Mae tobi geri is a jumping (or flying) front kick in Karate. This kick is usually performed in two motions. The first kick not only adds momentum, but is also used to kick aside the blocking hand while the opposite kick attacks the face. Flying kicks can be executed from nearly any stance, though the rear... more »